Charity

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

I was reading a great little on-line forum discussion about annual maintenance payments on software etc this week. Well it is practically the end of March, budgets should be all in, those annual re-occurring invoices will be dropping on RSL door mats just about now. Should customers be trying to challenge those? That's assuming that a reality check has already been done to ensure we are not paying for any things that we really shouldn't be?

It is important to always have sight of who the customer and supplier is in the relationship. Some people do think it's best to constantly beat up your supplier to let them know, who is in charge. I only encountered one customer like that in my tenure as MD of one of the HMS suppliers to medium to larger RSL's. It's fair to say it was hard to go out of my way, or get my team to, confronted with that mindset. So broadly I would not suggest that is a viable strategy personally. My buttons are more easily pressed by people who work with me as a partner, with respect being a two way street.

Annual maintenance, particularly on Housing Management Systems can really rack up. RPI (or more likely CPI lately, which is more en-vogue), over 10 years, even 2% or less, can mean that every 3 years, you effectively buy your system again. As anyone should realise, on a new procurement, bargains can be had, unavailable to existing customers. You know, just like renewing your AA each year. It can be cheaper just to start again. Now, readers, please don't assume that is my default tack, because it certainly isn't.

Changing your HMS is a formidable and expensive task. Always better to have pushed what you have as much as possible, before throwing the towel in. However, what if you are actually satisfied relatively with what you have, and costs are escalating?

Challenging invoices can be very productive, savings can be made. A good relationship with your suppliers, account managers is essential. Having been a supplier I am aware of some of the pressures and limitations. Having said that, it was always easier to contribute to charitable enterprises to offset costs and of course it provides a social outcome in a housing sector devoted to building and creating sustainable neighbourhoods.

Without asking, you will never get. if you do manage or are linked to a food bank, furniture project, training academy etc, that is far easier for your supplier to contribute to. The prose of publicity that will show everyone in the best light, sweetens the arrangement. In contrast to the hardnosed aspect of negotiation, it is a much easier prospect.

What could you do to cut your IT & systems budget and also create some social capital?   

Related Post: Have you embraced 'Big Data', or are you still struggling with 'Big Paper'?

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

Skunk Anansie - Charity.
(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,#HousingDAY, #HomesForBritain, #Shout,1st Touch,3squared,Accuserv,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 Planning, 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, Community Reward Services, Consilium, Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context,CIH,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cadcorp,Cerrus Saturn,convergeOne,CACI,CPL, CRS Director, Deeplake,Development Systems,Accuserve,Document Management,Documotive,datasystems , Microsoft dynamics GP 2013, DynamicAI, Dynamic AI, 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,Housemark, HRA, Housing Options, 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,Internetalia, Invu,Ireland,Irish,Inphase , 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,PlanForm, Propoints, Pro-Points 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,Scenario, Scotland,SDM,sector,TonySmithHou,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, TonySmithHousing, Systemwise,SM,Sequoa,Serros,SP,Scout,score,Swordfish,Serengeti,SOTI,southview,Sunguard,Service Charges,Spotlight Service, Spotlightservice, SunAccounts Template,Task,Terminal Services, tonys , tonysm , tonysmi , tonysmith, tonysmitht, gotonysmith, tableau Business Dashboards, 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, Totalmobile, Total Mobile, 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 .

Grey Cortana

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

What is it with Microsoft? Guaranteed to be months, years, approaching decades you could imagine sometimes, behind the curve. They are becoming the next IBM, living on more creative licensing of Office & SQL Server and lacking the strategic direction of others.

But what of Microsoft's latest mobile device talking assistant?

This is taking on Apple's Siri and Google Now, so which is the smarter? Which is the faster and which is the most accurate. For a start, where did that name come from? Not Tom Robinsons 1977 hit 7" anyway. It's taken from Halo, the xbox game, a Spartan AI companion. Whoever coined that name deserved a bonus. Still, again they are trailing Apple, whose app has its roots way back 5 years ago.

