The Best of Both Worlds (Clearview or Qlikview)?

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy

You might well ask, "What's the difference?". Reporting presentation or tracking as well?

I have recently been working with a number of organisations, around the subject of housing KPIs. Readers of this blog will know I am a fan of Qlikview (http://tonysmiththathousingitguy.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/rear-qlikview-mirror.html ) as well as Clearview. If budget allows it would be great to have both. However, budgets may not really run to that.

So what is the difference?

Well Qlikview is a fabulous in memory reporting presentation and drill-down tool, super in its own way. Often sold with five days 'proving' reports, it's an easy sale. Where Clearview cleans up in my opinion is in its KPI tracking capabilities. If you already utilise desktop task-tray workflow, your organisation will, I predict, really take to this tool.

My friends and users in a large repairs team speak in favourable terms of Clearview in its ability to track stats, actions, follow-ups and its transparent views of where the organisation hierarchy is with its improvements. No point having a team labelled 'P&Q', 'Performance and quality', 'Business Improvement' etc, if there's no clear evidence of who or what is being attempted, to be improved.

Even with my simple outlook, it took me about 10 minutes to figure out the Clearview world of monitoring actions, against last month, quarter or years' selected trends. So transparent that your board will take to it like ducks to water.  Attachments, notes and other info can be recorded, so KPI actions are not lost in the ether.

Talking to the chief exec, she liked it too, whether she was looking at Arrears as % of GAD, void days & rent loss, repair no access or percentage of rechargeable repairs completed that could not be recharged. At that organisation, true ODBC is also being started to link KPI dashboards directly with HMS & other system data, enforcing one true version of the truth. Clearview is indeed one application which can provide added control over your stats and unravelled ability to track actions and progress.  

Mark my words, ability to monitor, act on data/information and show what is being initiated to carry out improvements will increasingly be high on the management agenda. Don't get left behind!

Related Post: Whats stopping better voids management?

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You can link with me on LinkedIn here - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy It would be great to connect !

Van Halen - Best Of Both Worlds.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009

PS As usual, if there are subjects you might like me to tackle on this blog, or you could benefit from any of our services please get in touch and let me know!

