So that's another year wrapped.

And just like that 2025 draws to a close...

If like me it's a time for reflection, planning and a general 'sort yourself out' ready for the next year, then I'm more than with you on that journey.

• What went better than expected?

• What didn't we see happening?

• Do we have any regrets?

• What do want to ensure DEFINITELY happens in 2026?

All great questions to spark a debate with colleagues or even in your own head - a sort of early Spring Clean if you like.

I'll share with you a flavour of some of our answers to those questions - whether you laugh, sympathise or nod in agreement - they are all pretty reasonable reactions to be honest.

What went better than expected?

• Winning contracts with some well know household business names - things you only ever dream of when you start a business. Amazed and proud for the team I work with - it's their hard work that pays off time and again.

• Introducing some new technologies and features especially links to Xero and Quickbooks accounting, adding NFC (Near Field Communication) tag reading to our app, going live with PAIGE our AI assistant and getting ready for our launch of our major upgrade of Enterprise Assets Manager ready for 2026. All fantastic pieces of work - well done team.

What didn't we see happening?

• One of the household names I refer to above going into a very public administration. How could it happen - a very large business that could have chosen any number of suppliers but chose us. Unbelievable bad luck and as my colleague keeps saying '...but at least we didn't do anything wrong.'

• 2 customers being acquired by larger businesses that already had their own equivalent systems and so we lost out. To our good fortune, we replaced them quickly with new customers who have settled into using pro-Forms well and that tell us how pleased they are - the Universe seems to know when you need a break and if treated right will deliver.

• Getting a phone call from an existing customer to say a competitor was calling them and telling them of things our system couldn't do and they ought to get into discussions with them to replace us. What a donkey that salesman was - 5 minutes after telling me this I showed the customer what they were looking for in our system - job done. Competitor's credibility - 0 pro-Forms - 3. I won't name the competitor as we have ethics and standards.

Do we have any regrets?

• Most certainly! Working with a new customer even though things just didn't feel right from the start - I'm sure we've all been there. There was no one thing to point at just a continual feeling like sliding down a greasy pole and no amount of scrambling gets you back up to where you were. Excuse after excuse - including blaming the weather at one point (!) and no surprise that eventually they went under. I wish I'd listened a bit more to my inner voice.

• Not acting sooner on a number of opportunities due to uncertainty & doubt.

What do want to ensure DEFINITELY happens in 2026?

• We continue to move at pace into new opportunities having done our research.

• A successful launch of our revamped Enterprise Asset Manager Plan and the exciting opportunities that will bring including moving in general business asset management, having specific industry asset solutions and making the most of the business partnerships we are currently finalising for the product. Look out for updates early in January 2026.

• We identify the time wasters that seem fine about wasting their own and our time with very little concern. Wise up - you've got a business to run, spend your time to achieve an outcome not to just talk and walk away. Pointless.

• We continue to be a happy and motivated group that derives a lot of pleasure from what we do and who we do it with.

Happy Christmas one and all and here's to an ethical and prosperous 2026