Scanner (Sold)

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

Imagine my surprise today when I read that Cambridge based Castleton Technology (older hands will remember them as Redstone PLC), had snapped up another housing sector IT company. Four million pounds has changed hands to add an EDM & mobile angle to an already growing group, that looks to want to compete with Capita, Civica & Northgate in a number of UK public sectors, particularly housing.

Quote from todays press release:
"The acquisition of Documotive is an important further step in our strategy to build out a public sector focused managed services and software business," said Ian Smith (no relation - maybe way back..), chief executive of Castleton.

Castleton had snapped up outsourced managed services company Montal http://tonysmiththathousingitguy.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/bought-sold.html earlier this year. This was after stating a new strategy to "become a leading provider of IT managed services to the public and not‑for‑profit sectors" in March 2014.

Interestingly, Documotive will receive over £1m to further develop their Agile branded mobile system, which has been gaining a lot of traction in the housing sector. I was with an agile mobile customer earlier this week, who was very complementary about the product, how users had taken to it and support around it.

MXC Capital Advisory acted as sole financial adviser to Castleton and will be funding the Agile development, under the new moniker of '365 Agile Ltd'.

It will be interesting to see how this impacts on housing sector customers of Documotive. Customers can access the last posted accounts from Castleton (Sep 2013) on this link http://www.castletonplc.com/assets/files/investors/RedstoneAnnual%20Report2013.pdf

Next time Dav or Jonathan offers to get me a drink, mine will be a double Courvoisier!    

Related Post: What happened to the paperless office then?

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

Gary Numan - Scanner.
(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!

You can access a quick list of blog posts here
Could we help you or your organisation?
Our contact details are here, get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems or issue.




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, Agile, BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Process Review,Business social networking, Blockwise, Block wise,BI,BancTec,BluTek,Bluebox, Castle,Castleton Cambridge,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,Redstone PLC, 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 .

The Last One Standing

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

Well that's never happened to me before!

At the Orchard Housing conference (Theme, "Improving Lives Together"), near COV this week, there was one of those "Stay standing if....", type moments. After all Promaster, Orchard Housing customers and exhibitors had sat down, Ian Shard and Nick Lambert were looking at me standing up alone, in a room of about 350 people. For once, I was lost for words, but to his credit, later he did recognise me as this housing ICT blogger. I am sure next time he will be adding another category just for me, perhaps 'housing bloggers' or 'critical friends' 8-)

 I felt honoured that Orchard had extended their hospitality to me and it was great to meet up with a good half dozen or more of Tweeters, Linkedin'ers and followers of this blog, as well as a lot of great Orchard folk, I have known for many years.


As you know I bang on about housing users getting along to events such as this. Indeed, when I was at the old shop, I did it there. I remember failing to persuade someone who is now an Orchard customer (you know who you are..), to travel the 36 miles from Yeadon to Burnley.  Regardless of that being a trip across tha' Pennines, crossing to an old enemy, they would have got a lot out of engaging with their supplier and peers. That is the point at the end of the day.

I attended many sessions, but two really resonated with me. The first from SevernVale was a fabulous story of transformation. A journey which needed more sales and management skills to turn a situation around, than ICT ones. It made me smile as I am currently working with two customers like SevernVale, different suppliers than Orchard, but the same issues. I don't have to highlight them for you, but it's the same-old, same-old lack of upgrades, not switching on new features or keeping up training and not engaging with your account manager or wider contacts.

I haven't got fingers for the number of organisations have got me in to chuck out a housing management system, but I have got enough thumbs, for the ones that actually needed to. it often takes a re-launch and re-engagement project to put the perkiness back into your processes and systems, often a critical friend working with you and your supplier, is the way to do it.

Lunch was not my second session I was going to rave about, although those creamy éclairs deserve a name-check. Other smaller HMS suppliers take note, quality of deserts IMHO can make or break an event sometimes!

