Software and systems consultancy Synthesis Ltd, subsidiary of the Gatton Consulting Group Ltd, has launched a new support service called SysCare. SysCare provides hotline and on site support, a health check, and audit and literacy check. Synthesis staff will conduct an on-site health check of a company’s hardware and software, and assess user literacy. The results will be presented as a report, and Synthesis will recommend a course of action. If the problems are serious, the company can attend a sort of health clinic, either on-site or at Synthesis’ Redhill, Surrey headquarters. SysCare is available for personal computers, networks, Unix systems, or mid-range machines. Costs start at UKP1,500 for personal computers, UKP2,500 for networks and Unix systems, and between UKP3,500 and UKP10,500 for mid-range machines. Synthesis believes that small companies need this sort of service simply because they don’t have the same back-up as larger organisations with mainframes and data processing departments. It believes that computing skills aren’t particularly difficult, but if staff aren’t taught or don’t have someone to refer to, they encounter problems that may impact a company’s success. This may be especially true in 1990s when demographic changes will facilitate the return of a generation that isn’t familiar with technology in the workplace. Crystal Gray, chief executive of Synthesis, says she hopes to see Synthesis expand into new areas in the near future, and she is particularly interested in computer training and the rental of bundled hardware and software packages. The company currently operates in technical documentation, consultancy, small business support, mid-range equipment, and facilities maintenance. Ms Gray wants to float Synthesis in a year or two, although that depends on the markets and any changes that might be brought about in the next general election. She expects Synthesis to do UKP2m this year, and hopes to grow to UKP25m within five years.
