Software Solutions Integrated, LLC celebrates 45 years!

Over the last 45 years, SSI has grown from a single entrepreneur to over 200 staff across the US, with the majority right where it all began in Shelbyville, Illinois. Recently, the SSI team, joined by special family visitors, gathered for a celebration and a look back at technological progress, company achievements, and how SSI’s mission has continued throughout the years: helping agricultural retailers grow.

Where it All Began

That entrepreneur, of course, is SSI's President and CEO, Pam Rincker. Starting out as a computer-savvy teacher, she was asked to help a local fertilizer dealer with pre-packaged software. Instead, she listened to the need and helped the ag business by writing a custom program to handle the unique aspects of their customer billing.

“Pam has always been a great listener who has this innate ability to solve complex problems by listening intently, asking questions, and then offering simple, yet elegant solutions”, said Dave Craft, retired SSI VP.

That first project was just the start of her passion for creating solutions to solve problems her customers face. After working with a variety of clients early on, she found a niche that fits well with her family's farming background. She and her team chose to specialize in software solutions for the ag retail market.

Rob Bullock, VP of Business Strategy, described the early years at the recent celebration, saying, “Coming to SSI 40 years ago, it really did feel like a family right away.... always with the common goal of creating a product that would make our customers' work lives easier. We grew up learning both the ag industry and the software industry together.”

Agvance
– Impactful from the Start

Over the years, the company has expanded many times. While helping ag retailers grow, SSI grew too. In the mid-1990s, Agvance was born, and over the next two decades, SSI and the brand Agvance gained recognition as the market leader. Today, small and large businesses use Agvance, including over 50% of the largest ag retailers in the nation, as identified on the annual CropLife100.

“If you have a business that has not only survived but flourished over the last four decades, then you must be able to evolve and adapt...especially if that business happens to be a technology company,” said Craft. “One of Pam’s greatest superpowers is her ability to evolve and adapt to changes in the industry, in technology, and even in the workplace.”

Leading the Way into the Future

Today, SSI continues to innovate and lead the industry. Just as it did 45 years ago, the SSI team continues to focus on what customers need, creating software that addresses those needs using the latest cloud-based solution.

“SSI’s long-standing commitment to significant R&D investment fuels our technology growth and keeps us future-focused. This disciplined, forward-looking strategy ensures long-term resilience while enabling our customers to grow and thrive,” says Lori Potter, VP of Sales and Marketing. Reflecting on what makes SSI unique and our customers successful is what drives the next steps in development and support services.

Making a Difference in the Industry

Today, Agvance is the leading comprehensive ERP solution for agricultural retailers. The talented staff at SSI develops and supports the software brands Agvance and Energy Force, used by over 25,000 users at 750 agricultural retail businesses, comprising over 3,800 locations across the United States and Canada. Diverse cooperatives and ag retailers looking to expand and grow use Agvance to drive their business operations and digitally engage with their customers.

But one thing has not changed: listening to the customer. SSI began by listening to the customers and developing top-notch software solutions, and will continue to do so!