David Jenilian is the founder of IT Works Australia, from a new start-up to one of the most reliable POS and IT companies in the market
Intent on not being the “small cog in a big wheel”, David left his previous role to focus on making an entrepreneurial decision to start his own company where he felt he could actively contribute to its growth and success.
It was his passion for the highest level of customer service that allowed the IT Works seed to be planted many years before it was registered as a business.
As a POS & IT Specialist, David understood the need for a company that could provide solutions to retail, hospitality, corporate and commercial industries with a friendly, honest and personalised start-to-end service.
According to David, a few of the keys to success are universal: you need to understand your customers, understand the problem, the industry and the solution (all with a smile and a few cracking jokes).
👋 David! Why don’t you start by telling us a little bit about IT Works?
IT Works Australia is a Complete Hardware, Software and Services Solution provider to industries such as Point of Sale, IT Digital Signage, Audio Visual and more. We service Hospitality, Retail, Corporate and Commercial environments. I can easily tell you we’re the best value and provide the best service like a lot of other companies but how do you know? We can show you or you can just ask our clients who have happily stuck by us for years.
What’s the main area (related to your industry) that you are curious about and why?
Technology is evolving so fast and in particular Point of Sale. I’m curious to see the evolution of how people will pay for an item or service in the future. Will customers still go into a store and discover new products, seeing, touching and testing them in person, trying them on, and asking for advice, then walking up to a counter or will the entire experience be on a device in their pocket? How will stores and operators respond to a change like that? And then probably the biggest question of all, how secure will it be? These are all the questions I have swirling in my head, but I’m excited to see where the future takes us all.
Technology is rapidly growing and things like becoming a cashless society are nearing, what are some crazy innovations that you’ve seen since began your career? How do you think these have impacted consumer behaviour?
When I started in Point of Sale over 15 years ago, the thought of paying from your smartphone or smartwatch was essentially unheard of. But with so many people now opting to pay via card over cash, the pressure on having an operational Eftpos payment gateway is more critical than ever. Customers won’t tolerate malfunctioning Eftpos and with that, we are relying so heavily on technology now which can mean both an exciting and scary era.
How do you continue to learn in order to stay on top of things within your industry?
Like any industry, things in the technology world are always changing. For me, rather than turning to the internet and data, I mostly go to my clients for research on areas where they’re happy and the gaps that they require help in. This then prompts me to delve into improving topics and issues I may not have previously.
What have been the biggest obstacles in your life and how have mastered them?
Starting a company from scratch is never easy, one thing you need more than ever is time; time to grow and time to build that trust and authority. You can ring up everyone in the country and tell them they should trust you and that they should purchase from you, but without the proof on your website and social media of happy clients, case studies and referrals, all that talk means nothing.
You may ask: What is the difference between you and the hundreds of other companies doing the same thing you are doing? How do I stand out from the rest? Let me show you!
What is the one common myth about your profession or field that you want to debunk?
When it comes to hacking, if someone wants to hack your system most of the time they will be able to hack you. People get caught up thinking if they install a $20 anti-virus software they can go on do their online banking, stay logged in and still remain completely safe. To them I say, that’s not entirely true.. Although there are many entry points for hackers, we can make it as hard for them as possible and eventually block them out, but this is a process that doesn’t just involve an Anti Virus being installed.
What advice would you give someone wanting to pursue a career similar to yours?
It may sound obvious to some, but; be honest, be humble and be yourself. If you’re going to claim 24/7 support like many other companies out there, then make sure it is exactly what you say it is. Also, fixing your clients’ pain points should be your priority. By focusing on what is not working first and then doing your best to rectify, rather than trying to make something that is already working for them even better. As long as you’re being honest, you will build trust with your clients because they’ll know they can come to you with full certainty 100% of the time.
Do you think now is the perfect time for traditional businesses to change their way of doing business, or to digitalise certain processes?
I would say it all depends on their vision of the business or company. Do they want to advance and be at the top of their industry or are they happy to stay where they are and be comfortable within their current system? The answer to this question will dictate their next move. If you’re unsure whether you should be taking steps to up your digital game, then you can always schedule a free call with us where we can provide some options.
What are your future plans?
Driving IT Works Australia to be an industry leader, This is everything to me, I want the IT Works name to be recognised for not just its quality but its dedication and drive to be the best! I will not let anything stop me from achieving this for myself, the team and the company.
Thanks David!
If you want to find out more about David and his business, then head to his Linkedin page.