Software Development

Software Development

Huon IT has been designing and implementing customised business software applications since 1989. We provide a highly qualified business analysis to enable a software development that will take your business operations into the future and beyond. Our consultants are passionate about the work they carry out and consequently have total dedication to the success of your development from inception to conclusion.

Through our client opportunities, we have delivered a large number of successful projects where we have designed and custom-built software to operate stand-alone or to integrate with current systems. Usually comprising relational databases, integration with the web and an accounting system, our custom software is often built as “middle-ware” between DMS and Accounting systems. Importantly, our integration allows you to do business from anywhere via the Internet.

Understanding your business

The first step in any software development is for us to understand your business. The Huon advantage stems from extensive managerial, marketing and business automation experience. When you choose to work with Huon IT, your organisation benefits from having some of Sydney’s leading business analysts and programmers working on your behalf. Custom software has the ability to deliver the ultimate business advantage, and the right choice of software design specifically tailored to your business can provide significant Return on Investment .

Huon’s knowledgeable team of consultants take the time to understand your business and your current systems whether manual or automated, then apply in-depth experience to perform a business process review. Our design begins with new initiatives to improve the business process and capitalise on technology. Ultimately, a concise brief is prepared for review and finalisation in conjunction with our clients. We believe it is important to work in partnership with you to ensure every element of your prerequisites are met by the design before the software development process begins.

Business Process Analysis & Work Flow Design

Huon IT has undertaken many projects to design, plan, build and implement work flow improvements for large and small organisations. We have had a significant number of key successes improving business performance and maintaining existing staffing whilst businesses achieve extraordinary growth. This work entails a study of existing methodology (process mapping) and re-mapping, and automating business processes with consideration to technology improvement opportunities.

Writing your software

Our undertaking is to develop software that focuses on providing your business with a competitive edge, good value-for-money, high Return on Investment and scaleable design to “future proof” your business’ expansion.

Our guarantee is an automated software package that will enhance productivity and quality of workflow throughout your organisation.

Project Management & Implementation
Our team of experts have extensive experience in:

•  Integration with other systems
•  Conversion of data from legacy systems
•  Project Management
•  User testing programmes
•  Implementation management

These service offerings demonstrate our value proposition beyond other developers and clearly enhance and embrace the overall success of your project.

Range of Software
Our custom software solutions for all business types comprise:

•  Client Management & Service Records
•  Work Flow Management
•  Document Management
•  Sales Proposals & Documentation
•  Quality Control
•  Database Integration with Accounting
•  Project Management
•  Email and Internet Solutions
•  Management Reporting
•  Database Management and Marketing
•  Publishing Solutions

Ongoing Support and Continuous Improvement

The support our clients receive for their customised software is clearly at the uppermost level. Our consultants are readily available, responsive and habitually go the “extra mile” to ensure our customers receive the professional level of service that they expect and deserve. Refinements and modifications can be handled effortlessly as you “live” with your new development.

Legal Software Solutions

Huon is recognised as a leader in the field of design, build and support of legal software systems. Our solutions for the legal profession incorporatespecialist areas such as Legal Claims Management, DebtRecovery Solutions, Accounting, Marketing and Events, Management Reporting, Risk Management, and Conveyancing and Mortgage.

Our solutions ensure that productivity gains and quality control procedures are met consistently. The requirements of specialist task groups, key management and day-to-day office procedures are integrated to provide a total, practice-wide solution.

Software Development Case Studies

Major Sydney Legal Firm
Background: A large legal firm with offices all over Sydney was under increasing competition from solicitors, and conveyancers who had discounted their conveyancing fees. The practice realised that unless they were able to improve efficiency their profit margins would be eroded almost completely.

Solution: Huon tackled the problem head-on by developing and implementing a customised software program, ‘Conveyancing Pro’. This was designed to streamline client interaction, increase the work volume each solicitor could manage and enhance the quality and accuracy of output.

Result: By utilising Conveyancing Pro, the firm’s efficiency increased by an astonishing one hundred percent. In the words of a Managing Partner...“It not only improves our solictors’ efficiency and profitability but it also significantly increases the capacity of our Para-legals and enhances our management of the entire section....We can now do our conveyancing in less time, provide a better service and make higher profits. I believe that any firm that is not using Conveyancing Pro is doing the conveyancing the hard way”.

