The story of Åke Persson – Monitor's founder

Åke Persson, the founder of Monitor ERP System AB, was born in a small village called Ytterhavra in the middle of Sweden. He was someone who dared to do things differently. Åke's inner drive took him from the farm in Ytterhavra out into "the world" at an early age.

Later on, Åke studied to become an engineer, and started working as a production engineer and time and motion study advisor at industrial facilities in and around Hudiksvall.

In 1974, he founded a company called Verkstadsteknik Persson & Co and worked as a consultant, focusing on streamlining operations in industrial companies. When Luxor launched the ABC-80 microcomputer in the late 1970s, Åke had an idea: why not create a computer program for such computers and enter all the processing data he had collected into his spreadsheets?

He contacted a software programmer he knew and outlined his idea to create computer software for calculating processing time. The programmer then used Åke's instructions to code the software. This was the genesis of the first generation Monitor ERP system that was released in 1982. At this time, the company had six employees.

In 1993, the firm changed its name to Monitor Industriutveckling AB, and in 1996, it moved to new, larger offices in Hudiksvall, Sweden. Over the years, the MRP system has evolved into a complete ERP system (Enterprise Resource Planning) for manufacturing companies.

In the fall of 2012, the company changed its name to Monitor ERP System AB. This new name mirrors Monitor's increased expansion on the international market.

Åke's inner drive took him from the farm in Ytterhavra out into "the world" at an early age.

Following a short period of ill health, Åke passed away in the spring of 2016. He was surrounded by his closest family. Åke was 73 years old. He never lived to witness the launch of the fifth generation of Monitor – Monitor G5 – in the fall of 2016. However, had it not been for his entrepreneurship, vision, and courage to go against the flow, G5 would never have been realized.

Jörgen Persson, Åke's son, took over the ownership of Monitor ERP System AB. Jörgen’s wish is that every employee will continue to develop the successful company that Åke has created. The company may not be the same without Åke, but its foundation – the Monitor spirit, the spirit of Åke, the person who has taken the company to where it is today – remains. Today, around 350 people around the world go to work to continue what Åke once set in motion.