No, the session I really enjoyed was the Cisco IoT (Internet of Things) one. A quite techie one, but something that fired the imagination. Funnily enough in my backyard in Warrington, CISCOs HaaS (Heathcare as a Service). Warrington CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) buys NHS care for the people of Warrington. They are made up of 26 Warrington GP practices and have a £239m budget to get the best health outcomes possible – Excellence for Warrington. The CCG governing body is mostly made up of local GPs, doctors and nurses. Warrington are partnering with Cisco on the first European proof of concept for HaaS.

The IoT is likely to see delivery of security, lighting, StONE (High Street Online Networked Environment) and Rail station and infrastructure, all being attempted to be delivered as a service. Some of these innovations provide 'clever data' rather than 'big data', as was described in the session. An innovation hub, in London's North Greenwich Peninsula has been set up by CISCO and so the presenter Gareth mentioned, we were all invited to drop in. That's off the Jubilee line, in case you were wondering.

Next events up in the conference season are the DRS conference user group event in Chester, next month, followed by the NHF IT at London Olympia & Manchester Central. If you are there, email or DM me, be great to say hello *waves*.

Related Post: Some great presentations at this Orchard conference, but how do you prepare to present one well?

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

Ladytron - The Last One Standing.
(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!

You can access a quick list of blog posts here
Could we help you or your organisation?
Our contact details are here, get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems or issue.
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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 .

The Real (Internet of) Things

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

Lately I have been thinking about the so called 'Internet of Things' (IoT), and wondering if we have enough internet IP addresses for all the applications that potentially we will have about our person. According to Gartner, there will be nearly 26 billion devices on the Internet of Things by 2020.

Objects in the IoT will not only be devices with sensory capabilities, but also provide actuation capabilities (e.g., bulbs/locks controlled over the Internet). To a large extent, the future of the Internet of Things will not be possible without the support of IPv6; and consequently the global adoption of IPv6 in the coming years will be critical for the successful development of the IoT in the future.

IoT, can refer to a wide variety of devices such as chips inside tablets (slowing us they have been swallowed or not), heart monitoring implants, biochip transponders on farm animals, automobiles with built-in sensors etc. Current market examples include smart thermostat systems and washer/dryers that utilize wifi for remote monitoring. You will have seen those HIVE (http://www.hivehome.com/  ) ads.

Maybe social housing will one day come with an iPad plastered into the wall in the hall, showing the status of your heating, nudges to save the tenants money, water, energy and alert then to their arrears, when they are logging that responsive repair. I don't think we are that far away from that vision. Smart Asset Management, for benefit of resident and landlord is coming.

In at least two UK Housing tenders I have been involved in, I have included questions around smart homes, heating and electrical system monitoring, to test how innovative our providers are, regarding gathering information from tenants, without intrusion, but to enhance their life, health and wellbeing.

For care and support, being able to scan RFD tags and folder bar codes to clearly understand our service users needs on mobile devices, has been here for some time. At home, I remember a chat just a few weeks ago with one of those blokes (I think they recruit blokes, as I have personally never encountered any ladies), who read meters these days. He said that he was due to be replaced with a smart meter that waited for a dustcart to go by every other week, to take more accurate readings for billing.

Get ready, the future is here, I tell you!

Stewart Davison of Capita Housing Software Services, will be doing a session on the Internet Of Things, at Homes at Olympia 27th Nov 10:30, see http://www.homesevent.co.uk/page.cfm/Action=Visitor/VisitorID=1238 for details. it should be an interesting lecture.

Related Post: Are you a fan of the bake-off?.

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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 Human League - Real Thing.
(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!

You can access a quick list of blog posts here
Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems or issue.
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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 .

Fooled again (I don't like it)

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here uk.linkedin.com/pub/tony-smith-bsc-hons-acih/a/979/351/

While working with a customer this week, in a lunch break, the conversation moved to how software is often unlike other products we are generally used to. The user I was talking to, who I will not name, described software a bit like a "Washing Machine that you get home, then you have to pay another £5K to make it spin your clothes dry". After I had stopped laughing, I had to broadly agree with them. That indeed can feel just like the experience!

