Lucy Allen, Research Collaboration Manager within NIHR, explains, “The development of a mobile app to sit in front of the website will allow health professionals to access information regarding the specialist services offered by health centres.  The mobile application will be a huge step forward for us technically because it will give health professionals the information they need when they need it, rather than having to return to base. Effectively, the information will be at their fingertips when they are on the move.  The website, based on Microsoft SharePoint, was delivered by Pulsion earlier this year.  We had no doubt that Pulsion had the necessary mobile application development skills to deliver this second phase of the project.

The app will be available on any mobile device and will allow the user to type in key search terms to return results that will tell them exactly what centre has the service they are looking for.  It will then give them the contact details to allow them to speak with the relevant individual there and then. Our key aim is to have an app that will be extremely useable and easy to navigate.”

John McGuire, Pulsion Technology adds, “The project brings together mobile application development with Microsoft SharePoint to deliver a rich web content environment on any mobile phone.  It’s an interesting and fairly innovative project for us to work on and the type which I think a lot of organisations will investigate to really open up the benefits of SharePoint. It will go live in Autumn 2011 and I have no doubt will be a readily used mobile app within the health sector.”

Stuart McWhinnie, Director of Technology and Business Development at OneSearch Direct, explains “We first engaged with Pulsion around eight years ago when they supported our original Certificate Management System. Over time, they completely redeveloped this system and since then have gone on to develop other line of business solutions which have gone a long way to keeping us ahead within the market.

Pulsion has been a key partner in helping OneSearch Direct drive business improvement through technology. We have benefitted greatly from their experience, technical capabilities and ability to deliver. I would, and have, recommended Pulsion and look forward to working on future projects with the team.”

To find out more, download the full case study here.

• Development of a Sharepoint 2010 based intranet for Scottish Refugee Council, which will provide document management and a central repository for all shared internal documentation.
• Following an initial short term SharePoint project for custom branding and custom web part development, Pulsion Technology has been awarded a contract to implement SharePoint 2010 within a London Borough Council. The public facing publication portal will host documents and publications which the Council makes available to the public domain and includes performance related information and general publications around Council services.
• A SharePoint implementation for Strathclyde Fire & Rescue.  This will be an intranet application for managing all information in relation to community partnerships.

Malcolm Shannon, Managing Director at Pulsion Technology comments, “Although constraints on Public Sector spending and delays in decision making had an inevitable impact on the Public Sector IT market last year, we are finding that activity is significantly increasing again. Funding is becoming available for IT projects which will improve ways of working, save money and benefit citizens.  Our SharePoint practice has grown steadily over the past few years and will be a key part of Pulsion’s growth plans in the next financial year.”

Kirsteen McDonald, Chief Executive at Citizens Advice Direct explains, “Citizens Advice Direct has always taken pride in being a progressive and innovative service, providing advice in the most efficient ways possible. Pulsion Technology has delivered a website which promotes self-service and includes key features such as instant messaging, email integration and SMS messaging.  We hope that these new features will not only attract a new range of client to use our services, but that our advisers will be able to work much more efficiently.  Pulsion is the provider of our case management system so already had an understanding of our organisation.  They were able to help us understand web technology and how it could help us really engage with and improve responsiveness to our clients.  The project included some Search Engine Optimisation and Pulsion also provided resource to write the content, in line with SEO objectives.  The fact that Pulsion could provide the end-to-end service was a real selling point for us, meaning they could drive forward the project with minimal input from us.  Feedback on the website has been great and we are really happy with the end results.”

The framework will be accessed by the Scottish Government and a number of other Scottish Public Sector bodies including agencies, non-departmental public bodies, cross-border public authorities and higher education institutions.  The aim of the framework is to improve the procurement process for these organisations and make the process more time and cost efficient.  The cost savings to buyers procuring via the framework over the three year period will be significant and ensures value for money from the public purse.  The framework has been established against the backdrop of the Scottish Government’s Public Procurement Reform Programme and the Efficient Government agenda. The recent Spending Review 2010 has intensified the need for the Public Sector to get value for money from procurement.