File Under: 360,1stTouch,4Js. , 07854655009 , ," """" ",,#UKHousing,1st Touch,3squared, Acutence,Aareon,Academy,ActiveH,Alignment,ALMO,Anite,Apex,ArchHouse,Archouse,asbestos,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Aurora,Average IT Costs,App,Associates,ACL,Abritas,AMS,AX,aspireview, BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Process Review,Business social networking, Blockwise, Block wise,BI,BancTec,BluTek,Bluebox, Castle,CBL,Cedar Open Accounts,Cx,Change,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, CHR,Citrix,Civica,Clearview,CMS , CCS IT Keystone CCSIT, Contractor Systems,CORE,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,CRM,Crystal Reports,CTI,CTX,Customer Relationship Management,Cashflow, COA,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Competitive Dialogue process,complex IT procurements,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation,Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context,CIH,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cadcorp,Cerrus Saturn,convergeOne,CACI,CPL Director, Deeplake,Development Systems,Document Management,Documotive,datasystems , Microsoft dynamics GP 2013 ECMK,EDRMS,England, English,EnterpriseBI,ERP Systems,ERP,Elmhurst,Estatecraft,EDM,ESRI,Exponential-e, Finance,Financial Systems,Financials, Factorwise,Facebook ,Fusion, Getting best from,gotonysmith, Grasp,Grip,GeoSolveIT,GIS,GGP, HouSys,Housing software,HG,Housemark survey,Housing Blueprint,Housing Group,hotpixuk, HousingIT,hotpix,Hardware,Hitex,Housing Contact Company, Impact Response,implementations,In House,In4,InMotion, InMotion2014, InMotion2015, InMotion2016 , Exhibition, conference, Infoflow,Information Technology,Informix,inHouse,in-house workforce, Innovation,Inside Housing,Internet Portal,Invu,Ireland,Irish,IT Budget,IT Training,iWorld, Innovation Group Apex,ITIL, In4Systems Promaster,IT,Insight, Keylogic,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keyfax, Ledgers,Linkedin,Locality,Liquid Voice, MD ,Mr Void , MrVoid, Measuring Change,Mebus,Miracle,MISCS, mobile functionality,Monopoly board images and pictures, Montal,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Miracle Software,Management Reporting,MI,M3,MIS,MIS-AMS,Mobysoft, Northgate Codeman,Neighbourhoods and Communities, Northgate,Notice,NROSH,NINTEX , NINTEX workflow,Nintexworkflow, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,Ohms,OJEU Limits,OmFax,Omniledger,Open source software,open tender,OpenHousing,Opti-Time,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OpenContractor,ORS,OneServe, PIMMS Data Systems, Paloma,performance management systems,PfH,Pick,PIMMS,pimms4communities,Planned maintenance,People Value,Plus,Peoplevalue,PM,Progress,Promaster,Proval,Pyramid,PRINCE2,prince,Pamwin, QL,QLX,Quiss,Qlikview, Registered Providers,Registered Social Landlord,Rent Increase Freezes,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,ROCC , Rocket,RPs,RSL,Reality,ReAct,reidmark,RM865, Saffron,SAP,Scots, Scottish,Scotland,SDM,sector,Server Virtualisation,servicing, Servitor,Sharepoint,Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Media,Software,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting Services,SQL reporting services,SQL Server,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic Asset Management,Sunguard ,Surveys,Sx3,System alignment, Systemwise,SM,Sequoa,Serros,SP,Scout,score,Swordfish,Serengeti,SOTI,south view,Sunguard,Service Charges, Template,Task,Terminal Services, tonys , tonysm , tonysmi , tonysmith, tonysmitht, gotonysmith, tonysmithth, tonysmiththa, tonysmiththat, tonysmiththath, tonysmiththatho, tonysmiththathou, tonysmiththathous, tonysmiththathousi, tonysmiththathousin, tonysmiththathousing, tonysmiththathousingg, tonysmiththathousinguy, sharepoint, share point Three Star,Today,Total repairs,Tribal,Twitter,U2, tonysmith , tonysmiththat , thathousing , thathousingIT , thathousingITguy ,TED,Tagish Casework,TP Tracker,Telecetera,Tagra,Trace, UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,Universal Housing,Universalcredit, universal credit, universal credits,UC,Universe,Unrest, UK, United Kingdom ,Ukhousing,UK Housing, Van Stock,Voice and data,Vantage Sentinel,Version One,Visualmetrics,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Windows Server,Workflow and tasking,Wheatley, Xmbrace,XML ,XenApp,Xen App

You've got everything now

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy

Well, not often I get a couple of days at work in the surroundings of Alton Towers, as I did at the Capita Housing Conference, this last Tuesday and Wednesday. "Everything for Everyone, Everywhere" was the theme and I have to say, from workflow, cyclists going around the world, inspirational Gary Orr CEO from Yarlington and how to improve assets and mobile, it was all there.

Did I mention the venue? Well, I am coming around to themed venue's for business conferences, far better than in an identikit hotel, off a business park roundabout, that has trouble knocking out a medium rare steak. This was the second time Capita have held their conference at Alton, with a park rides ticket thrown in too.Top class and full marks to the helpful and professional events crew!

It was great to see a lot of old friends down there too and meet many new faces, who read this blog/follow on Twitter, doing some great stuff with portfolios of applications and interesting business processes. Capita didn't disappoint with choices of big hitting speakers, including The BBC's Mark Easton (who I would recognise on Pointless now), futurologist Christer Holloman, who The London Evening Standard calls, "One of London's Most Influential Individuals Within New Media" and hairy micro-adventure explorer of the 5-9, Alastair Humphries.