While we seem to have too many female digital assistants, Siri can help you get in touch with your masculine side, with a nifty voice gender setting. Siri is one of the easiest to activate too, just a press of the bottom button for a few seconds, fires it up. far simpler than swiping or switching on a screen and wondering where the search icon is to hold down.

Google Now, manages the digital assistant brief and serves up related content and personal recommendations, based on search history & preferences, with that iconic strap-line 'OK Google!'. I wonder why Microsoft didn't go for 'Bing Fetch!' or similar. Bill Gates is welcome to that one from me for free.

You can yell either 'Hey Siri' or 'OK Google' at Apple or Android phones to grab some hands free action, while Microsoft is waiting to catch up on this feature. iPhones do need to be plugged in however!

All these solutions differ, but I do find Apple's Siri the simplest.

I had a Windows Phone the other day and it seemed I was not allowed to use it until I had revealed all my fave contacts, favourite DLL and most cryptic windows shortcut. Well not quite, but I would not have been surprised if the geeks at Redmond had wanted me to reveal such things. Then you can "Ask Me Anything". If you are using one, possibly avoid asking anything about maps, as that seemed to be the flakiest subject for Cortina.

Siri seemed much faster, maybe 50% the speed of Cartana for similar searches. If this was because Siri is built into the OS, I don't know, but I would suspect that would help a lot. Anyway you can probably guess my overall preference. Thats why I generally have the iPhone6 in my pocket!

Related Post: Are your staff using the power of the nudge?

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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 Tom Robinson Band - Grey Cortina.
(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,#HousingDAY, #HomesForBritain, #Shout,1st Touch,3squared,Accuserv,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, #HousingTech2015, BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning, 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, Community Reward Services, Consilium, Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context,CIH,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cadcorp,Cerrus Saturn,convergeOne,CACI,CPL, CRS , #HousingTech2016, #HousingTech2017, Director, Deeplake,Development Systems,Accuserve,Document Management,Documotive,datasystems , Microsoft dynamics GP 2013, DynamicAI, Dynamic AI, 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,Housemark, HRA, Housing Options, 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,Internetalia, Invu,Ireland,Irish,Inphase , 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,PlanForm, Propoints, Pro-Points 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,Scenario, Scotland,SDM,sector,TonySmithHou,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, TonySmithHousing, Systemwise,SM,Sequoa,Serros,SP,Scout,score,Swordfish,Serengeti,SOTI,southview,Sunguard,Service Charges,Spotlight Service, Spotlightservice, SunAccounts Template,Task,Terminal Services, tonys , tonysm , tonysmi , tonysmith, tonysmitht, gotonysmith, tableau Business Dashboards, 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, Totalmobile, Total Mobile, 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 .

Welcome To The North

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

I spent a few interesting days this week up at the CIH Scotland conference at the SECC Glasgow. It always amazes me how similar the housing landscape is from both north and south, although there is limited cross-fertilisation. It surprised me too, how many Twitter followers buttonholed me and stopped for a chat about satisfaction with their housing suppliers and also where to look for quality real ales in town. So a cosmopolitan bunch then. Stephen Cook deserves special mention, the furthest anyone has travelled to canvas my vote for his CIH vice chair, & a chap with whom I have about 5 organisations and about 15 people in common.

As mentioned, similar constraints seem to be affecting Scotland as in the south, although in some areas, there’s some interesting things going on the north, that are only starting to be talked about seriously in England & Wales.

I sat in a very interesting session with Janine Barrett and Marion Gibbs, all about what's described in Scotland, as 'Housing Options'. Elements of this, could be loosely described as ‘Homelessness’, although the magic that hubs all over the north have added, under direction to do so from the regulator , is to consider the whole social/health care/well-being aspect too. Much is talked about in this area in England recently, but we seem slow to join the dots, moving to aggregate the two areas.

The new Scottish approach is refreshing as it puts the person presenting at the centre of the process, in terms of all their needs. I.E. Homelessness, mental health etc. Key to this is a ‘toolbox’ type method, not a process based one. It’s one that seeks also to change the hearts & minds of the housing staff involved and clearly needs to take root from the top of the housing organisations involved. The approach is very much a journey, not a simple destination.