The key to this of course, is that to us, a washing machine is a well understood concept and product. Software, for housing, finance, repairs, assets or EDM etc, is a less well known and understood animal, unless you have experience of purchasing and successfully implementing in the past. Certainly, it's a rarity for your average housing professional to be involved in such a project, even more unlikely to do two or more within a career. In PRINCE2 terms, it's just not 'business as usual'.

I have gathered together here, a list of 15 things that you can do to really foul up your projects. I would be surprised if you have not encountered at least a few of these. If you recognise 5 or more, you are probably in trouble! Check out 'How Not To Implement System & Applications' here.

Software, particularly Housing Management Systems can amount to between £500k+ and over a million pounds of expenditure, one of the biggest areas of cost. If implemented badly, many times that in efficiency savings will not be realised. The way I always have considered it, that's an awful lot of new Kitchens, Bathrooms, Rewires, Neighbourhood improvements, that will have funding denied.

While few organisations are ever keen to admit they may have made mistakes and purchased the wrong software solutions, or not implemented them well, some key elements of the process can be firmed up to ensure you don't end up in the same situation. Like 'knowing your enemy', 'knowing your problem' is a key one. Setting appropriate expectations and appropriate communication is another. I have experienced organisations that have set a deadline, let it slip, then trained or gone live just to let them tick the box, to say it was hit. If a strong project leader or supplier is not prepared to outline the risk and hit the brakes, almost certainly, time and money will be wasted and the project will not be as successful as it could be.

Often in demonstrations, the wrong questions are asked. In a very British way, often we don't dig deep enough. Software suppliers will demonstrate whatever you ask them to, in order to get your business (within reason). Give them scenarios to follow, with all your painful areas included. Score them on it. That's the way you will understand how those solutions will solve your issues. Do ask if the software will dry your clothes at 800rpm, don't waste too much time worrying about the colour of the software or quality of the icons. Has it got everything on your bucket list, did you see it, did the supplier describe it? More important still, do you think you trust this supplier, could you work together?

The biggest elephant in the room is integration. Grill your supplier options on this one and importantly, ask to see it (or visit a live site it's in place), just like in your instance. This can be the costliest element not to have, or cost a fortune in expensive IT staff to shore up.

I feel so strongly about the amount of money wasted in poor and badly specified software, sloppy late and partially delivered projects, I will be hosting a couple of training courses in July to help housing organisations in this area. as an ex-poacher turned gamekeeper, with over 17 years experience with helping people get the best from housing systems, I can offer unique insight in this area.

Check out the dates on Rod Laird's site, and use this link to book on the Manchester (20th November 2014) course. http://www.rodlaird.co.uk/default.asp?page=1469   Probably the most insightful and useful course you will attend this year, in order to make your systems make a difference, for your customers and neighbourhoods.

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You can link with me on LinkedIn here - uk.linkedin.com/pub/tony-smith-bsc-hons-acih/a/979/351/ It would be great to connect !

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Fooled again (I Don't like it..).


(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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(Lack of data) Protection

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

You cannot have missed the news headlines last week, surrounding South Staffordshire Housing Association, better known as HousingPlus, had leaked thousands of resident details onto the internet. Read more about it here.

Frankly, there is little that can be said about that, except that SSHA are really sorry. Hope is, that they can 'guarantee' nothing similar can happen again. In reality, to put tenant details like that on the internet, takes a great deal of effort.

Now sometimes it takes a malicious current/past employee with access to do so, adding  a secret Easter Egg (which happened to me once), or some self service portal glitch? Sounds like the latter here, if so it would be good to know what application so we can all avoid in future. Here we have certainly SeenMoreData than expected.

My take is actually that most employees, in IT or other teams, try to do the best they can, and would feel pretty beat up about something, that could have been prevented like that. Well, I doubt if we will really know, but what precautions should we be taking. What could we learn, so it does not happen to us?

Well structured self service portals adequately insulated from SQL injection type attack is a great start. Last week it was revealed that even the UNIX BASH shell can be susceptible to that type of compromise. Have you had your website certified by some third party, to prove its security and stability for your auditors?

