Global Shop Solutions celebrates 50 years of simplifying manufacturing

THE WOODLANDS, TX – In a vibrant and innovative ERP market, Global Shop Solutions stands alone. Fifty years after its founding, it remains 100% family owned, debt free and independent.

Founded in 1976 using punch cards and a rented mainframe, the company has evolved into an AI-driven ERP provider serving manufacturers. Today, Global Shop Solutions supports more than 1,800 top level manufacturers and all of their companies, divisions and plants across nearly 30 industries, with many navigating labor shortages, supply chain volatility and rising cost pressures. In an era of ownership changes and shifting product roadmaps, the company’s stability has become a differentiator.

“My father, mother, late sister Erika and the team members, past and present, built this company to serve manufacturers,” says Dusty Alexander, President & CEO. “Fifty years later, that hasn’t changed. Our focus is long-term partnership, not short-term exits.”

What began with Dick Alexander processing manufacturing data on punch cards has grown into a global ERP provider with seven international offices. The company expanded from its Texas roots into Latin America, Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, building a worldwide customer base while remaining privately held.

Today, Global Shop Solutions employs more than 320 people worldwide, with product development and customer support centralized in the United States. The company operates a 24/7 customer care model focused exclusively on manufacturers.

Over five decades, many of its major product enhancements have come directly from customer feedback. From Cloud ERP to Virtual Controller financial services and AI powered automation tools, the platform has evolved alongside the changing needs of manufacturers.

“Manufacturers are being asked to navigate constant change,” says Mike Melzer, Vice President of Operations & Service. “The one thing they need is certainty from their software provider. Our customers know we are here for the long haul.”

Global Shop Solutions is the last family-owned ERP provider with zero debt or outside investment. As manufacturing continues to evolve, the company says its focus will remain unchanged: long-term partnership with the manufacturers it serves.

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Global Shop Solutions will host an Open House on April 7, 2026, from 12 to 2 pm at its headquarters in The Woodlands, Texas. Local media contacts are invited to join employees, fellow attendees and company leadership for an afternoon of networking and conversation commemorating five decades of serving manufacturers. Email marketing@gssmail.com to RSVP.