With such a line up, it's easy to have at least a few ideas to take away and apply in your housing organisation. I was inspired by Gary Orr and Yarlington's quest to have all of their customers with reasonable internet access by 2020, to eliminate digital exclusion in South Somerset and beyond. On tweeting it, I quickly got a reply from an IT Bod bemoaning that his 85yo mother was not letting him get her on the web and maybe would never. Having met 70 year old digital champions, I believe that is the track to take, silver surfers will enrol their friends and neighbours. We just need to think out of the box to crack the problem. Welfare Reform places digital by default, as the channel for the claimant. The message broadly is on the wall, no digital access = no benefits.

Christer cited the Giff-Gaff experience. Could our tenants and customers serve themselves, or go digital to be served there at a discount OR an incentive for them or their community? I won't repeat Roger Birkinshaw's tonge-in-cheek joke at that, but seriously, these are new models of being served. They work in the non-housing world, we need to try some of these techniques within modern housing, where they work. Customer expectations are being increased by how Amazon, banks and social media is helping us to be serviced whenever we like. 'Lets Eat' will let me order Vietnamese food for delivery at 1.50am, I can pay a bill at 8.45pm, why can't I log my ASB incident or check my repair appointment anytime I like, instantly?

The housing sector will never be as it used to be. Few would really wish to repeat a lot of the mistakes made over the last 60 years. Techniques, services, technology needs to help us bring more innovation into the sector. We need to observe what works and do more of it, also be mindful that different strokes for different folks, will also be required. Sometimes it is our applications and suppliers that are causing the speed humps in the road. At other times, it is reluctance for user, managers and organisations to examine, "Why We Do It This Way". Do check out my Lemon Drizzle Cake Story here - http://tonysmiththathousingitguy.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/icing-on-cake.html in case you cannot get the message across.

At the conference I spoke to dozens of users and picked up some inspirational, as well as cautionary tales of quite obviously where Academy, OpenHousing, OpenContractor, TM (TotalMobile)* and other facets of Capita's offering, were not being 'sweated' to their best. As I tweeted ( @HotpixUK ) on the day, reaching for the Rolling Pin, can be a useful experience. Seven out of Ten customers I work with, obviously need to examine and invest in what they have, rather than just chuck it out. The easiest thing to do is do a knee jerk move to a tender, or alternative supplier beauty parade. Doing this without actually understanding your problems, most likely will be a very large waste of time and money. Your problems will not magically go away, they will just be still there in a new system.

Indeed, if there is one thing that I have learnt, it's that engaging a critical friend to help hold a mirror up to your systems, processes, problems, management and staff, can be the most economical and fastest method of identifying and getting you out of a 'dark place'. So C'mon housing people, get yourselves into the light!

See you at Olympia/Manchester in November, at the NHF IT in Housing conference   

* Other Housing Management Systems are available

Related Post: Refresh Your Thinking, Lets Get Dangerous

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You can link with me on LinkedIn here - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy It would be great to connect !

The Smiths – You've Got Everything Now.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009

PS As usual, if there are subjects you might like me to tackle on this blog, or you could benefit from any of our services please get in touch and let me know!