How well protected are your staff laptops? Are they well secured and encrypted with Bitlocker (or similar)/Pin/Fingerprint reader, on TPM chip enabled machines? Are your mobile devices trackable by GPS location and are you utilising MDM (Mobile device Management) software, to protect them? Is any data on those encrypted and could it be remotely wiped, if needed? Does the MDM already adequately segregate work and other apps? You may already lock down laptop USB ports, to discourage loose unencrypted data being available at large, on those types of memory sticks.

Be sure to educate staff on these risks and their responsibilities, and have them sign to say they have understood this, as well as everything else organisationally, they need to understand. The best encrypted laptops in the world can be easily compromised by users writing their password on a post-it, stuck to it. I wont reveal who I saw doing this last week, but your laptop password was clearly '0pen2esame'.

Robust testing of software and procedures another one. Everyone, everywhere seems to test less and less these days. It might be because of lack of staff, or we are not so old skool any more. More than ever, we have layers on layers, on layers. Testing takes time, but more downtime is wasted if problems get through and disrupt normal operation. If 100 staff are unable to work properly for 2 hours, the IT team might not think that too serious. But thats about 5.4 person weeks wasted right there. Surely its worth putting that effort in?

Sometimes, just the use of an external 'Critical Friend' can identify a number of data protection risks, as well as some historic measures, that probably need to be revisited.

What price do you put on that embarrassment factor? Well we would have to ask SSHA on that one. Did any staff lose their jobs over that one, or suppliers contracts terminated? What would you do with such a breach? Lets hope you never have to deal with one.

Related Post: If a data breach had been made and put on twitter by one of your customers, would you know about it?

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

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

Massive Attack - Protection.
(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!

You can access a quick list of blog posts here
Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems or issue.
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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 .

Cornershop

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

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to meet up with Barry Marlow, who I follow on Twitter. It was the first time I had met him in person and he was good enough to treat me to a few pints (of diet Coke) in the Wolverhampton hostelry, where we met.

Barry is an interesting chap, does work as Critical Friend, you might have caught his blog or on Twitter @BarryMarlow  He spreads new angles on possible ways that the social housing sector can think and work, through the CIH.

Like me, he grew up in 'council housing' and remembers the times when his parents, like mine, put the rent in a jam jar, for collection every fortnight by Dave (the 'Rent Man'), popping around with a few spare dog biscuits in his lumberjack jacket pocket, if followed by feral hounds on the estate. I can identify with Barry, he's a good bloke, extremely enthusiastic about seeing social housing develop and evolve.

We both agreed that the glory days of social housing, seem to be behind us. The landscape today is very much changed and it's a bit fruitless to constantly hope we might go back to the past. Subsidy to develop is going to be smaller and continually harder to obtain. RSLs need to look at the PRS and take what we can learn from it, without losing sight of the reason we are here. IE the social purpose of providing homes for the vulnerable and low paid. In addition, making our contribution to neighbourhoods and communities. Campaigns like SHOUT are all very well, but let's not miss the obligatory reality check. Without a social housing Tardis, we will not be going back in time anytime soon. If we could, we should probably fix some of our historic mistakes, not bring them forward to our time.

I work with many organisations, large and small. Some of the ones that are doing outstanding things in their areas and communities, really think commercial yet act socially. This is a difficult trick to pull off. Witness the outcry and backlash of comments in InsideHousing, when RSL x declares profit y. Even when the word 'Profit' is replaced with 'Subsidy', contributors generally go for the jugular. Lets face it, we are in a time when our organisations are going to need a war-chest. Maybe that is a more apposite term, we should be using?


When I have had the chance to chat to housing's luminaries such as Paul Tenant and David Orr, they are usually agitated about the current climate we have to work within, but urge that we work within it to grow and thrive.

