Ryan Boucher and Will Blount on Installation Excellence, Automation Growth, and Why the Last Touchpoint Matters Most

Camp Jennings sits down with Ryan Boucher and Will Blount of Wize Solutions to explore why installation is the most overlooked and most critical part of material handling and automation projects. While system design and pricing often get the spotlight, Ryan and Will make the case that the final install experience ultimately determines whether a customer ever comes back. In this conversation, Ryan shares the origin story of Wize Solutions, which began as a small group installing used equipment while he was in college and grew into a nationwide installation partner with more than 500 technicians supporting racking, dock equipment, conveyance, and advanced automation. He reflects on the early volatility of building the business, the moment a major financial setback forced real change, and how long-term growth came from trusting people who knew more than he did. Will brings the system integrator perspective, walking through his career from system design and automation sales to leading automation sales at Wize. He explains why installation is often left out of early proposals, how accelerated timelines create risk, and why involving installation experts earlier leads to better outcomes for integrators and end users alike. Together, they discuss labor challenges, automation complexity, talent gaps in project management, and what it takes to deliver millimeter-level precision in modern warehouses. Grounded, practical, and deeply industry-focused, this episode is a reminder that no matter how advanced a system becomes, execution on the floor is what defines success. Ryan Boucher Will Blount [00:00] Why installation makes or breaks every project [00:24] Welcome to Load It or Leave It [00:54] Introducing Ryan and Will of Wize Solutions [01:35] The blank check question and big ideas for the industry [02:17] AI-based modeling and the future of system design [03:27] The one tool every installer wishes existed [04:34] What Wize Solutions does and how it started [05:22] From college installs to a national installation company [06:02] Growing through referrals and reputation [06:58] Why installation is the final customer touchpoint [07:18] Early volatility and the reality of uneven growth [08:21] The month that forced everything to change [09:17] Leadership lessons from near financial disaster [10:14] Decision fatigue and owning the weight of growth[10:33] Ryan’s personal path from mission work to Wize [12:09] Will’s journey into material handling and automation [12:50] System design as real-world problem solving [13:57] Moving from design into system sales [15:06] Why post-sale installation was always underestimated [16:18] Building automation capability at Wize [17:20] Why installation is often left out of proposals [19:23] Accelerated timelines and risk for integrators [21:31] Internal crews versus outsourced installation [22:56] What actually keeps Ryan up at night [24:05] Taking care of people and their families [25:07] Consultative selling versus pushing product [26:53] Training installers for advanced automation [28:02] Why experience matters more than confidence [29:55] Who Wize Solutions is built to support [31:14] Creating a one-stop installation partner [33:31] The hardest roles to hire in the industry [35:09] Giving back through local community support [37:22] Supporting families and food programs [39:29] Load It or Leave It rapid fire [41:11] Fixing bad installs costs more than doing it right [42:46] Why bigger clients are not always easier [43:17] Hyper-involved customers build better outcomes [44:04] Modex plans and industry visibility [44:14] A candid endorsement and closing reflections