Being a professional 'Mancunian', I am very interested how the proposals for DevoManc will play out, particularly if within the conurbation, health can be better & more aligned with (social & other) housing provision. I would like to see initiatives similar to the ones being constructed in Scotland via the hubs, to place the 'patient' / 'homeless person' presenting for any of those reasons, to be assessed for both. That way, we are more likely to see individuals getting the right care and being helped into a sustainable tenancy/home too.

I am pleased and a little excited to be frank, to be doing some work in the spring around the Housing Option Hubs north of the border, looking at how the toolbox method can be supported by IT & systems. I am very much looking forward to it and I think it’s a trick that we can pull off in the south, learning something very crucial from our more enlightened tartan clad neighbours in housing, in Scotland

Related Post: Are you on top of your asbestos 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 !

The Music - Welcome To 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, 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,#HousingDAY, #HomesForBritain, #Shout,1st Touch,3squared,Accuserv,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, #HousingTech2015, BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning, 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, Community Reward Services, Consilium, Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context,CIH,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cadcorp,Cerrus Saturn,convergeOne,CACI,CPL, CRS , #HousingTech2016, #HousingTech2017, Director, Deeplake,Development Systems,Accuserve,Document Management,Documotive,datasystems , Microsoft dynamics GP 2013, DynamicAI, Dynamic AI, 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,Housemark, HRA,Scottish Housing options,Housing Options Scotland,Scotland Housing Options,ScotlandHousingOptions,ScottishHousingOptions,Housing Options, 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,Internetalia, Invu,Ireland,Irish,Inphase , 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,PlanForm, Propoints, Pro-Points 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,Scenario, Scotland,SDM,sector,TonySmithHou,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, TonySmithHousing, Systemwise,SM,Sequoa,Serros,SP,Scout,score,Swordfish,Serengeti,SOTI,southview,Sunguard,Service Charges,Spotlight Service, Spotlightservice, SunAccounts Template,Task,Terminal Services, tonys , tonysm , tonysmi , tonysmith, tonysmitht, gotonysmith, tableau Business Dashboards, 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, Totalmobile, Total Mobile, 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 .

Adolescent Sex

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

Thank you to one of my Twitter followers last week at the Housing Technology Conference for providing a perfect definition of ‘Big Data’. Have you ever considered that its actually more like ‘Adolescent Sex’ and it was confirmed to me with a roomful of housing system bods down at the Oxford Belfry.

I asked, in a session with CIH visionary Barry Marlow, who here is using ‘Big Data’ as all we seem to hear these days is that it’s our saviour. Barry too has been sucked in to the big data hype. Not one of about 45 people raised their hands. My response was “Actually Barry, what we have proved here is that housing has not yet actually got to grips with ‘Small Data’. In fact we are still drowning under thousands of spreadsheets, carefully groomed and maintained by our staff in silos.

How confident are you of how many spreadsheets can be found in your shared drives & user areas? A few dozen, few hundred, few thousand, tens of thousands? Paddy Power give me poor odds on it, but I would wager towards the latter. So did the attendees in our session.

My twin sister from another mother @NasrinFazal, crystallised it by the following graphic:

Dan Ariely:
Big data is like teenage sex: everyone talks about it, nobody really knows how to do it, so everyone claims they are doing it ...

Now, you could say that big data is in fact lots of collections of small data. Our problem is that we have on the whole been pretty pants, at actually using the expensive systems we spend £hundreds of thousands on, in creating joined up data of use to us.

If you are feeling smug, try asking the question, “How many properties have we got and of what bedroom sizes & types”? If you need to consult more than one system or application and you cannot reconcile to a single figure, you are probably not “practising safe data” are you?

Related Post: Why does our Workflow not make everyones housing work, flow 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 !

Japan - Adolescent Sex.
(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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All For Self Service

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

If you have a housing organisation customer self service portal, please take the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/housingselfservice . Thank you!



