Back in the late 1980’s the IT industry was just beginning to find its feet. Then in 1990 Microsoft Corporation released the groundbreaking Windows 3.0, and a neat little idea called the World Wide Web was invented by Tim Berners-Lee. Another young organisation looking to make its mark was Grosvenor Systems who recognised a need for a fully integrated property management and financial accounting software solution that would take advantage of open systems architecture and be hardware independent. A concept was born, the idea took shape and in 1991 Propman was launched.

Although property management software didn’t quite offer the market opportunities of a global operating system or the world wide web, they each shared some key characteristics. They offered their customers a new and unique user experience and they provided a range of core benefits designed to match customers’ needs. But that wasn’t enough to guarantee success in the long-term. To survive in this brave new world, products had to be able to evolve quickly. They had to grow and adapt to keep pace with the rapidly changing demands of their users, and that’s precisely what Propman did and has continued to do for the past 20 years.

It’s therefore no coincidence that Propman’s development has been closely aligned with the growth of Windows and the Web. In 1997 with the release of version 7, Propman was re-engineered to be a true Windows application. Then in 2009 with the release of version 12, Propman introduced Web access, enabling secure online access to real-time property and accounting information.

20 years ago Grosvenor Systems set out to create a non-modular fully integrated software solution that would meet the demands of owners, agents and occupiers. Today Propman is installed at over 175 client sites throughout the UK, and is still delivered as a single-version, non-modular system that serves each of these markets admirably. By adopting a genuinely client-focussed approach, the company still provides personalised training and support to every single client, from single-user clients, through to organisations running 70+ users.

Over the last 10 years Grosvenor Systems turnover has increased by 200% - next year the turnover is set to hit £2m and the number of organisations using Propman is projected to increase to over 200. It’s a classic tale of successful evolution - a quality product that has continued to evolve to meet customer requirements. For 20 years Propman has served the needs of its users, and today it remains at the leading edge of property management software.