File Under: 360,1stTouch,4Js. , 07854655009 , ," """" ",,#UKHousing,1st Touch,3squared, Acutence,Aareon,Academy,ActiveH,Alignment,ALMO,Anite,Apex,ArchHouse,Archouse,asbestos,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Aurora,Average IT Costs,App,Associates,ACL,Abritas,AMS,AX,aspireview, BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Process Review,Business social networking, Blockwise, Block wise,BI,BancTec,BluTek,Bluebox, Castle,CBL,Cedar Open Accounts,Cx,Change,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, CHR,Citrix,Civica,Clearview,CMS , CCS IT Keystone CCSIT, Contractor Systems,CORE,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,CRM,Crystal Reports,CTI,CTX,Customer Relationship Management,Cashflow, COA,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Competitive Dialogue process,complex IT procurements,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation,Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context,CIH,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cadcorp,Cerrus Saturn,convergeOne,CACI,CPL Director, Deeplake,Development Systems,Document Management,Documotive,datasystems , Microsoft dynamics GP 2013 ECMK,EDRMS,England, English,EnterpriseBI,ERP Systems,ERP,Elmhurst,Estatecraft,EDM,ESRI,Exponential-e, Finance,Financial Systems,Financials, Factorwise,Facebook ,Fusion, Getting best from,gotonysmith, Grasp,Grip,GeoSolveIT,GIS,GGP, HouSys,Housing software,HG,Housemark survey,Housing Blueprint,Housing Group,hotpixuk, HousingIT,hotpix,Hardware,Hitex,Housing Contact Company, Impact Response,implementations,In House,In4,InMotion, InMotion2014, InMotion2015, InMotion2016 , Exhibition, conference, HousingConsultancy , Infoflow,Information Technology,Informix,inHouse,in-house workforce, Innovation,Inside Housing, Housing Consultancy, Internet Portal,Invu,Ireland,Irish,IT Budget,IT Training,iWorld, Innovation Group Apex,ITIL, In4Systems Promaster,IT,Insight, IBS OpenHousing, Keylogic,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keyfax, Ledgers,Linkedin,Locality,Liquid Voice,IBS OpenAccounts MD ,Mr Void , MrVoid, Measuring Change,Mebus,Miracle,MISCS, mobile functionality,Monopoly board images and pictures, Montal,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Miracle Software,Management Reporting,MI,M3,MIS,MIS-AMS,Mobysoft,IBShousing, Northgate Codeman,Neighbourhoods and Communities, Northgate,Notice,NROSH,NINTEX , NINTEX workflow,Nintexworkflow,#digital1st #UKhousing #nxtgen14 #DigitalFirst top tips on making an event #socialmedia friendly #NorthwestHousing , OA,OGC Buying Solutions,Ohms,OJEU Limits,OmFax,Omniledger,Open source software,open tender,OpenHousing,Opti-Time,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OpenContractor,ORS,OneServe, PIMMS Data Systems, Paloma,performance management systems,PfH,Pick,PIMMS,pimms4communities,Planned maintenance,People Value,Plus,Peoplevalue,PM,Progress,Promaster,Proval,Pyramid,PRINCE2,prince,Pamwin, QL,QLX,Quiss,Qlikview, Registered Providers,Registered Social Landlord,Rent Increase Freezes,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,ROCC , Rocket,RPs,RSL,Reality,ReAct,reidmark,RM865, Saffron,SAP,Scots, Scottish,Scotland,SDM,sector,Server Virtualisation,servicing, Servitor,Sharepoint,Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Media,Software,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting Services,SQL reporting services,SQL Server,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic Asset Management,Sunguard ,Surveys,Sx3,System alignment, Systemwise,SM,Sequoa,Serros,SP,Scout,score,Swordfish,Serengeti,SOTI,south view,Sunguard,Service Charges, Template,Task,Terminal Services, tonys , tonysm , tonysmi , tonysmith, tonysmithth, tonysmiththa, tonysmiththat, tonysmiththath, tonysmiththatho, tonysmiththathou, tonysmiththathous, tonysmiththathousi, tonysmiththathousin, tonysmiththathousing, tonysmiththathousingg, tonysmiththathousinguy, sharepoint, share point Three Star,Today,Total repairs,Tribal,Twitter,U2, tonysmith , tonysmiththat , thathousing , thathousingIT , thathousingITguy ,TED,Tagish Casework,TP Tracker,Telecetera,Tagra,Trace, Crapita Housing, UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,Universal Housing,Universalcredit, universal credit, universal credits,UC,Universe,Unrest, UK, United Kingdom ,Ukhousing,UK Housing, Van Stock,Voice and data,Vantage Sentinel,Version One,Visualmetrics,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Windows Server,Workflow and tasking,Wheatley, Xmbrace,XML ,XenApp,Xen App

Independence Day

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy

As an English person without a vote in the Scots referendum, I cannot fail to be amazed at how the Yes & No campaign has leverages social media to get their message across. The number of Facebook and Twitter posts, with a ‘Yes’ or a ‘Naw’ in the bottom left, has helped spread a viral message, quickly and painlessly.

