Welcome to Portsoft Developments Online

• Due to illness Portsoft Developments has suspended operations for the time being.  Hope to be back on deck later in 2009.

(Click on links for more detail)

• Introduction

  • Portsoft Developments provide software selection, design, development, deployment and support services to small enterprise. We specialise in the development of custom database applications for the desktop/laptop computer environment. We focus on the small enterprise as a whole rather than a rather narrow purely technical focus. To this end we believe it is our job to advise or develop software tools to enable you to streamline your operations and improve productivity all within a mutually agreed affordable budget. To ensure quality advice and software development we have a four phase client engagement process to ensure your information technology resources are working in harmony with other areas of your organisation.
    A key part of ensuring this harmony is the small enterprise having a clear idea of what it is trying to achieve. It is recommended that a clear and practical set of strategic and business plans exist to enable appropriate advice or solutions to be given. It is best to sort-out any strategic issues before considering the software tools that may be required to implement your plans.
    Portsoft Developments is happy to provide advice and research services on Information Technology topics during the development of strategic and business plans should this be beneficial in the forming of these plans. Should you require assistance with the development of strategic plans, then the engagement of someone external to the enterprise experienced in the development of such strategies and plans can be a very worthwhile investment. To this end we recommend Heads Together.

• Phase 1: Getting to know you and the current state of your small Enterprise

  • The focus of this phase is to get to know the client and their small enterprise. The environment in which they operate, the problems they face (with emphasis on IT issues but not exclusively) and where they would like to be in the future.

  • The role of the Initial Consultation

    • Portsoft Developments offers a free initial consultation at the client’s place of business. The reason that this consultation is conducted there is that is where the relevant information required is going to be. This free consultation is seen as a no obligation way for the consultant and client to get to know each other.
      From the consultant’s perspective it allows them to get to know the client, the issues facing the client and the overall context of the professional engagement. It allows the consultant to evaluate if they have anything beneficial to offer the client with the particular issues they face.
      From the client’s perspective they are evaluating the consultant to see if they have anything of value to offer their organisation. The objective of this consultation is for the consultant to listen and get a proper understanding of the issues facing the client rather than solving problems on the spot.
      Depending on the principal issues to be addressed further meetings and or assessments may be required before the consultant is in a position to start proposing solutions. Obviously any such further meetings are subject to both the client and consultant wishing to proceed with the next step.

  • Business Assessment

    • The Business Assessment is usually carried out in association with the business owner or CEO to get an understanding of how they see the future for the organisation. Things such as future expansion or contraction plans have a direct impact on IT infrastructure such as servers, desktops and software licensing requirements. Areas considered for the business assessment include:-
      • Business Demographics
      • SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats), Vision and Strategy
      • Pain Points
      • Regulatory Compliance Issues
      • Technology Budget
      • Major Projects
      • Business Functions and Applications
      • Business Intelligence, Process and Workflow
      • Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
      • Communications and Telephony

  • Technical Assessment

    • The function of the technology assessment is to get a detailed understanding of the existing IT Infrastructure and procedures. This assessment is usually conducted with the assistance of the person with ultimate responsibility for maintaining the various systems whether that person has a formal IT management role or “is the one that knows the most about it all...”
      The areas to be considered and documented include:-
      • Hardware – Servers, Clients (Desktops, Laptops, PDAs etc.) and Thin Clients
      • Printers and Fax Machines
      • Software Versions and Licences
      • Network Infrastructure
      • Business Functions and Applications
      • Connectivity
      • Messaging
      • Internet Use
      • Backup
      • System Management
      • Technology Management
      • Security
      • Wireless
      • Communications and Telephony
      • Remote Access
      • Power
      • Storage
      • Training and Usability
      The documentation that comes out of this assessment forms the foundations for any proposed new or improved systems. If the system is not already documented then the document produced during this assessment can have significant value in its own right in terms of training new support staff or being of considerable use during rebuilding the system after a disaster.

  • Deliverable

    • A clear statement of the current state of the small enterprise from both a business and technical view point and a clear statement of issues to be resolved and what state they would like to be in the future (12 months, 2 years etc.)

• Phase 2: Advice, Solutions, Recommendations to achieve full potential

  • The focus of this phase is to provide advice and specific recommendations as to how to address the issues identified in Phase 1 of the engagement.
    Specific research may be required during this phase to ensure that all advice and recommendations have appropriate factually based evidence to support them.
    Deliverable: A report detailing the potential path or paths from the existing state to the new state that considers technical as well as budgetary and other business issues.

• Phase 3: Implementation of Recommendations

  • Software Purchase, Installation and/or customisation

    • In the event that a pre-packaged software package is recommended Portsoft Developments will either supply the package or advise as to where it can be obtained. We will then assist with the installation of the package and any other setup, data conversion or other customisation tasks.

  • Custom Information System or Database Design, Development and deployment

    • If the recommendation made in phase 2 of the client engagement is for a custom Information System or Database be developed, then Portsoft Developments can provide full Design, Development and Deployment services in full consultation with all relevant stakeholders in the project to ensure a solution that is tailored to the client’s specific requirements.

• Phase 4: Ongoing Support and Follow-up

  • Portsoft Developments prefer to establish long term client relationships and to this end following the successful implementation of the appropriate solution, Portsoft Developments will continue to make regular contact to ensure that the recommended solution continues to provide its associated benefits and be available to make modifications or other changes to take into account changing circumstances.

• Free Initial Consultation - take the first step and book now

  • Portsoft Developments offers a free, no obligation consultation at your place of business to discuss your small enterprise database or software requirements. This offer is limited to the Greater Geelong / Melbourne Metropolitan area. (Other areas by arrangement.) and is subject to availability. Contact Us now to arrange an appointment.

• For more on our approach to assisting your Small Enterprise you may wish to review our Profiles and Partnerships Page.