A couple of weeks ago I had some exchanges about tenant self service portals, with Ade Capon (@AdeCapon), brains behind #HousingDay, other things and is a real good egg.

Digital First is the way to move for our housing systems, although I believe we need a mixture of channels, in order to reach all our customers, in ways that suit them. While access to devices, wifi and broadband is another matter, what we were thinking about, is what applications are out there currently, what's working for housing & what's not.

Having worked on both sides of the fence, as HMS supplier and now three & a half years successfully matching housing organisations with solutions that work, I have my own ideas of what the ideal might be. That would include easy login via existing social media accounts (such as Facebook, Twitter or Google+), as well as more traditional email sign-in. Having a site that could be exposed as a convenient app, render on a range of browsers and display footprints well, are all on my checklist.

As mentioned in a great session I did with the (mighty) Barry Marlow (@BarryMarlow) this week, at the Housing Technology Conference at the Oxford Belfry, I think we should have customer self service like the commercial world. That way we will be taken seriously and we can take our software providers seriously. So like a bank sends us a secure link that then exposes an EDM document, such as a statement or an invoice, UK Housing should aim as high.

All the usual things that our customers might expect should be on tap. IE Statements, make a payment (with their account patched in so they don't have to re-key much, unlike a bland link to Allpay or Paypal etc), check repairs & planned works in their property & around them, order some fully, with a 'real' appointment, and be restricted to the repairs we are responsible for.

Case based activity should be fully supported, ASB, Complaints, Complements, Permissions, Notice/terminations, as should housing options (in the Scottish sense, including services we can signpost & link to beyond pure accommodation) as well as mutual exchange support, transfer lists and link to local Common Housing Registers. Oh & drop the board members in cardigans on your info page, while introducing reward points, that can be seen in the portal and spent locally.

In my world, those self service interactions must all update the back end systems in real time. Sending an email in is so 1990's. All we are doing in that shabby situation is creating more admin in our back offices, delay, the chance of losing those messages in the organisation and increasing the probability we will need to call the customer back. I was talking to one IT manager just this week who is ditching one of those types of portals and spending more money with his HMS provider to buy a properly integrated one. I won't name products, but if you get in touch directly I might.

Please let us have your views on the link below. Everyone I work with is aware of my staunch independent viewpoint. Its more about solving the problems than who in most cases.

Like me, this survey is fully independent of suppliers etc, so you are safe to share your views good or bad. It might well help us push software suppliers towards where we need to be, in order to serve our residents better! Thanking you in advance.

If you have a housing organisation customer self service portal (such as iHousing, SeeMyData, DataFish, in-house developed or any other), please take the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/housingselfservice . Thank you!

Related Post: How can we tackle getting more tenants online 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 !

Fun Loving Criminals - All For Self.
(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,#HousingDAY, #HomesForBritain, #Shout,1st Touch,3squared,Accuserv,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, #HousingTech2015, BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning, 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, Community Reward Services, Consilium, Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context,CIH,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cadcorp,Cerrus Saturn,convergeOne,CACI,CPL, CRS , #HousingTech2016, #HousingTech2017, Director, Deeplake,Development Systems,Accuserve,Document Management,Documotive,datasystems , Microsoft dynamics GP 2013, DynamicAI, Dynamic AI, 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,Housemark, HRA, Housing Options, 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,Internetalia, Invu,Ireland,Irish,Inphase , 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,PlanForm, Propoints, Pro-Points 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,Scenario, Scotland,SDM,sector,TonySmithHou,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, TonySmithHousing, Systemwise,SM,Sequoa,Serros,SP,Scout,score,Swordfish,Serengeti,SOTI,southview,Sunguard,Service Charges,Spotlight Service, Spotlightservice, SunAccounts Template,Task,Terminal Services, tonys , tonysm , tonysmi , tonysmith, tonysmitht, gotonysmith, tableau Business Dashboards, 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, Totalmobile, Total Mobile, 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 .