One of my big interests with Barry was what some of the new initiatives were and how IT and tech could assist in making it a reality. Lack of CRM or lack of a 360 degree view in CRM modules loomed large. In this blog, I have banged on about how sometimes we fail to get even the most basic info accurate. Funnily enough Contact data accuracy was one of the subjects that Abigail Davies quizzed me on when I completed my ACIH presentation, about 7 years ago. By the looks of things we have not actually moved that far forward since.

Another of Barry's big ideas was that of the neighbourhood seen as a 'Social Business'. To explain, we all understand the idea of the 'Housing Officer Patch'. IE the number of geographically adjacent homes that generally will be managed in an arrears sense. IE Income in the real world. For repairs, a different team look at that expenditure. For ASB & Tenant Participation, possibly two more teams.

Now, we can relate to the idea of a neighbourhood having bad payers, deprivation, high levels of ASB, abandoned cars, lots of repair activity, maybe related to build types and other issues. What if a single 'manager' was responsible for all of these things. Her/His job could be to manage the patch as if it was a social enterprise? They take charge of what they spend, how income is spent, getting residents involved etc. The principle is not much different to managing a small commercial enterprise, like a corner shop.

Our ideas of 'Living Wills' and 'Asset Sustainability' could be telescoped down into a number of neighbourhood patches. The manager would get to know the terrain, residents, problems, challenges etc and ultimately we can spend to best effect and really bring change to our communities. The manager would be expected to do this role for some time, in order to really understand what is being managed. They could be rewarded for reducing ASB and Repair spend, while increasing rent collected and overall satisfaction and participation.

From an IT viewpoint, where a fairly modern Housing Management System (HMS) is in use, the reporting & monitoring, should be very feasible. Barry frequently encounters IT being the speed-bump in the road, as I do. When I see it, I am generally being engaged to drive a steam-roller over those humps. I would not be surprised if in the future, Barry & I my collaborate to open up systems to support these new ways of thinking.

I would be interested as ever to hear your views on this line of thought. For some, it will be very controversial. Is thinking more commercial to reach better social outcomes admissible, or not?

Related Post: Afraid to embark on business change? Staying still might be more dangerous.

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

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

Babybird - Cornershop.
(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!

You can access a quick list of blog posts here
Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems or issue.



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 .

Touched by the hand(over) of God

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

A prospect of mine, who happily became a customer too and later a good friend, once described buying application software, a bit like switching on the radio. (that would be the Roberts DAB radio in this day and age obviously. Not what oldies might lackadaisically call the 'wireless').

The sale is like BBC radio1. Bangin' tunes, DJs all over you, Hip-Hop, Rap, Drum-n-Bass. Once the deal is done, in come the implementers, knocking out Mahlers 3rd in E-Flat! Yep, we have gone to BBC Radio3!

Please at this point dear reader, you will be feeling some empathy with me, if you have put a few projects in recently. The species Homo-Sales-Erectus differs vastly from Homo-implementationus, as this diagram clearly illustrates:

 

Well, in my former life, I was on occasions told to get my ar*e down to x as its a new deal we have won and they want to implement before y, make it happen will you? Being the obliging chap I am, I would endeavour to hit y and normally did, I had a reputation to preserve!

Still that's not the best way, sailing by the seat of your bottom, I can tell you honestly!

In fairness, its pretty much most suppliers I encounter, that suffer from this. Handover is not the best thought through bit of the contract progression. This inevitably leads to the customer going over so much old ground, that was covered in the PQQ, ITT, Demos and/or Contract Clarifications. For the exceptions to the rule, they do present a refreshing change, but they are definitely in the minority. As can be gleaned (humble suppliers, I know you read this blog..), customers are rarely amused.

Consider in your next software procurement / purchase, stipulate you would like your assigned project manager to read and digest all the paperwork that has gone prior, within the sales process and that your salesperson does a sensible handover, before initially contacting you to introduce themselves. That will save everyone a month or more, supplier complaints and a few brickbats.

Customers and Suppliers will get on better, Yin and Yang will be equalised to bring them both together to create something that is greater than the sum of the project parts.  Aesthetic balance, everyone efficiently working together. Peace on earth. Well maybe we will tackle that, after our latest project is in 8-) 


Related Post: Just procuring? If so, dont get fooled again.

