Stepping Out

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




I was at HOMES at Olympia a week or so ago, in a similar slot to where the old NHF IT Managers conference and exhibition used to be, mid-November. It was good to see a lot of old friends, clients and contacts there, among the non-IT solution suppliers, of protective equipment, ready meals for the elderly etc.

I did a talking slot with Barry Marlow and Alan Rogers, service director at Curo Response. Both cracking chaps. It was a very interesting journey through Value for Money, explored from a blue sky, IT Systems and practical on the ground viewpoint.  One of the key themes was joining up our data, into useful information. If you have good modern integrated systems, that job is somewhat easier.

Sometimes in social housing there can be an obsession with stock condition data. I once did work with one asset manager, who insisted he wanted to know measurements of every one of the windows in all 8,000 units of this stock. This was because if a glazing responsive repair was logged, he wanted first fix every time, with exactly the right sized glass panel to be used.

I tried my best to explain the cost of collecting, storing and keeping that data updated, verses the possible downside of the tenant (and us) suffering two response repair visits. It was all to no effect however, but when I was back four months later, I was told he had 'Moved on to pastures new'. Spooky!

So, reliance on stock condition asset data is not the silver bullet. Alan at Curo had a good story around this, in our presentation. He now drives down capital programme repair spend, by collecting better data during responsive activity. For example, central heating boilers are rated and assessed by the responsive team, to only target capital spend where it's really needed. He had a great view of being sure how good something was, in order for it to be good enough.  

This approach has worked very well for Curo and resulted in what they call 'great doorstep appeal'. A great way to use quality data to make bold decisions.

     Catch the blog monthly archive at https://archive.org/details/@housingitguy

Related Post: Do we use our IT to support our boards? 

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I would be pleased to connect with you on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy Message me with any issues or queries, you would like to be explored in this blog. We generally receive a couple of suggestions each month.


The Fall - Stepping Out.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


Access a quick list of our Social Housing ICT 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 and help with your organisation issues.
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The Conference Season

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

Well, summer is barely gone and the autumn housing IT conference ramps up. There is a good reason why system suppliers enjoy this timing, it gives ICT System Managers good time to squeeze all those super products into next April’s budgets. You may call me cynical, but that's a fact. With that aside, Autumn 2014 looks to be a great period to learn more about what's out there and what your system supplier has put in the latest upgrade.

Orchard, Capita and DRS housing conferences pop up shortly and then this years 'Federation’s IT in Housing Conference and Exhibition 2014' event, becomes a two location affair this year. Although surely that one will cost suppliers double to do both, it will certainly reach more RSLs in the North.

So, how to get the most from your suppliers conference, beyond the almost obligatory free bar? If you are lucky enough to for your supplier using a venue like Alton Towers (you know who you are), ensure you ask for a rides ticket.

Choose some interesting sessions, on areas you may get more from with your existing system. Sessions run by other customers or outside consultants are often the most useful. Expect sessions to be positive though. No supplier would organise a car crash in a session intentionally, so if the subject matter did interest you, do as I do and chat to the presenters after the session, to gauge a more balanced opinion. Suppliers have good stories to tell, but you may well be implementing it in a different situation to others.

Talking of others, conferences are great places for making links with your peers, neighbours and other users of your package. This can be invaluable in sharing insight and knowledge. I have also seen old users of mine at MIS-AMS use contacts to gang up, to push the priorities of new features or module fixes, as a group. You might find that useful to consider. Most suppliers are happy to take feedback on board like that, to push products forward.

I find supplier user conferences invaluable too. Being truly independent, I find all switched on suppliers are pleased to make me aware of their new biggest and best developments. It certainly helps inform me when working with the variety of system applications I work with on a regular basis. It’s obvious that some leading suppliers are developing their systems very rapidly and from their user conferences, seem to be fulfilling delivery promises and expectations.

The National Housing Federation’s IT in Housing Conference and Exhibition 2014 bash also comes with a free drinks event, although this has become more subdued in recent years. Hopefully Documotive will sponsor that again this time. The sheer choice of suppliers you can see at London Olympia and this year at Manchester Central, is a big draw for me. In the last few years I have taken customers wanting to procure around similar suppliers, to make structured soft market assessments. If you are looking to try something similar this year, please be in touch.
Last year’s conference seemed much more focussed on RSL IT experiences and less on supplier pitches, which I believe is the way to go. Satisfied customers often sell solutions better than suppliers sometimes sell software. I am sure you would agree. As again, don’t be afraid to engage speakers after the session if feasible.

If you are booked into the conference circuit this autumn, do let me know. It would be great to share some war stories and a coffee or a beer in the (free) bar(!).

Related Post - Learn To Fly, the Housing Technology Conference

Here are the most important / relevant ones:

Capita's Everything To Everyone 2014 - http://www.capita-softwareandmanagedservices.co.uk/news/Pages/housingconference14.aspx
DigitalFirst at Salford Quays 29th September
Housing Technology SMAC Your IT up at the BT Tower, London, 3rd October - http://www.housing-technology.com/events/smac/  
Orchard Customer Conference 2014 - https://www.orchard-systems.co.uk/news/94b73d32-d118-42ed-9325-b170a7ee3b1f and My experience there
Optitime / Kirona DRS Conference - Chester -4,5th November - http://xmbraceusergroup.org/upcoming-events/next-user-group-meeting/
The Federation’s IT in Housing Conference and Exhibition 2014 - London Olympia and Manchester http://it.housing.org.uk/

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

Nitin Sawhney – The Conference.
(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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Olympian

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/

Are you going to any of the London based housing events next week? (19th/20th November 2013).

You can find me at Olympia for the NHF IT Managers conference and exhibition on Tuesday. Please come and say hello if you follow this blog or my twitter feed at @hotpixUK

Prices look to be much more reasonable this year and rightly so, in the current climate of austerity. Worth getting out of the office for, plenty of interesting sessions and the exhibition of IT suppliers, looking to help spend your IT & systems budget too!

I will be going to Mr Grants excellent HT (Housing Technology) Magazine annual bash at Pizza Express too, so do say hello if you spot me by the bar with a beer!

The day after, Wednesday it is Homes at Excel on the east of town, which is also looking like a good event this year.

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 !

Gene - Olympian .


(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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