Guide

# High-Level Overview

Guide Technologies is a privately-held ERP implementation and consulting firm specializing in serving discrete manufacturers.[1][3] Founded in 1997, the company delivers enterprise resource planning solutions, strategic consulting, and managed services primarily through its partnership with Infor, a major ERP software provider.[1][3] Guide Technologies operates as a top-performing Infor Gold Channel Partner, helping manufacturers optimize complex operations across finance, supply chain, quality, planning, and project management.[1][2]

The company's mission centers on driving digital transformation for manufacturers by delivering innovative ERP solutions and expert services that leverage AI and machine learning to optimize operations and enable data-driven decision-making.[1] With approximately 40 employees and annual revenue of $9.2 million, Guide Technologies serves industry-leading manufacturers seeking to mitigate implementation risk and accelerate return on technology investments.[2]

# Origin Story

Guide Technologies was founded in 1997 by Fred Cramer and Doug Bulla, two industry veterans who built the company on a foundation of ERP consulting expertise, personalized service, and commitment to client success.[1] The company's early credibility was validated through recognition as a top-performing partner—it was inducted into the MAPICS Presidents Club, an honor recognizing excellence in ERP solutions and client service at a time when MAPICS was a leading ERP provider for discrete manufacturing.[1]

A significant leadership transition occurred in 2021 when Rick Altenau, Shane Barger, and Todd Moritz assumed roles as Managing Partners, marking what the company describes as "a new chapter of growth."[1] This transition coincided with the product release of RollPro 360, signaling the company's evolution beyond pure consulting into proprietary solutions.[1]

# Core Differentiators

• Deep manufacturing expertise: Specializes exclusively in discrete manufacturing environments with complex operational requirements, rather than serving broad enterprise markets.[2]

• Infor partnership depth: Recognized multiple times by Infor—including Infor XA Partner of the Year and Infor Cloud Manufacturing Partner of the Year (2019)—demonstrating specialized expertise across Infor's full ERP suite.[1]

• Proprietary methodology: Employs "Implementation Intelligence 5" (i25), a structured approach addressing project management, change management, education, training, and post-implementation support.[4]

• Full-service model: Offers end-to-end services spanning ERP consulting, custom development, application training, optimization, maintenance, and project management rather than point solutions.[4]

• Proven track record: Long operational history (since 1997) with established relationships among industry-leading manufacturers.[1][4]

# Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Guide Technologies operates at the intersection of two significant trends: the ongoing digital transformation of manufacturing and the consolidation of ERP vendors around cloud-based solutions. The company benefits from manufacturers' increasing need to modernize legacy systems and adopt cloud ERP platforms—a shift Infor has actively promoted through its CloudSuite Industrial offering.[4]

The discrete manufacturing sector, Guide's core focus, faces particular pressure to digitize due to supply chain complexity, quality compliance requirements, and the need for real-time operational visibility. By positioning itself as a specialized implementation partner rather than a generalist consultant, Guide captures value from manufacturers seeking deep domain expertise rather than broad IT services.

# Quick Take & Future Outlook

Guide Technologies represents a sustainable niche player in the ERP services ecosystem. Rather than competing on scale or innovation, the company has built defensible positioning through long-standing vendor partnerships, specialized manufacturing expertise, and established customer relationships. The 2021 leadership transition suggests ambitions for growth beyond its current $9.2 million revenue base, particularly through proprietary offerings like RollPro 360.

The company's future trajectory will likely depend on its ability to expand its customer base while maintaining service quality, and whether proprietary products can generate higher-margin revenue streams than traditional consulting. As manufacturers accelerate cloud ERP adoption—particularly Infor's CloudSuite Industrial—Guide is well-positioned to capture implementation and optimization work, though it faces competition from larger systems integrators and consulting firms entering the manufacturing ERP space.