Although not unknown in recent parliamentary elections, the proliferation of hashtags, such as #indyref, #BetterTogether, #SaorAlba , #LetsStayTogether and #VoteYes has helped galvanise public opinion and helped get as many as 97%, in some areas, registered to vote.
In comparison, for the last election, turnout in some areas in Scotland was down to 19%.

Facebook was a big battle ground, with some of the rich, famous and righteous wading in. Here is a 2d worth from Annie Lennox - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152215730434589

All this stuff has certainly mobilised followers and helped to spread the message. What happens on-line then is taken off-line and Scots have joined meetings, marches and events, from their selected camps. Indeed, some would say that it is unthinkable these days to engage people in events such as the Referendum, without social media tools such as these.

So what could social housing learn from this? Could we and our staff be leveraging social media better? It can be easy sometimes to spot where some RSLs have just had some comms’ and social media training. All attendees join twitter with a name linked to their organisation, add their colleagues on the course to follow, some change the egg to a face, add a few tweets and go back to the day job. 

Is your organisation guilty of this?
One element of the comms training on SM, which may be missing, is advice on management guidelines. Without these, I doubt if staff can feel empowered to tweet and use our common hashtags, such as #UKhousing, #Housingcamp, #DigitalFirst or whatever, to reach the wider world and our peers.

Do a twitter person search using your organisation name and see how many eggs (not faces) and people with just a few tweets to their name, from last May (or before), with minimal followers are on there. Is it any wonder that we are generally struggling to get the #UKhousing message out?

I have noticed when assisting organisations with KPI’s and cleanly bringing data together across their organisations, for benchmarking etc, Twitter KPIs are on the rise. Would you dare measure number of staff registered on twitter for your organisation, no of monthly tweets, number of total staff followers, number of monthly re-tweets. Now, is that making you think? I hope so.

Maybe it’s time we helped our staff vote ‘Yes’, to engaging with the world on Twitter and other social media to help inform the world about ‘why social housing matters’ and ‘what we are for’.

Related Post: Social Fools, are you getting social?

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You can link with me on LinkedIn here - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy It would be great to connect !

The Comsat Angels – Independence Day.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009

PS As usual, if there are subjects you might like me to tackle on this blog, please get in touch and let me know!

