ABOUT US

We are a Computer Software Solutions provider with a particular emphasis on Marketing and Sales systems, favouring CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and Contact Management Solutions such as Sage ACT!

We analyse requirements, do presentations, sell products and develop and supply our software and then train users.

Originally known as Protea Software in South Africa in 1983, V8Software came into being back in 1996.

Because we are a small family business, we do not offer credit terms.

However, we can accept Credit Card Payments (Visa, Mastercard etc) via our PayPal Account.

And of course, payments can be made directly into our Bank too.

WHO WE ARE

Kevin Ritch - Canadian/British

Born  in Canada, lived in the USA, UK, Iran, The Bahamas and South Africa.

Originally in Banking and Insurance (with a later return to Insurance as a Salesman) he is a software developer with a background in BASIC, Microsoft MASM, Borland dBase, FoxPro and one of the very few A/D/L (ACT! Development Language) programmers in the World.

Spent 9 ½ years developing Web-based database solutions with Classic ASP, as well as Access-SQL, Symantec ACT! and Sage ACT!, VB and VB.Net Solutions in New York.

He has since written some Thick Client Software  (Desktop to Web) (Cloud based backend processing in ASP) in C# (Dot Net) as well as having created a unique and extremely comprehensive Generic API for Sage ACT! enabling any programmer, to Integrate or Link any Database or Application to Sage ACT in any programming language which exists.

With strong Sales Experience initially in the Insurance Industry as well as large Corporate Computer Solutions Sales experience too. He was significantly responsible in winning the order for one of Europe's Largest ever SalesLogix implementations (the PIMS Group PLC in London) in 1999.

Ex-employee in the Professional Services Group with Interact Commerce Corporation (Later SalesLogix) and twice certified as an ACT! Certified Consultant with a virtual plethora of ACT! Add-On Development experience in EVERY flavour of ACT! that ever existed.

Clients include ACT4U, BBC, BT, BMW, Toyota, Brown, Davis, Mc Corquodale, Greiner-Maltz of New York, Inc, The Interiors Group (London), Planet IT, Caterpillar Tractors, Roche Products (Pharm) and many, many more.

Other skills include Training at all levels, Account Management and Public Speaking. He was also a Police Officer who served in the SAP (South Africa) The Metropolitan Police in London and the Bedfordshire Police Force too.

Enjoys most music with melody, International Rugby, Anti-Cruelty to Animals, Footpath Hiking, Trekking in the Bundu, Camping, Sailing,Harley Davidson Motorcycles (Life Member of H.O.G. & Outriders) Chess, Cooking, good films, comedy, Scrabble and being a home-body.

Lifeplan; to own a decent Bluewater Sailboat, cruise around a bit, then head off to Canada, build a Log Cabin and take Yachting Voyages to holiday in the Mediterranean and stay in our own winter cottage in Central Portugal.

Eleanor Blair (Ellie) - British

Ellie has travelled widely including Africa, Europe, the Far East and USA. She lived in Italy and of course the UK.

Presently she also handles corporate product sales in London for a famous coffee company.

Well read and well educated... extremely savvy, highly intelligent, extremely personable, GSOH, multi-lingual and completely unpretentious... Ellie is incredibly wise for her youth.

Ellie's strengths are in communications, Microsoft Office, Sage Accounts, Tele-Sales, Office Administration, Credit Control and managing any number of complex projects and planning. She is also a trained chef.

As it happens, Ellie is somewhat of a fine wine connoisseur too.

Ellie, enjoys Reading, Watching Football, Rowing (participated), good comedy, cooking, outdoors activities, snow skiing, countryside walks, good films, Scrabble and being a home-body. Eclectic tastes in music.

Lifeplan; to own a decent Bluewater Sailboat, cruise around a bit, then head off to Canada, build a Log Cabin and take Yachting Voyages to holiday in the Mediterranean and stay in our own winter cottage in Central Portugal.

David Shaw - British (Business Partner and Personal Friend)

David runs his own business, ACT 4U, based in Woking, Surrey. We work together on many projects and enjoy a great relationship.

Unlike many consultants, David absolutely lives and breaths Sage ACT!

He is probably the most diligent man in England when it comes to ACT!

It is with extreme pleasure that he and I work along side each other. His incredible expertise and cordial manner and deep enthusiasm for Sage ACT! and our personal friendship over the last 15 years ensures that we work very well together.

For all ACT! Consultancy requirements, I will always recommend David without question.