Introduction

Hi.  My name is François (Franc) Sutherland and I started Working Data in January of 2006, with the premise of helping small and medium sized companies with their data and business systems.

Personal Profile

My background is in Chemistry.  After an honours degree from Glasgow University, I joined a healthcare company called Abbott Laboratories, for whom I was Process Chemist and Materials Analyst in their Medisense subsidiary, manufacturing blood glucose diagnostic kits.  After three years, I had decided it was time to make a move and took a role as Process Development Manager (Business Analyst) for the Brady Corporation during their SAP (an ERP system) implementation.  This took over a year to implement, and greatly expanded my skills in business analysis, leadership, training and, most importantly, how computer systems can either help, or hinder, business.  It is this knowledge and skill-base which I took on to develop and launch Working Data.


Working Data

Working Data design, build and implement bespoke Business Management Solutions for small and medium sized companies, at off-the-shelf prices!
The premise of this company is that it is possible, if not necessary, for small and medium sized companies to have the same access to integrated systems and business analysis as is enjoyed by the corporations.  This is very achievable through ordinary desktop software, such as Microsoft Office. 
As an example, consider something as simple as knowing the value of outstanding invoices.  Without an integrated system, this could take a long time to compile.  Alternatively, your complete contact history with a client or customer.  Where is that information recorded?  Do you know who you arranged to contact today?  With an integrated system, such questions are answered at the press of a button.  How much time and frustration would that save you?  What more could you achieve with that information ready to hand?  Click here to find out more

An example

A client owned a company which designed, manufactured and distributed (around the world) guitar pick-ups (the little piece of electronics which allows guitars to be plugged into amplifiers).  He knew that the business needed a computerised system, and had tried using off-the-shelf software in the past without much success.  He had neither the time nor the inclination to learn more software and wanted to get on with designing, building, marketing and selling his wares.  Meanwhile, all his data, particularly his customer records, were scattered.  His desk was a mess of little notes for this and that, and he had no idea of what was coming in or going out.  So, he needed a system built around him, with all his data and variables already in it. 
The first stage was sitting down and going through how the office worked.  What were the day-to-day activities, and what were the variables in each of those?  I noted these down as we went through each part of the company’s processes, and it became obvious that he would need a system designed around his business. 
The second stage was drawing out what would make a perfect solution.  We went through each area of the business (selling, clients, pricing, marketing, buying, shipping, invoicing) and drew up a list of what data would be captured, which functions were necessary and what outputs (e.g. a delivery note, a list of late invoices) were required. 
This was decision time for the client.  At this point I drew up a specification and a fully detailed quote, outlining exactly what the end product would be and the cost.  He realised that with the amount of time and frustration saved, and all the new, fast business analysis, this was a very reasonable price for a professional service.  He wanted his company to succeed, and therefore made the investment.
And so, on to the third stage. I took the data from all their disparate sources and compiled them, ready for import into the new system.  This is an important step, as the system will only be as good as the accuracy of the data in it!  Next came the system build, which followed the specification agreed with the client.  The data was then imported into the system, ready for the client to use as soon as it was installed.  The installation took less than an hour, including showing the client his new system.  He designed the system so it took minutes to get to grips with it!  He knew that I was always just a phone call away if he needed help.
Now this client has a system which works exactly as he wants it to, and he can get on with what he’s good at, and let the computer take care of the bits he doesn’t want to get involved in.  He is using his time more efficiently as he can now spend more time developing and marketing his goods, rather than wasting time on creaky admin systems and banging his head against the brick wall of standard software packages.  He can predict Cashflow, chase late payers with automated template letters, keep track of expenditure against a certain project, see all his contact history and much more, all at the press of a button.  He hasn’t had to learn anything new, as the system was designed the way he wanted it.   

If you would like to learn more about Working Data,
please call 01608 685171
Or by email info@workingdata.co.uk
Alternatively, you can visit www.workingdata.co.uk