File Under: 360,1stTouch,4Js. , 07854655009 , ," """" ",,#UKHousing,1st Touch,3squared, Acutence,Aareon,Academy,ActiveH,Alignment,ALMO,Anite,Apex,ArchHouse,Archouse,asbestos,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Aurora,Average IT Costs,App,Associates,ACL,Abritas,AMS,AX,aspireview, BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Process Review,Business social networking, Blockwise, Block wise,BI,BancTec,BluTek,Bluebox, Castle,CBL,Cedar Open Accounts,Cx,Change,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, CHR,Citrix,Civica,Clearview,CMS , CCS IT Keystone CCSIT, Contractor Systems,CORE,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,CRM,Crystal Reports,CTI,CTX,Customer Relationship Management,Cashflow, COA,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Competitive Dialogue process,complex IT procurements,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation,Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context,CIH,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cadcorp,Cerrus Saturn,convergeOne,CACI,CPL Director, Deeplake,Development Systems,Document Management,Documotive,datasystems , Microsoft dynamics GP 2013 ECMK,EDRMS,England, English,EnterpriseBI,ERP Systems,ERP,Elmhurst,Estatecraft,EDM,ESRI,Exponential-e, Finance,Financial Systems,Financials, Factorwise,Facebook ,Fusion, Getting best from,gotonysmith, Grasp,Grip,GeoSolveIT,GIS,GGP, HouSys,Housing software,HG,Housemark survey,Housing Blueprint,Housing Group,hotpixuk, HousingIT,hotpix,Hardware,Hitex,Housing Contact Company, Impact Response,implementations,In House,In4,InMotion, InMotion2014, InMotion2015, InMotion2016 , Exhibition, conference, Infoflow,Information Technology,Informix,inHouse,in-house workforce, Innovation,Inside Housing,Internet Portal,Invu,Ireland,Irish,IT Budget,IT Training,iWorld, Innovation Group Apex,ITIL, In4Systems Promaster,IT,Insight, Keylogic,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keyfax, Ledgers,Linkedin,Locality,Liquid Voice, MD ,Mr Void , MrVoid, Measuring Change,Mebus,Miracle,MISCS, mobile functionality,Monopoly board images and pictures, Montal,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Miracle Software,Management Reporting,MI,M3,MIS,MIS-AMS,Mobysoft, Northgate Codeman,Neighbourhoods and Communities, Northgate,Notice,NROSH,NINTEX , NINTEX workflow,Nintexworkflow, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,Ohms,OJEU Limits,OmFax,Omniledger,Open source software,open tender,OpenHousing,Opti-Time,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OpenContractor,ORS,OneServe, PIMMS Data Systems, Paloma,performance management systems,PfH,Pick,PIMMS,pimms4communities,Planned maintenance,People Value,Plus,Peoplevalue,PM,Progress,Promaster,Proval,Pyramid,PRINCE2,prince,Pamwin, QL,QLX,Quiss,Qlikview, Registered Providers,Registered Social Landlord,Rent Increase Freezes,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,ROCC , Rocket,RPs,RSL,Reality,ReAct,reidmark,RM865, Saffron,SAP,Scots, Scottish,Scotland,SDM,sector,Server Virtualisation,servicing, Servitor,Sharepoint,Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Media,Software,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting Services,SQL reporting services,SQL Server,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic Asset Management,Sunguard ,Surveys,Sx3,System alignment, Systemwise,SM,Sequoa,Serros,SP,Scout,score,Swordfish,Serengeti,SOTI,south view,Sunguard,Service Charges, Template,Task,Terminal Services, tonys , tonysm , tonysmi , tonysmith, tonysmithth, tonysmiththa, tonysmiththat, tonysmiththath, tonysmiththatho, tonysmiththathou, tonysmiththathous, tonysmiththathousi, tonysmiththathousin, tonysmiththathousing, tonysmiththathousingg, tonysmiththathousinguy, sharepoint, share point Three Star,Today,Total repairs,Tribal,Twitter,U2, tonysmith , tonysmiththat , thathousing , thathousingIT , thathousingITguy ,TED,Tagish Casework,TP Tracker,Telecetera,Tagra,Trace, UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,Universal Housing,Universalcredit, universal credit, universal credits,UC,Universe,Unrest, UK, United Kingdom ,Ukhousing,UK Housing, Van Stock,Voice and data,Vantage Sentinel,Version One,Visualmetrics,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Windows Server,Workflow and tasking,Wheatley, Xmbrace,XML ,XenApp,Xen App

Hit the North(gate)

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy

Some local government sector software news you might have missed.

Reuters have reported that Northgate Public Services (suppliers of Housing Management solutions to dozens of RSLs in the UK) are 'up for sale'.

Quoting directly from the CRN tech news site:
http://www.channelweb.co.uk/crn-uk/news/2361183/northgate-tight-lipped-on-sale-speculation

Northgate Public Services up for sale, according to Reuters

Northgate Information Systems (NIS) has declined to comment on reports it is selling off its public
sector arm and insisted its customer focus remains "unwavering".

Citing two sources familiar with the matter, Reuters claims Northgate owner KKR - a US private equity firm - has appointed Rothschild to sell the firm's public sector arm.

The sources said Northgate Public Services (NPS) will be auctioned to private equity firms later this
year and could fetch up to $600m (£361m).

NPS is one of two NIS divisions, the other being its NGS Human Resources arm. Northgate Managed
Services was part of NIS until February this year when Capita snapped it up for £65m.

NIS and KKR remained tight-lipped on the matter.

"It is not KKR or Northgate policy to comment on rumours in the market," the duo said in a joint statement sent to CRN.

"We will continue to maintain our clear and unwavering focus on providing the customers with the world-class service that they have come to expect."

Three UK Northgate customers I have spoken to in the last few weeks, were unaware of this.

Hopefully any Northgate sell off / change of ownership will not impact unduly on Social Housing Providers in the UK, utilising iWorld, Northgate Housing, Codeman or the legacy Anite Ohms Oracle based modules.  Fingers crossed.

