In 2024, Pedigree Technologies is celebrating 20 years in business! We've come a long way from our early days monitoring sugar beet piles to revolutionizing fleet and asset management with crafted telematic solutions across a diverse set of industries such as transportation, oil and gas, construction, and heavy equipment. Join us as we look back at some pivotal moments in our history and introduce you to our longest-standing employee, Will Shulstad.
How It Started: Sugar Beet Piles
Pedigree Technologies' journey began in 2004 with an innovative experiment in the heart of agriculture. We explored the potential of wireless sensors and remote temperature monitoring in sugar beet piles, marking our first step into the world of remote monitoring and machine-to-machine (M2M) technology—what we now call the Internet-of-Things (IoT). This initial project laid the foundation for our future in advanced technology solutions.
Breaking New Ground and Launching OneView
Our pioneering efforts were recognized on a national level in 2007 when we secured a significant contract with the U.S. Navy to develop an intelligent wireless operating network. This project underscored our capability to deliver sophisticated, reliable technology to critical and demanding applications. In 2009, we launched our OneView software, a comprehensive telematics platform that set new industry standards. This milestone marked our first commercial sale for tank monitoring and vehicle tracking. Since then, OneView has supported numerous companies with their fleet and asset management needs, introducing game-changing technologies like Electronic Logging Devices, asset trackers, cameras, and maintenance management solutions. We continue to focus on providing user-friendly, robust solutions backed by top-tier customer service.
To celebrate our 20th anniversary, we chatted with Will Shulstad, our most tenured employee, about his journey with Pedigree Technologies. Will has been with Pedigree for 20 years, starting as an intern and moving through roles like project manager and operations manager to his current position as Director of Engineering, where he oversees the software engineering department and software quality assurance.
Q: You have worked for Pedigree Technologies for over 20 years. What has held your interest in staying with us for so long?
Will: Every day is different. We are always working on a different project and solving different problems. Very rarely is the work boring. I’ve enjoyed being able to problem-solve unique issues. An example is we had a truck that was reporting data only in the early morning and night and we could not figure out why it would not report during the day. After some digging, we found the sensors were hooked up to the headlights, so the truck only sent information when the headlights were on, which had an easy fix to the issue.
Q: How would you describe Pedigree’s company culture?
Will: Flexible. We have flexible hours and working styles. We coach our engineering team to follow an agile work environment, so they are always trying to be better and learn from their mistakes. This allows us to act like a small start-up, and we can make a lot of changes fast.
Q: What is the biggest change you’ve seen while working for Pedigree?
Will: We have gotten a lot more mature in our processes, which is what would be expected. We now have a strong process of getting feedback from our customers to build our software, helping us create a better product.
Q: Favorite story or memory while working at Pedigree?
Will: Long ago, we hosted our servers here in the building. I realized I had made an error with the server and had to run down the hallway to the engineering room, yelling, “Shut it off! Shut it off!” It’s funny to think about now, as we have really matured as a company and operate more efficiently with our servers being hosted off-site.
Q: What has been your favorite part of watching Pedigree grow as a company?
Will: The growth of all the people, especially our engineering team. A lot of them started as interns in college and now are senior engineers. Seeing how much they have grown and learned is very cool.
Q: How has the evolution of technology transformed us from our early stages to where we are today?
Will: When we first started, we were hardware-focused and now we are more software-focused. As technology has evolved over the years, we have been able to utilize it to make better software. There was a lot of marketing speak on how technology should work back then, and now it seems that the technology has caught up to what it was speculated to be able to do.
The Future of Pedigree
As we reflect on our history, we also look to the future with excitement and determination. Pedigree Technologies will continue to lead the way in telematics, ensuring our clients are equipped with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly connected world. Here's to the next 20 years of innovation, growth, and excellence.
To learn more about Pedigree Technologies, contact us.
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