F3M Information Systems S.A. is one of the largest national technology companies and is the parent company of a group that brings together two other Portuguese companies – Megalentejo and Dot Pro – as well as two international ones, F3M Angola and F3M Mozambique. It was founded in July 1987 and specializes in the design, development, and implementation of bespoke software for specific markets and in the provision of ICT solutions, namely technological infrastructure, telecommunications, management software, and consulting services.
In terms of sectoral markets, F3M is a market leader in the Social Economy and in Optics, and has a strong presence in the Textile and Healthcare sectors. With a high degree of specialization, it designs solutions from scratch for its target markets and also develops bespoke, large-scale projects for various national and international entities.
The company also presents a broad offer in terms of training, developed to measure for specific areas, such as accounting, taxation, management, information technology, support for children and young people, social work and guidance, preschool educators, health, sports, among others.
Integrated into the F3M Training Centre, it promotes training activities throughout the country, mainland and islands, with a strong practical focus that can be considered for the purpose of complying with the number of training hours required by law. F3M is certified by DGERT and considered an Equivalent Training Entity by the OCC (Order of Certified Accountants).
Also in Angola and Mozambique, countries where the F3M Group has a presence, various initiatives in the area of training have been developed, with high levels of participation. With over 30 years of existence and market experience, it has received various distinctions and awards over the years, most notably the Certification in Research, Development and Innovation, being one of the few dozen Portuguese companies to obtain this recognition.
F3M also obtained certification for its Customer Support services with the implementation of ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018, being one of the first Portuguese companies to achieve certification under the new standard. This is an international standard focused on Information Technology Service Management, which defines best practices for service management and the requirements necessary for high-quality services to be provided to customers, ensuring their total satisfaction and trust.
It is also part of the COTEC Innovative SMEs Network and is considered a European Case Study in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility.
Since 2011, F3M has been selected as one of the Best Companies to Work For in Portugal, a study that aims to analyze human resources practices and distinguish companies with the highest degree of employee engagement; it also holds the status of SME Leader.
With an attitude of continuous innovation and growth, F3M constantly invests in the evolution of its technological solutions and in the search for innovative products and services, focusing on R&D projects.
F3M Training Centre
The F3M Training Centre brings together the company's entire training offer, which is presented in the form of training actions, workshops, live meetings (online), bespoke training, among other possibilities. In Portugal, it extends throughout the country, including the autonomous regions. Training actions have also been carried out in Angola and Mozambique, countries where F3M's offer in this area is in a growth phase.
F3M's training is prepared to suit the needs of its participants and covers areas usually not covered by other entities, namely in terms of accounting and taxation, aimed at the sectors in which the company operates, such as the social economy and optics. It has been reinforcing its investment in training and clarification sessions regarding the New General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the General Regime for the Prevention of Corruption (RGPC), and the Legal Regime for Cyberspace Security (RJSC), for which it provides implementation consulting and advisory services, as a result of the needs and gaps felt in the market regarding new legislation.
F3M is a training entity certified by DGERT (Directorate-General for Employment and Labour Relations), and is also considered an Equivalent Training Entity by the OCC (Order of Certified Accountants).
Already attended by many thousands of people, F3M's training offer is considered, in Portugal, for the purpose of complying with the minimum number of training hours required by current legislation. Training courses provided in the areas of accounting, taxation, and labor law may grant credits to Certified Accountants who participate in them, for the purpose of complying with the quality regulations of that Professional Order.
The high participation and satisfaction rate demonstrated by trainees and the technical quality of F3M trainers are the basis for the solid growth of the Training Centre as a benchmark in training. After analyzing customer needs, F3M provides specialized training in several areas through seminars, in-person classroom training, via the Web, bespoke, and one-to-one.
F3M and Mistolin Pro
F3M and Mistolin Pro have initiated a partnership that aims to provide their clients with an opportunity to mutually benefit from the products and services provided by these two companies.
The first jointly developed project aims to raise awareness and train organizations on the impact of proper sanitization procedures as a means of complying with legal obligations and maximizing management results.
In this regard, they have built a course that will provide an opportunity for participants to come into contact with products, methods, and techniques regarding sanitization and the efficiency of management processes in this area.
Preferential Training
Promotion of capacity-building/specialization in sectors as an essential aspect for their development.
- Importance of the partnership currently being developed between F3M and Mistolin Pro
In its actions, F3M seeks to be a partner to social sector entities in meeting their needs at various levels, so that they can provide the services they propose to the community with the highest possible level of quality.
Therefore, it seeks to bring together a set of partners that can, together with it, create genuine offerings that allow for the introduction of good practices into the daily work of these Institutions.
A partnership with Mistolin Pro and developing training actions is exactly that: joining the efforts of competent, benchmark entities with the quality that allows for adding this value. For us at F3M, training means “value”—the value we are able to add to the daily actions of those who work with us.
- Current context in the IPSS sector – necessity and relevance of training
The social sector represents one of the most important sectors of activity in Portugal. This importance is measured at two levels: at the social level, through the first-line responses it provides to society, in support for childhood and youth, families, seniors, people with disabilities, the most vulnerable, health, etc.; it goes where the State cannot go; it is present where large groups do not reach; they support with the means no one else is willing to share. At the economic level, through its interaction with all sectors of activity, the population it employs, and the creation of wealth measured as a percentage of the national GDP. In this regard, mastering legal variables and operational capacity is essential to promote its sustainability in the pursuit of continuous improvement of the services provided. Training and capacity-building assume here the main variable in a complex equation that seeks to combine social service and response with sustainability, which is fundamental to ensuring this response.