Related Post: Keystone sold, following Promaster move to Orchard

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You can link with me on LinkedIn here - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy It would be great to connect !

The Fall – Hit The North.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009

PS As usual, if there are subjects you might like me to tackle on this blog, please get in touch and let me know!

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Even (Work)flow

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy

"Workflow", "Task Tray", "Tasking".

All terms for your housing management systems means of generating and tracking tasks, when passed to different teams and users. Unless you have been living under a rock for about eight years, you will have noticed your HMS has developed these features. That's if you have a 'recent & decent' one in use of course.

I often ask RSL's I work with, "So does everyone use the system tasking then"?
In fact, since you are reading this, ask the question to yourself, about your organisation. Most people when pressed then answer "No". I find that with all types of common mainstream systems out there; Orchard, Civica UH, OpenHousing, Northgate etc. So why is that? Is tasking and workflow that bad?

I am coming around to the view that the problem lies more with users than the application. Where I see it work best and bring efficiencies to the table, the whole organisation is bought into the idea. With some illustrations, tasking can be justified as
- Necessary
- Efficient
- Tenacious (it hounds you until the task is complete)
- Convenient (users come in and see what's priority to do and when its due by)
- Helpful (it enables us to do the work we are employed to do)

Often arguments I hear revolve around tasking are, it is a "bit too similar to email", "tasking causes extra effort", "I like working the way I always have.." and "tasking will not work with chief execs and people outside of our organisation, so everyone cannot possibly be pulled into its orbit".

Well, if you have tried and failed to introduce tasking/workflow in your organisation, here's some points to de-bunk the above. Firstly, let's examine how its similar and also different to email. When using Tasking, we are ASKING someone to do SOMETHING (please). Email can be used to keep somebody aware of something, keeping them in the loop, keep its use, just for that. Tasks are traceable and visible to customer services and others, emails are not.

Tasks usually require completion, cancellation or referring on, so yes, they do require a few extra keystrokes. But that brings order to our procedures etc. Often, tasking falls down because certain members of staff would rather work the way they have always worked. I am sure these folk play music at home on wax cylinders, rather than ipod's. That's their prerogative, but while at work, management need to have everyone working in a consistent manner. Maybe they just need a little more help, to get on the bus. Some people may however find they dislike the destination on the front.

Chief Execs in my experience are mostly not of the Nick Atkin mould. While Nick might quite happily tackle upgrading the RAM on his laptop, the majority do not regularly log into the HMS, and yes, rightly would not see workflow tasks. Luckily, most have a very efficient PA, who if asked will do the latter, if required, at whatever frequency is set. Daily, Hourly, twice a day etc. Turning on escalation of (late) workflow tasks (upwards), in my experience, also helps everyone get on the bus.

Most HMS tasking does allow a mix and match of emails and tasks, so can support pulling non-housing system users (e.g. DWP, local authority or development agency), into the scope of the process. If your organisation collaborates closely with another, consider allowing them limited access to your HMS just for workflow tasking. Five tasks on their own waiting for them, instead of five emails, spread within their usual 200+ emails a week in Outlook, would be a better way.  

Once they start using your HMS desktop Workflow TaskTray better, you have the key to better, more traceable customer service. If you want to share any war-stories about using/abusing tasking in your organisation, or you would like help in kick-starting it, you know where to find me !

Related Post: Using Yammer to ban internal email

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You can link with me on LinkedIn here - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy It would be great to connect !

Pearl Jam – Even Flow.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009

PS As usual, if there are subjects you might like me to tackle on this blog, please get in touch and let me know!

