ITWales.com

Profile: Pugh Computers Ltd

by Sali Earls

Aberystwyth based Pugh Computers Ltd was established in 1981, and is one of the leading suppliers of software to the education sector. The company has an in-depth knowledge of education software licensing and prides itself in providing accurate information, ensuring the best solutions for schools and colleges.

Director of Business Development, Rhys Davies, spoke to Sali Earls to explain more about this successful company.

What's the history of your company?
Pugh Computers Ltd is one of the UK's leading educational software and licensing suppliers. Founded in 1981 by director Jeffrey Pugh, the company has an in depth knowledge of the complexities of software licensing.

1991 saw the incorporation of the company as a private limited company with Mike Young appointed as sales director. As a result of the company's expertise and close working relationships with major suppliers such as Adobe, Macromedia and Microsoft, Pugh Computers Ltd was able to develop and implement software licensing programmes designed to meet the needs of all areas of education at low costs. These programmes resulted in Pugh Computers Ltd establishing itself as a market leader and being included as one of Wales' 50 fastest growing companies on 3 consecutive occasions (2001-2003).

In 2001 the continued growth of the company meant that a sizeable new extension to the offices built in 1996 became necessary. In 2003 the company undertook a substantial upgrade of it's existing IT infrastructure and SOP system and 2005 has seen the final roll out of a sophisticated CRM system that integrates with the SOP system that will result in improved business efficiencies in sales, technical, marketing and customer service departments.

2006 will see Pugh Computers Ltd celebrate it's 25th anniversary.

What unique products/services does your company provide?
The company's main area of business activity is the supply of software and licensing to the educational and voluntary sectors. We take great pride in our ability to provide the best solution to the customers' software and licensing needs. Software licensing is inherently complex; every manufacturer operates a different type of licensing scheme. This can create confusion for purchasers when trying to license several thousand computers for example. This is why Pugh's sales team provides a free pre sales licensing support service to all it's customers.

The sales team provide definitive answers to any licensing queries that the customer may have before placing an order. Pugh's certified sales specialists have years of experience in the field of licensing and are therefore able to provide the customer with prompt, accurate responses to all of their pre sales licensing queries.

Pugh also provides a free pre and post sales technical support service to all of it's customers. Our certified systems administrators and engineers will provide free phone technical support covering issues such as the installation, implementation and configuration of application, system and server software.

What's been the key to your success?
There have been several factors that have been key to the success of the company: firstly the company has been quick to adapt to changes in the market over the years and quickly recognised that the education and voluntary sectors would form it's core business in what is essentially a niche market.

Secondly the company recognises that it's high quality locally recruited staff is key to the success of the company. Pugh has and will continue to invest in good quality training for all staff members and will support staff working towards relevant qualifications.

Finally the company also recognises that first class customer service is a requirement in an increasingly competitive market and strives to ensure that every customer is treated in an identical manner, regardless of whether that customer wishes to purchase a single boxed product or an agreement covering thousands of PC's.

What one piece of outside technology has benefited your company most?
The advent of the internet and email has revolutionised the way companies do business, including ours. For example, our web site provides customers with a comprehensive guide to products and pricing so customers can access required information from any PC with internet connectivity at any time of day. Similarly customer quotations produced through our CRM system can be emailed directly to the customer and customers have the option of placing orders electronically. This results in improved efficiencies through a more streamlined ordering process.

What one piece of advice would you give to start-up companies in your field?
The one piece of advice that we would give is to plan, implement, control and review all business functions. The business plan should be a working document that's reviewed regularly and updated based on changing trading conditions and new opportunities.

Have detailed action plans for all activities, with clear objectives, how it is to be implemented, by who and target dates and controls. The review phase at the end might reveal inefficiencies or errors in the original plan and these can be amended before the action plan is subjected to its next cycle.

This policy will help to develop defined and efficient processes that should aid the successful establishment of the start up in the market place and eventually form the basis of long term success for start up companies.

Where do you see your company going in the future?
Pugh Computers Ltd sees the company consolidating its core business by remaining a leading software supplier to the education and voluntary sector. However we continually strive to improve and are currently embarking on a major e-commerce/e-procurement project.

The company is strengthening its management team and has recently created new posts of directors of technical services, operations and business development.

As a dynamic company Pugh Computers Ltd is always looking at and investigating new opportunities that present themselves in the marketplace.

Find out more about Pugh Computers Ltd at www.pugh.co.uk.