Twenty-one years is a long time in information technology, so it’s fair to say that mobile computing specialist Portacom is a veteran of the sector.
Twenty-one years is a long time in information technology, so it’s fair to say that mobile computing specialist Portacom is a veteran of the sector.
But there’s plenty of life in this veteran, with the West Perth-based company poised for a larger share of international and eastern States markets thanks to the growing acceptance of, and uptake in, mobile computing.
Data recovery and service are also growth areas for Portacom.
Director Neil Hancock has driven the company out of the family garage, where it started in 1983, to the point where it is a profitable operator with an annual turnover of $7 million.
“I have been accused of saying that the customer is not always right,” Mr Hancock said.
“[But] when you are dealing with technology you need to make sure that customers understand what they are dealing with.”
Mr Hancock is also confident in predicting where the niches in mobile computing are.
“The next big thing is to improve the power source of mobile computers,” he said.
Motivated by a technical curiosity and a penchant for mobile computing, the 2003 WA Business News 40under40 winner established the business when he was a 21-year old undergraduate.
Soon after, Mr Hancock secured a $40,000 overdraft and a multi-national dealership to design and market the mathematics software for Sharp pocket computers.
Today, the overdraft has not grown, but the company has.
Portacom is now recognised as a leader in mobile computing and communications, employing 12 staff.
The company has survived the ups and downs of the IT cycle and Mr Hancock has maintained a hands-on approach to the business.
He continues to have involvement in the research and development side of the business, 14 years after he claims he pioneered (but didn’t patent) the touch-pad mouse.
Mr Hancock’s ‘touch mouse’ prototype was designed for Sharp and Texas Instruments notebook computers as an alternative to the external trackball mouse that was in use at the time.
“Today there is no computer out there without a touchpad. The seeds of that idea come from my prototype, I know that,” Mr Hancock said.
However, he said Portacom had benefited from mistakes made and lessons learned. Mr Hancock said a major challenge was learning how to manage a growing staff base and to stay ahead in a dynamic IT industry.
“I come from a position of some technical knowledge, but no business skill,” he said. “Everything I did was based on guesswork and what I thought was right.
“Some of the biggest lessons I ever had was when I got burnt.”
His biggest business disasters have come when market changes occurred unexpectedly, such as the dot.com collapse and September 11.
An over-reliance on suppliers that were swallowed up by such events created challenges and had forced the company to adopt new and better business practices, he said.
But yearly reflection and consolidation has facilitated controlled growth, which had allowed the company to not only survive, but to prosper.
40UNDER40 TIPS
Some past winners share their business tips in the lead-up to the close of nominations on December 10 for next year’s 40under40 Awards.
- Jim Tsagalis – (2004) Lease Equity Pty Ltd, Boss Sports Management: “Everything should be measurable. If it can’t be measured it has no value. Everything has an intrinsic value and therefore once it is measured use this as a benchmark to improve.”
- Tabitha Wellman – (2002) Conan Group Pty Ltd: “Incorporate outstanding people into your peer group, for they'll make the difference to you and your business by raising the bar.”
- Graeme Yukich – (2003): Entrust Private Wealth Management Pty Ltd: “Employ the best people you can find and give them all the support necessary to allow them to reach their full potential.”
- Andrew Ford – (2003) Ford and Doonan Air Conditioning: “You can achieve what ever you believe. Have faith in yourself. You can get whatever you want if you help enough others get what they want.”
- Clay Cook – (2004) Ineedhits.com: “Ninety-nine per cent of success is turning up.”
- Bernadette Hooper – (2004): MODAL Pty Ltd: “Business is about relationships with people. If people trust you and your services they will do business with you.”
