Based on our proVision product, the PMD (Provision Mapping Directory) is intended to be used on a regional basis to provide the capability for organisations providing business support programmes to identify and manage their provisions. The system can be used by a variety of users. Though the principal group of users are the business advisor community, the existence of a centralised database also provides significant value as a data source for public facing web sites, European funding management, central government, regional development agencies, etc. In fact, any individual or organisation wishing to identify and manage support provisions across a region.
The Problem
In common with many regions, Wales has a broad variety of business support provisions, mostly delivered by public sector and/or European funded organisations. The number and purpose of these provisions can become confusing, not only for the recipient business (client) but also for business advisors and often the provision providers themselves.
A central database containing all provisions will provide a significant resource in resolving this confusion. However, such a database can quickly contain too much data and though it will provide some benefit, the challenge of being able to manage and filter this data correctly still needs to be addressed.
The Client
To address this problem, Draig Technology was commissioned by the North Wales Business Connect Plus Partnership (WDA, ELWA, Gwynedd County Council, Anglesey County Council, Conwy County Council and Denbighshire County Council) to develop the PMD applications. The initial system required was focussed on support provisions for individuals (PMDi), primarily employment, career and education related. Once operational, a business support provision database (PMDb) was also required.
The Solution
The PMD system is a web based application utilising the standard Draig Infrastructure product. This enables any user with approved access to the system to log in via the Internet. There are two key user communities: provision providers and business advisors.
Provision providers are those organisations offering business support provisions. They use the PMD system to enter and manage the details of their provisions with a range of features to assist them with this. By using the system they benefit from the substantial reduction in effort by entering their provision details on to a single system that all other interested organisations can access rather than have to provide them multiple times.
Business advisors access the system to browse and search for provisions relevant to their clients. Advisors enter the characteristics of their client and then perform a ?map? to identify all relevant and appropriate provisions. Mapping criteria can then be refined with results sorted and filtered. The system can either be configured to maintain and track client information or to integrate with a separate client management system.
Sophisticated reporting capabilities include tracking user activity through to provision gap and overlap analysis.
Our Role
The original specification for the initial application was very brief and required minimal functionality, limited to basic provision data entry and mapping. Through a consulting and requirements analysis process, we worked with the client to develop the specification to a web based and hence broadly accessible application. Additional functionality and the role of the central database was developed during this period. During the system development and acceptance testing stages of the project, we formed and worked closely with user focus groups to both refine requirements and to involve key users in the development and testing of the system.
The application was first launched as a pilot system in North West Wales (covering six counties) and we fulfilled the 'Product Champion' (programme management) role during this period. This involved contacting, inducting and educating provision provider organisations, providing user training, entering and cleaning the initial set of data and supporting users. Our commitment and focus during this activity has been a key factor in the rapid and successful rollout of the system.
Following the success of the pilot, the WDA has decided to use the system as the key information management system for its Business Eye service. As a result, we are engaged with the WDA to define the requirements for this system, to extend the pilot to provide pan-Wales coverage and to train WDA and Business Eye staff on the use and support of the system.
The application resides on one of our secure web and database servers and we provide the routine server and database maintenance, ensuring over 99.9% uptime and a secure environment.
The combination of our range of services from consulting through development and on to data population, user training and support means that we have provided a 360o solution for the client. This role as an ASP (Application Service Provider) means that the client has been able to focus on the strategic implementation of the system with the confidence that all design, technical and support aspects of the project are in a safe pair of hands.
The Future
With the initial pilot completed with substantial success, the basic system is now being rolled out across Wales and being used by the Business Eye service. At the same time, we are working with the WDA to develop a more sophisticated and extensive replacement system.
Given the success of this project and the compelling need for a solution such as this in other areas of the UK, we are also in the process of packaging the system as a product for use by other regional development agencies and government bodies.