Malcolm Shannon, Managing Director at Pulsion Technology comments, “We are delighted to have gained a place on the framework especially as one of only seven organisations in what is recognised as the key area of Application and Web Development.  Many of the other companies on the framework are large multi-nationals and the Public Sector has traditionally awarded most of its IT work to these types of organisations.  Although an SME offering value for money services, Pulsion Technology has the capabilities, professionalism, talent and experience to match the bigger consultancies and we feel the success on gaining a place on this framework reflects this.

Our main development centre is based in our Glasgow headquarters where we already carry out work for a wide client base which spans the public sector, NHS and financial services sector, amongst others.  We welcome the opportunity to do more business in Scotland and to provide more local job opportunities.” 

Seeking asylum can be a traumatic experience, which involves a number of steps and a substantial amount of paperwork.  The UK Borders Agency (UKBA) makes the final decisions on asylum claims.  Various support services are available to asylum seekers, which the Refugee Councils deliver on behalf of the UKBA.  It is vital that the claim information passed to the UKBA is accurate and that the process for managing and passing over the information is efficient.  One of the main objectives of the project was to adopt an IT system which would manage all services, manage the information gathering process and handle new requirements as they arise.  It is essential that the new system will demonstrate better efficiencies and improve joint working in order to improve the quality of services provided to people seeking asylum. 

“After a fairly long and detailed procurement process, we are delighted that the Refugee Councils have decided to move forward with the Caman case management system.  Asylum is a topic which is never far from the headlines and the Home Office is seeking improvements and greater efficiencies in the system.  The Refugee Councils will be looking to once again secure the provision of support services when the UKBA goes out to tender later this year.  We are optimistic that efficiency targets posed on the Refugee Councils will be achievable following the implementation of our solution”, comments Malcolm Shannon, Managing Director, Pulsion Technology.

Provided via touch screen monitors, the system is fully interactive allowing customers to view and listen to journey information, comedy, drama, sports, documentaries, children’s TV and news on a pay-per-journey basis.  These are available within entertainment class carriages in a selection of fleet, with full roll out due for completion late 2010.  Unlike any other travel entertainment systems, this system streams the TV channels on-demand, meaning passengers can start viewing at any point of their journey.

Malcolm Shannon, Managing Director, Pulsion Technology comments, “Feedback from the pilot project for sleeper trains was extremely positive and backed up the market research evidence that there is a real demand by business and leisure commuters.  Pulsion Technology was solely responsible for the development of the underlying software which manages online payments, online registration, SMS customer messaging, management reporting and processing of the media content.  The roll out of the full system on the high speed train fleet has gone very well and the system has also been approved by all relevant rail industry bodies.  This is a world first and we are very proud to have been part of the innovative VoloTV consortium and looks forward to working with VoloTV on further developments as the system evolves.”

Donald Bell, Halcrow’s Regional Director commented, “We look forward to working with Transport Scotland and its maintenance contractors to deliver value and innovation, putting Scotland at the forefront of international best practice. Technology will play an important role and we would like to welcome Pulsion Technology on board as a key part of our team.”

Malcolm Shannon, Managing Director at Pulsion Technology added “We are delighted to be a part of this project.    Our core values fit very well with Halcrow’s and our expertise in harnessing innovative technology to bring business benefit will allow us to deliver added value to Transport Scotland.”

City Building LLP is a wholly owned undertaking of Glasgow City Council and one of the largest construction industry workforces within the UK.

Work undertaken under the framework agreement will be around IT development and support services based on the Oracle Suite of business applications and supporting products.  Pulsion Technology is a certified Microsoft Gold and Oracle Partner and the award of this contract strengthens the relationship with OPIN Systems, a fellow Oracle Partner and Business Intelligence specialist.

Malcolm Shannon, Managing Director, Pulsion Technology commented

“Our partnership with OPIN Systems will enhance our expertise and knowledge due to their extensive IT consultancy and training services experience.  Together, we are well placed to provide the range of services required under the framework including IT Architecture Consultancy, IS Strategy Consultancy, IT Governance, Database Administration and Data Warehousing.  We look forward to working alongside OPIN Systems and City Building LLP in this exciting new adventure.”