Franchise/Distribution Company
One of Huon’s clients, a franchise-based distribution business, has in the past 12 months achieved an exhilarating business growth rate of 300%. With a view to providing “total franchise support”, it is the company’s practice to process every single invoice on behalf of its franchisees. This administrative process involved tasks such as collating data from franchisees for monthly invoicing: recording receipts: preparing monthly franchisee reporting, and sending payments.

The directors of the company recognised the need to review and improve their IT systems in light of such projected growth, to ensure that a franchisee customer service excellence model could be maintained.

Huon IT was briefed to work in co-operation with the directors to define a comprehensive “Technology Strategy” for the business. This strategy required a solution to accomplish a number of key issues for the success of their operations:

• Directors and staff need to be able to work from anywhere at any time, as interstate travel is
  high on the agenda whilst the business gains market share in new territories around Australia.
  
• The Franchisee administration business process must be streamlined to require minimal manual
  input whilst providing a rich management reporting framework.
  
• The System must be capable of providing equal performance as received in Head Office for
  existing and new remote offices in other states.
  
• The System must be scaleable to meet projected future growth.

A new FileMaker software solution along with remote access infrastructure was designed and costed. Return on Investment was assessed and fell within a pleasing range on the basis of predicted productivity benefits and additional service being offered to franchisees. On completion of the assessment phase the system was developed, prototyped, and implemented to upgrade and replace existing systems.

The new business software Huon developed within FileMaker Pro integrates the company’s franchisee website with internal business processing systems and accounting software. The technology infrastructure provides a secure web interface for directors and staff to log into the office from anywhere and receive exceptional performance as though they were in the office. This flexibility has allowed directors and staff to work from hotels, Qantas Clubs etc, and Wirelessly On The Road whilst they continue to expand their business.

A short time after the conclusion of the development, directors reported that the productivity benefits well and truly exceeded original expectations. Administrative staff advised that processes which previously took 30 minutes per franchisee take less than 3 minutes. The remarkable growth of this business has been achieved seamlessly, without any additional staffing. Directors report the implementation has been an outstanding success and thanks to the intelligence of the new system, the business continues its impressive expansion throughout Australia.

Point of Sale Solutions Organisation
Huon’s Point of Sale Solutions client has been providing point-of-sale solutions for world-leading consumer products for over 25 years. Despite their continued success, the administrative aspects of their operation were consuming far too much time, hence reducing overall profitability.

Solution: They teamed up with Huon IT to develop a cost-effective software solution to improve logistics, stock control and client reporting.

Result: The implementation has meant big things for the business:

•  Administrative function drastically reduced by 70%
  
•  Impressive client relationships as a result of easy, professional reporting
  
•  Logistics management fine-tuned via a system which allows them to define dispatch schedules
  and prepare all documentation, ensuring client deadlines are met
  
•  Eliminated previously common data entry errors

The company’s director of operations spoke of an important project undertaken as the company’s first venture after Huon’s software implementation...

“This complex project was made easy through the system improvements delivered by Huon. It ran smoothly from every aspect of stock management, despatch, meeting client deadlines, managing logistics and reporting both internally and to our client.

Improved stock control sees our manufacturing process operating quite differently. The software is so easy to use:

•  We have a screen in our factory that allows our factory manager to input production updates
  
•  Our receptionist can automatically create all despatch paperwork – everything from delivery
  dockets to labels for cartons - in a matter of seconds
  
•  Management has access to up-to-the-minute information at the touch of a button with regard
  to manufacture, current stock, despatch and installation schedules.

Huon IT took the time to review and understand our business. They were able to recognise our administrative requirements and used their expertise to develop a system which has dramatically improved our business operations in every way.”

Plumbing Business
Background: A successful business in Brookvale had experienced significant growth to the point where their administrative systems were restricting their operations and causing ridiculous hours of work for the directors of the company.

Solution: The implementation of a cost effective custom database developed by Huon, to manage job tracking and all administrative processes associated with the business.

Result: The system has exceeded expectations. Directors commented:

“We are now able to provide better service to our clients with improved quality control and management. For example, we can automate sending an email report to our corporate clients with instant notification of job completion and particulars of work carried out. We can also prepare weekly client reports summarising current jobs and present statuses. We have comprehensive and easy-to-use scheduling systems for improving the utilisation of our staff. On job completion, the database automatically integrates with MYOB to prepare accounts”.

“Whereas 6 months ago we were buried in paperwork, now we can proactively manage our business and concentrate on continuing to focus on business growth which is essentially what we’re here for - to provide excellent plumbing services to our customers”.