Fortuny targets business solutions

by Jan K. Allen

SBJ Contributing Writer

Fortuny Software Systems sees its primary goal as not just installing and implementing software programs, but providing business solutions, according to Jose Fortuny, owner of the company.

While several computer companies can provide software packages, personalization and employee training, Fortuny takes the service one step further and offers business expertise from a broad background shared between himself and business partner George Ward.

Several years in his own business establishment, coupled with 20 years of past experience as a computer consultant to some major world companies, has given Fortuny the knowledge and experience to analyze a company's needs and problems and provide solutions.

Jos? Fortuny received a business administration degree from a university in his home country of Spain. He then acquired a master's degree in agricultural economics at Purdue, after which he added a PhD in industrial engineering, also at Purdue.

Multilingual in both spoken and programming languages, Fortuny has worked for a number of national and international companies solving their communications problems and developing software to streamline their business activities.

He worked in England, Spain, Sweden and many parts of the United States before choosing the Ozarks as his home. The 20-acre tract south of Ozark where he lives and works is kept mostly in its pristine form of native forest, except for a small area Fortuny has cultivated for a garden and orchard.

Fortuny has worked with a number of regional businesses since he moved to the Ozarks and formed his consulting firm in 1993. His business grew during the mid-'90s through referrals, and Ward brought his software knowledge and accounting expertise into the business in 1997.

George Ward graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in accounting and worked a number of years as a CPA in the Kansas City area.

He moved to Springfield in 1989, when his wife, Joanne, became a part of the St. John's heart surgery team. He worked with a number of local businesses, implementing accounting systems and developing software to accommodate daily business transactions.

It was a natural blend of talents for Fortuny and Ward to join forces and offer their collective business acumen to the local business community.

"Because we provide business solutions, our goal is to develop long-term relationships," Fortuny said.

He added that he does not plan to become a big international player in the field, with hundreds of clients to deal with. He prefers to remain small and give specialized service to a limited number of customers.

"Most of our systems are designed to be used by 20 to 100 employees in a company, who each have a part in specific information concerning segments of the business," Fortuny said. The system also integrates the data for use by management to allow informed decision making.

For smaller companies, Fortuny can increase the bottom line by making recommendations and suggestions about the best programs available, keeping the cost of the service within budgets.

The Fortuny company currently has about a dozen customers within a 300-mile radius of Springfield. Among them, Fortuny has done consulting work for Silver Dollar City and MWM Dexter Printing.

He has been working with Bolivar Insulation to redesign the company's data- base for maximum efficiency. The new system provides detailed job-tracking and cost information to allow management to stay on top of labor and materials costs.

"As a business grows, the need to manage information grows with it," Fortuny said.

His company can help the business owner gather and use information to be more effective and more profitable. And, he said, he can also recommend or implement software to make the most of business procedures, which results in greater profitability.

In general, Fortuny said he feels his service pays for itself. Because of his background in a variety of industries, he is often able to forecast the net result in dollars gained from the implementation of systems and the changes he recommends.

Fees can be determined in two ways. He may bid the job as a total package or base his services on an hourly rate, Fortuny said. He usually puts a cap on the project, providing a comfort zone for the client from the start.

Fortuny said he believes the Internet is very useful to companies in a variety of ways and he accesses the Internet regularly for research. He also uses it for advertising.

The company's web site is located at www.fortunysoftware.com.

PHOTO CAPTION:

Jos? Fortuny (center), president of Fortuny Software, is helping Bolivar Insulation in the large task of updating the company's database. Fortuny is pictured with Rick Dodson (left), controller, and Raymond Tripp, president/owner of Bolivar Insulation.[[In-content Ad]]