Hi Andrew, can you introduce yourself and tell us something about what you do?
Hi, my name is Andrew Palmer. I live in Pretoria, South-Africa, and I am the Managing Director a distributor of world class products into Africa and Middle East.
What industries do you focus on?
I represent hardware and software products which operate in multiple verticals, such as telecommunications, aerospace and defense, industrial, automotive and consumer solutions.
How do you contribute to your industry? Who does your company work with?
I work with recognized global leading brands like Kontron, Wind River, Perforce, xyzt.ai, Multitech and others to supply solutions to the industry verticals listed and satisfy their product design and business requirements.
What do you love about working in your industry?
From the inside, the company operates a bit like Intel or ARM inside, on the outside you do not always know about what my company has done and helping my customers to deliver world class solutions that are capable anywhere they operate across the globe is a very satisfying existence. Due to the variety of offerings and the entry point that I am engaged means I am involved in many facets of the solutions developed, it means that you learn and do different things almost on a daily basis, such variety makes the working day satisfying.
What important truth relative to your industry do very few people agree with you on?
You should never hold an opinion for life. People think they know a solution and they think they know to what depth that solution can be of benefit to them, but over the past five years nearly all of the solutions I represent offer so much more than those people originally thought.
What inspires you and do you have any idols?
Listen to others and listen to their stories. Keep your ear to the ground , and never stop learning and listening. Life is not a flat file. It’s complex and finding the best path means you must stay in touch and always be interested. Don’t make the same mistakes over and over again.
My idols aren’t related to my job. They are people who excelled at whatever they did for a job. Musicians, writers, producers, people with vision and the ability to put this to the many and create happiness.
If there is one thing people should know about your industry, what would that be?
Products rarely remain the same. They evolve, they acquire others or get acquired and grow as a consequence. Therefore, you should be open to change your opinion about a brand, product or solution.
“The ease of execution is an underestimated aspect this tools offers. This in combination with the architectural design of the platform, the right business models and license options, and the growing list of success stories makes this technology exemplary.”
Andrew Palmer, Managing Member at Embedded Industrial Solutions
What would you like to see differently in your industry?
Tough to focus on one industry, I would prefer to highlight the prevalent and widespread issue of corruption on the African continent. It’s a huge problem that’s holding the African business potential back and is the reason why the continent can’t make progress like Asia has done in the past thirty years.
How did you end up partnering with xyzt.ai? How did you get into contact with each other?
I met the xyzt.ai team through John Salerno, who is xyzt.ai’s reseller in Australia and New-Zealand. John and I have known each other for some time now, as we have been going to the same sales meetings across the globe for over twenty years. We’ve always had interesting conversations and even helped and advised each other on business related topics. xyzt.ai was the topic of such a conversation, and as John knew the founding members of xyzt.ai from a previous life, it was not difficult to get an introduction. Thereafter, I quickly realized the potential xyzt.ai offers and how it can be applied in the regions that I work.
What makes xyzt.ai stand out to you? Why do you think its product is important for the industry?
The ease of execution is an underestimated aspect this tools offers. This in combination with the architectural design of the platform, the right business models and license options, and the growing list of success stories makes this technology exemplary. Best of all, it’s a best of breed solution with a very flexible approach to client needs.
It’s always nice to end these interviews with something more about you. What are you passionate about outside of work?
I’m passionate about my family, having been married 32 years and now being a grandfather keeps the fire in the belly burning bright. I love to go to the “bush” and see the African wildlife. I like to go to sporting venues here in South-Africa to watch rugby and cricket. I’m also a fan of watching football and the Rugby League from the United Kingdom
If you could listen to only one music album for the rest of your life, which one would it be?
Tough one, as I have probably 20 such albums. Fleetwood Mac, Rumours