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

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

New Order - Touched By The Hand Of God.
(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!

You can access a quick list of blog posts here
Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems or issue.

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Floorshow

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

Well that was an interesting thing to watch last week, from the Manchester labour conference, the Milliband 'off-the cuff' speech. Its omissions made more interesting by the fact that the full text he should have presented, was passed to the press anyway.

I need to qualify at this point, that I distrust politicians of all shades, unless they really care and appear to be uncorrupted by the influence, power and free dinners that those positions bring. On the eve of an important election, that blunder looked to me like the Kinnock one or the William Hague with a backwards baseball cap incident, from so many years ago. I'd say Millibean has blown it there for his money shot of majority to be PM in May 2015. We all lose our keys from time to time, but for goodness sake, don't lose key lines when you are meant to be delivering the 'money-shot', particularly big ones.

I do a lot of work now helping people with presentations. I sit through plenty and it always amazes me, how little preparation goes into many of them. Tackling them 'off the cuff' like Milliband attempted, only works if you are so well rehearsed and confident beforehand. When the likes of John Bishop or Stephen K Amos do tours of that type of (appearing) spontaneous material, they have rehearsed and drilled themselves with it for weeks before. If I were a systems supplier pitching for a £600K+ gig, I would put some considerable effort into knowing who was going to be in the room, their roles, the organisation I was pitching to, as well as knowing my application & test system inside and out.

Borrowing an analogy from a brilliant mate from housing (you know who you are buddy), who I don't see nearly enough of, A sales presentation particularly is like chatting up someone in a nightclub. They should see (& smell) you looking at your best, your lines polished. They don't want to know about your failings and bad habits, they will work out that you leave the toilet seat up, once they move you in. they will know you well enough by then hopefully, that will no longer matter.

With competing applications providing high scoring features barely separated by a Rizla+ paper, every differentiator counts. Presentations and how they are executed really count.

Research and understand your audience, whoever they are, and fashion any visual aids around what they need to know, not what reminds the presenters what to say. Replace death by Powerpoint with dizzyness by Prezi (http://prezi.com/ ). On second thoughts, don't make it that dizzy! If Milliband had used Prezi, he would have had the works 'Big Gaping Deficit' and 'Immigration' on his big Prezi canvas, so would have been sure to have returned to those, after covering the details of everyone on Hampstead Heath, he met while walking his dog (or whatever...).

Unlike Milliband, have some bullet points on cards, a lectern or written on your hand. Once distracted, this device will enable you to pick up your previously rehearsed thread, just where the questioner took you off. Have a sip of water if you need to compose yourself. That buys you 5 seconds to get back on track. Know your materials inside out. That way you can skip some slides if time becomes short, or extra time becomes available.

Manage your time. Can you get your message over in 5, 10, 20, 40 minutes? If you have 60 minutes, practice 15, 30, 45 & 60 minute versions of your presentation. Be prepared to have to tailor it to where your audience wants to take you. However, stay in charge. remember you have limited time, get all of your messages across, or you have failed. Know before you start, what message you want your audience to take away.

As we know, technology can be rubbish. If your internet link, display card or hard-drive fails, have you a printed backup version of your slides? This will allow you to continue without a laptop if needed.

When presenting, do you look the part?

If a supplier were selling me something, I would expect them to be hungry for my business and know their product inside out. This is as good as it generally gets. If the sales presentation is shabby, how on earth is that going to sway buyers or stakeholders? It's the same if I am buying a whole housing management system or a tub of perfect hummous.

If the presenter is disinterested or looks like they would rather not be there, in that tight ill-fitting corporate top/shirt, the staff behind them, are generally expected to be worse. Like in the disco, with a few drinks inside you and some D-ream playing, this could be the best its ever going to be.

Related Post: How well do you and your staff work as a team?

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

Sisters Of Mercy - Floorshow.
(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!

You can access a quick list of blog posts here
Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems or issue.

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 .