File Under: 360,1stTouch,4Js. , 07854655009 , ," """" ",,#UKHousing,1st Touch,3squared, Acutence,Aareon,Academy,ActiveH,Alignment,ALMO,Anite,Apex,ArchHouse,Archouse,asbestos,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Aurora,Average IT Costs,App,Associates,ACL,Abritas,AMS,AX,aspireview, BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Process Review,Business social networking, Blockwise, Block wise,BI,BancTec,BluTek,Bluebox, Castle,CBL,Cedar Open Accounts,Cx,Change,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, CHR,Citrix,Civica,Clearview,CMS , CCS IT Keystone CCSIT, Contractor Systems,CORE,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,CRM,Crystal Reports,CTI,CTX,Customer Relationship Management,Cashflow, COA,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Competitive Dialogue process,complex IT procurements,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation,Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context,CIH,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cadcorp,Cerrus Saturn,convergeOne,CACI,CPL Director, Deeplake,Development Systems,Document Management,Documotive,datasystems , Microsoft dynamics GP 2013 ECMK,EDRMS,England, English,EnterpriseBI,ERP Systems,ERP,Elmhurst,Estatecraft,EDM,ESRI,Exponential-e, Finance,Financial Systems,Financials, Factorwise,Facebook ,Fusion, Getting best from,gotonysmith, Grasp,Grip,GeoSolveIT,GIS,GGP, HouSys,Housing software,HG,Housemark survey,Housing Blueprint,Housing Group,hotpixuk, HousingIT,hotpix,Hardware,Hitex,Housing Contact Company, Impact Response,implementations,In House,In4,InMotion, InMotion2014, InMotion2015, InMotion2016 , Exhibition, conference, Infoflow,Information Technology,Informix,inHouse,in-house workforce, Innovation,Inside Housing,Internet Portal,Invu,Ireland,Irish,IT Budget,IT Training,iWorld, Innovation Group Apex,ITIL, In4Systems Promaster,IT,Insight, Keylogic,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keyfax, Ledgers,Linkedin,Locality,Liquid Voice, MD ,Mr Void , MrVoid, Measuring Change,Mebus,Miracle,MISCS, mobile functionality,Monopoly board images and pictures, Montal,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Miracle Software,Management Reporting,MI,M3,MIS,MIS-AMS,Mobysoft, Northgate Codeman,Neighbourhoods and Communities, Northgate,Notice,NROSH,NINTEX , NINTEX workflow,Nintexworkflow, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,Ohms,OJEU Limits,OmFax,Omniledger,Open source software,open tender,OpenHousing,Opti-Time,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OpenContractor,ORS,OneServe, PIMMS Data Systems, Paloma,performance management systems,PfH,Pick,PIMMS,pimms4communities,Planned maintenance,People Value,Plus,Peoplevalue,PM,Progress,Promaster,Proval,Pyramid,PRINCE2,prince,Pamwin, QL,QLX,Quiss,Qlikview, Registered Providers,Registered Social Landlord,Rent Increase Freezes,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,ROCC , Rocket,RPs,RSL,Reality,ReAct,reidmark,RM865, Saffron,SAP,Scots, Scottish,Scotland,SDM,sector,Server Virtualisation,servicing, Servitor,Sharepoint,Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Media,Software,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting Services,SQL reporting services,SQL Server,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic Asset Management,Sunguard ,Surveys,Sx3,System alignment, Systemwise,SM,Sequoa,Serros,SP,Scout,score,Swordfish,Serengeti,SOTI,south view,Sunguard,Service Charges, Template,Task,Terminal Services, tonys , tonysm , tonysmi , tonysmith, tonysmithth, tonysmiththa, tonysmiththat, tonysmiththath, tonysmiththatho, tonysmiththathou, tonysmiththathous, tonysmiththathousi, tonysmiththathousin, tonysmiththathousing, tonysmiththathousingg, tonysmiththathousinguy, sharepoint, share point Three Star,Today,Total repairs,Tribal,Twitter,U2, tonysmith , tonysmiththat , thathousing , thathousingIT , thathousingITguy ,TED,Tagish Casework,TP Tracker,Telecetera,Tagra,Trace, UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,Universal Housing,Universalcredit, universal credit, universal credits,UC,Universe,Unrest, UK, United Kingdom ,Ukhousing,UK Housing, Van Stock,Voice and data,Vantage Sentinel,Version One,Visualmetrics,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Windows Server,Workflow and tasking,Wheatley, Xmbrace,XML ,XenApp,Xen App