Paul Lachance, Chief Industry Strategist, Technologist, and Evangelist

Paul Lachance is a seasoned entrepreneur and visionary leader in the realm of SaaS software, with a particular focus on Industrial CMMS/EAM and related solutions. With a career spanning over three decades, he has demonstrated a remarkable ability to cultivate and nurture software companies to fruition, having successfully guided two such ventures to acquisition. His entrepreneurial spirit, technological prowess, and commitment to growth and innovation have left an indelible mark on the industry, making him a trusted mentor, speaker, and consultant in the rapidly evolving SaaS landscape.

In working with SEG, Paul brings a wealth of expertise that empowers SaaS executives to gain insights into the intricacies of growing their businesses. His guidance spans various aspects, encompassing the evolution of their teams, offering pathways for career growth, and ensuring their technology seamlessly scales.

His entrepreneurial journey began in 1989 when he founded Symbiotic Systems, a pioneering software company that provided innovative solutions to the hospitality and manufacturing sectors. This endeavor culminated in a successful acquisition by HSI/Micros in 1998, marking the start of Paul’s impact on the software industry.

In 2001, Paul embarked on his next venture, Smartware Group, a company that would go on to revolutionize the CMMS space. His dedication and forward-thinking approach led to Smartware Group’s growth and eventual acquisition by Brightly Software (formerly Dude Solutions) in 2017 — with Software Equity Group serving as the exclusive advisor.

The success story continued when Brightly was acquired by Siemens in 2022, solidifying Paul’s influence on a global scale. His brainchild, Bigfoot CMMS, has evolved into the renowned Asset Essentials, an integral part of Siemens’ expansive EAM/CMMS solution platform.

Paul’s industry vertical expertise includes manufacturing and supply chain, government, education, facilities management, energy, real estate, and healthcare and more. Within SaaS, he possesses extensive knowledge across operational segments, covering EAM, CMMS, MES, IWMS, ERP, APM, EHS, WMS, and others, while also exploring the dynamic evolution of operations, including the transformative impact of Industry 4.0, encompassing IoT, AI/ML, and various other critical factors.

Read Paul’s manufacturing software industry reports highlighting CMMS/EAM and Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM).