Describe your company and its product.

Conexiom creates automation solutions for manufacturers and distributors. We are the only SaaS automation platform that can fully automate digital trade documents into touchless outcomes with 100% data accuracy without forcing changes on trading partners.

What year did your company start?

2000

Which city (or cities) are you located? 

Vancouver, BC; Kitchener, ON; Chicago, IL; London, UK

Describe your company culture in three words.

Innovators, Problems Solvers, Collaborative

How do you celebrate company or employee wins? 

We hold company all-hands video meetings every other week. On the calls, we celebrate company performance, customer success, and employees that demonstrate our values and inspire the rest of us with their attitude and passion for what they do.

What is the problem that you are trying to solve?

We solve three problems for our customers: 1. Tedious, inefficient, and costly manual data entry; 2. Customer service execution failures; 3. Lost revenue to competitors that have a superior customer experience.

What is your biggest milestone to date? 

In 2020 we grew our business +30%, hired over 100 people, and recorded our lowest customer churn rate during one of the most challenging years for business in modern history. Most importantly, one of our values is to make our customers look like heroes. Every day we are helping our customers succeed in spite of the unprecedented business challenges they face.

What is your biggest challenge?

There are many businesses around the globe that could use our technology to improve their operational efficiencies by eliminating the manual data entry of orders and invoices. We want to speak to all of them.

What is your motto?

Automation Solutions for Modern Businesses

How are you making an impact?

We have processed over $100 billion of orders and invoices for our customers through our technology platform. We’re helping businesses retain customers and grow their businesses in a meaningful way.

What is your hope for the future of tech in BC?

We continue to champion the region as a destination for top tech talent. We hope that more large global tech companies continue to invest in the region. That type of investment attracts top talent. And with the rich cultural aspect of BC and the beautiful backdrop of this part of the country, it is an ideal place to live and work for companies that are helping to change society for the better.

Lightning Round with Ray Grady, President and CEO

What excites you about your job?

As a leader, it’s important to me to be at a company that solves a real problem for a customer. When one of the employees of our customers gets promoted, or when we help them achieve one of their business goals, or when we are able to help our customers solve problems, it’s a wonderful feeling for me and my team.

What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome?

I took over as CEO of Conexiom in February 2020. Coming in as a new CEO has inherent challenges, but to enter the company at the start of a global pandemic was something I couldn’t have predicted. Fortunately, Conexiom has an unbelievable culture. Oftentimes, a new CEO comes in, and maybe that’s one of the things he or she has to address. That is not the case at Conexiom. We have a can-do culture that thrives on our desire to win and the camaraderie we have as a team.

If you can give advice to your 20 year-old self, what would you say?

The world is full of possibilities. Find great people to work with that love to solve big problems, compete and win, have fun and you can capitalize on them.

Words of wisdom to other tech CEOs or founders?

Your people are your greatest asset. Every investment you make in them is an investment in their success professionally and personally, and the success of your company and your customer’s outcomes.

Favourite city you visited?

Vancouver ranks high on my list. I had never spent any time in Vancouver prior to joining Conexiom. What a great city. I should have visited sooner!

What is your formula for success?

Find people you love to work with, that love to compete and win and solve big problems – and have fun doing it.

Name one book that everyone should read.

Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

How do you decompress?

Spending time with my family reminds me of what is most important in life.

Favourite movie?

The Big Lebowski