Get to Know Us: Meet Regional Sales Director Andy Barnett

DocuWarians is a blog feature that introduces you to the people behind the product. In this post, we're highlighting Regional Sales Director Andy Barnett. 

I’m the Regional Sales Director who supports our Partners in the north of the United Kingdom (UK). I enable them to become experts in DocuWare solutions so they can provide great service to their customers and a proven return on investment. You can think of my position as a hybrid between a presales and sales support role where I can be flexible to provide our partners with what they need when they need it.

The great thing about my job is that I work with lots of different Partners and customers every day, and no two days are the same.  

How did your background prepare you for this role?

Coming from a working-class background, it has always been important to me to work hard and show value to all the people I work with. I studied computer science with a focus on artificial intelligence at Aberystwyth University. My educational background helps me understand and find the best solutions to meet my customers’ needs.

I have an inquisitive mind which helps with asking questions that uncover a customer’s business issues and determining how to address them. This skill came in handy when I recently worked with a customer who records and processes documentation on behalf of a government agency.

There were boxes of documents to be digitized and that part was simple. Managing physical documents during the digitization process was more complex. We solved the problem by installing radio frequency identification (RFID) tags on each box of documents and in the rooms where they were digitized. If you took a box out of the storeroom or if someone moved it, the RFID tag notified the DocuWare system that a box had left the storeroom and reported its location so that the documents could be found easily.

One of the most interesting things I’ve learned from a DocuWare customer, colleague or Partner is …

How many ways people from around the globe do the same things. This impacted how I view life in general and opened my eyes to a wider world. For example, UK businesses still use a lot of paper-based processes. When I talk to a colleague in Italy where they've used electronic invoicing exclusively for many years, it’s like looking into our future.

One of the best things about working for DocuWare is getting to know the people I work with and finding out about their diverse backgrounds and perspectives. I am lucky that I get to learn new things from my colleagues and customers every single day.

If I had to choose another career path it would be ...

I’d be a football coach [soccer in the US, Canada, Australia, South Africa and some Asian countries]. Preferably in a situation where I’d get to work with players of all levels and help them to be the best they can be. The rewards of seeing people achieve their goals (no pun intended) and make the best of themselves and their teams would be something I would find really satisfying. Having an opportunity to give back to a sport that has given me so much enjoyment would be something very special.

In my free time I ...

I have been blessed with an amazing family — my partner Jess and two children who are both keen footballers. They have given me the opportunity to relive my childhood through them, and I am so thankful for that. I’ve also seen them achieve things that I never even tried. Growing up I focused on all things football-related while my children play other sports including rugby and squash. Sport is massively important in developing a positive attitude and learning to collaborate with teammates. My kids also have had the chance to travel and experience different cultures. Jamaica and the US are among their favorite places.

It may sound strange to some people but both myself and Jess love nothing more than standing next to a pitch in the cold on a winter’s day seeing our children smile and laugh with their teammates. So, even when we’ve been moaning about them bringing mud into the car or leaving dirty sports kits on the floor, we remind ourselves we wouldn’t have it any other way! 

My favorite quotes or mottos are ...

“Work while they sleep. Learn while they party. Save while they spend. Live like they dream”!

“If you believe you can do it then you can do it”!

I'd like readers to know that ...

I’m a passionate and dedicated guy. I bring this enthusiasm into every aspect of my life — way beyond work. I’m interested in people and love nothing more than talking to and learning from them. Whether it’s on the football pitch or at a DocuWare conference, I like to connect with those around me. I’m always open to talking about DocuWare and what it can do — great ideas come out of these conversations.