07 Mar, 2023
What started in a small music store has evolved into a company with over 65 full-time employee owners and five locations across North Dakota. Advanced Business Methods (ABM) is a 100% employee-owned company with locations in West Fargo, Grand Forks, Bismarck, Minot, and Dickinson. ABM services machines throughout all of North Dakota and Western Minnesota. However, ABM has machines throughout the United States.
Advanced Business Methods has over 50 years of years of service in selling, servicing, and leasing printers, copiers, and other multi-functional business equipment and software solutions. ABM represents Canon, HP, Savin/Ricoh, & Lexmark products. From schools to businesses to personal use, ABM provides services to a variety of businesses and organizations.
The owner of Mr. Music Man, which created background music for businesses, found a need for copiers and thus, created a copier company. In 1971, Advanced Business Methods emerged. ABM planted its roots in West Fargo, ND and began expanding to Grand Forks, ND and to the western part of the state. In 1976, ABM made the move to 13th Ave in West Fargo, where they are still currently headquartered. Since the beginning, ABM has been a direct sales organization. Sales continued to grow because as the state grew, so did ABM. 2012 was the year ABM began its journey as an ESOP (employee stock ownership plan). In 2021, ABM celebrated their 50th year in business. Recently in 2022, ABM refreshed their logo and celebrated 10 years as an ESOP.
ABM values its employees and prides itself on the fact that the average tenure of working for ABM is approximately 17 years. ABM employs people across North Dakota. With a commitment to service, ABM provides superior service through a friendly dispatch team, knowledgeable service technicians, and accessibility of requesting printer toner and supply fulfillment from their website.
Bob Stromberg, Sales Specialist, states, “I have called Advanced Business Methods my place of work for over 38 years. When you are part of the ABM team, you are part of a family, which is why so many of our employees stay at ABM. From being hired to sell typewriters to offering printers, multifunction copiers, and software solutions today, I am proud to say that I am part of the ABM team.”
From those early years of typewriters, ABM has watched technology grow. The original copiers in the industry were not printers; they only had one purpose, to make copies. Over the past 50 years, ABM witnessed the evolution of the copier industry. This advancement was incredible to see unfold. Today, copiers are multifunctional devices that have the capacity to copy, print, scan, fax, and have other solutions connected to them.
For over 50 years, ABM has valued giving back to the communities that have continued to support them. Advanced Business Methods provides employees opportunities to volunteer within their community. This can include anything from baking goods to volunteering at an event. At the end of each year, Advanced Business Methods matches employee donations to a charity of their choice. These donations allow the charities to continue their mission statement.
Advanced Business Methods strives to be the best office technology partner in the region. Through their commitment to service, community support, and customer mindset, ABM is proud to be your local, 100% employee-owned office technology partner.
This article was highlighted in the Dam News March 8, Vol 9. You can find the article HERE.