Business Tour 1

ESRI
Bryant Ireland: Product Planner

Bryant Ireland working at his desk at his Redlands CA based office.

Located in Redlands California, ESRI is a global leader in Geographic Information System (GIS) software, among other digital mapping management applications. Founded in 1969 as a land use consulting firm ESRI has enjoyed a healthy market share of nearly 40% among all other competitors. In an effort to continue this growth, ESRI has strategically begun doing business with the government of China by way of partnerships with local manufacturers and distributors of its software products in order to capture a relatively untapped portion of this expanding market.

During my visit with Bryant Ireland, a Product Planner at ESRI, it was clear that doing business in China has its challenges as well as rewards. He explained that China does not immediately allow direct sales of non-Chinese made software products to its government due to legislative policy. In order to interact with their Chinese customers they must electrically transmit first article software files by way of the internet to their contracted Chinese counterparts operating as the manufacturer of the final versions, packaging and shipping the product to a distribution channel partner also within China before it reaches the end user.

Bryant further explained that relationships are key to developing the ESRI corporate goal of capitalizing on this potentially massive market. His job as Product Planner does not simply end at sending electronic files overseas in order to make a sale, as tasks like invoicing, exercising Letters of Credit, licensing security, reverse logistics and quality assurance are equally critical in rounding out his duties and ultimately ensuring ESRI’s position in the GIS software industry.