MR Williams has long viewed technology as essential to better service and stronger execution. In 1979, just a few years after Mike Williams acquired Watkins-Sydnor, the company invested in its first mainframe computer system, complete with a then-impressive 10MB hard drive and three monitor terminals.
Since then, MR Williams has distinguished itself through the in-house development of proprietary ordering and inventory management technology. Before the modern internet, the company supported Telxon handhelds that transmitted orders through acoustic-coupler modems. As mobile computing advanced, MR Williams introduced C-tech, a Palm-based application for retailers, followed by a Windows Mobile platform. As the second-generation President and Owner of MR Williams, Lawson Williams accelerated technology investments and further increased focus on using technology to distinguish MR Williams from its peers.
In 2010, only months after its debut, MR Williams became the first distributor within the industry to utilize iPad for business, with the launch of its Ignite ordering app. The company again moved ahead of the industry in 2016 with Android-based scanner technology, closely followed by BYOD applications for iPhone and Android.
Today, technology is integrated throughout nearly every aspect of the MR Williams operation. While the company uses leading off-the-shelf solutions where they make sense, it continues to develop proprietary technology where it can deliver greater value to customers and partners.
The latest evolution is Fusion, a single application deployed across the organization and available on a wide range of devices. Fusion brings forward the best ideas from previous generations of MR Williams technology, enhanced by real-time connectivity that was never before possible.
Whether a store operator halfway around the world wants to review an order before it is submitted or a manager needs to plan staffing around an upcoming delivery, Fusion provides the control, visibility, accountability, and tracking modern retailers need to operate at their best.
Ordering Technology Timeline
- IBM Mainframe System | 1979
- Telxon with Acoustic-Coupler Modem | 1990s
- C-tech for Palm and Sales Tech | 2000s
- Ignite iPad App | 2010s
- Spark Android App and Ember BYOD | 2017–2026
- Fusion | 2025–Present