Showing posts with label Microsoft Dynamics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Microsoft Dynamics. Show all posts

Saturday, 4 June 2022

Smooth

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

 

As I have written a few times on this blog, consistency is pretty much synonymous with quality, as regards customer/tenant interactions. Also as reported quite intensively recently and called out by the regulator, lack of consistent response to repair interactions is a particular challenge. From my experience on social media where I have a few hundred followers who are residents/tenants, the challenge goes way beyond just repairs. Solutions also need to deal with reception of interactions in self-service, as well as via a back office CRM solution used by an agent.

The best route to securing consistency is a good scripting solution, powerful enough to cover all bases (not just response repairs) and very customisable to everyone’s local quirks and specialties. I think the most frequent scripting solution used within Social Housing and councils, has been Keyfax supporting repairs and all other enquiries. A decade ago while on the HMS supplier dark side, I completed many happy successful projects with Omfax and Peter Graddon historically.

The Keyfax scripting environment from OmFax - https://www.omfax.co.uk/
The Keyfax scripting environment

These days, for more than a few clients I work with, the traditional HMS is in the bad books and more exploration of Microsoft Dynamics 365 (or other CRM’s, such as SalesForce or Netcall) can be the order of the day with the likes of resellers such as Crimson & Esuasive. While its possible to build elementary scripting into D365, for sure it can be clunky and very time consuming.

The D365 KeyNamics App - from https://www.omfax.co.uk/
The D365 KeyNamics App

Its not surprising that a lot of organisations that previously had good experiences of Keyfax are now using a new proven Cloud version specifically engineered to plug quickly and directly into D365, ‘KeyNamics’. It handles both back office and web self-service facing provision and I had a good rake over it a few weeks ago. I have a particular interest as with many of my procurement projects, I am often retained to be involved as Critical Friend during implementation too.
  


Self-Service mobile view of KeyNamics - https://www.omfax.co.uk/

One big bonus I see in KeyNamics, is that in addition to being very scalable taking advantage of native Cloud features, it comes with proven pre-baked in connectors/APIs to make the implementation integration process smoother. 

It has been implemented in just a few weeks and put fully live in under a couple of months.


I have seen a number of badly supported add-ins to D365. KeyNamics is backed up by dedicated helpdesk support, which has certainly made a big difference, for the Dynamics community to integrate/implement themselves, or alternatively for software solution suppliers/resellers to simply and quickly plug it in. Detailed documentation (from http://help.keyfax.biz) is freely available.

Other diagnosis tool solutions are available for sure, but not with the ease of script build that Omfax provides in KeyNamics. In alternative solutions, an out of the box template can be the only starting point, or the need for excessive hand-crafting by originating supplier, which can be expensive. I have seen many Keyfax sites where end-users manage all their scripting themselves, with no dramas. Good to see this has been carried through into KeyNamics.

KeyNamics setup in D365 - https://www.omfax.co.uk/
KeyNamics setup in D365

While I like what I see, how do Social Housing landlords, juggling multiple primary solutions, such as Pobl in South Wales, (or others), find the experience?

Following a series of mergers, Pobl Group were using two different Housing Management systems alongside KeyFax. To both solidify a unified way of working, and improve on previous systems, Pobl chose to use Dynamics CRM as a single central Housing Management System. As part of this we chose to use the KeyNamics Dynamics Integration.

The Pobl Project Manager told me it was a pleasure to work with the Omfax team. "From a project and implementation perspective, it went very smoothly, and we didn't have any major issues. There was plenty of support from their side, which was instrumental to the success of the implementation".


And at Platform Housing, Sarah Clarke Transformation Lead was very complementary :

“Our work with Omfax has delivered real benefits for our colleagues and customers. By using Keyfax we have achieved consistency and efficiency in our contact management. Omfax have understood and supported our ambitions throughout our Dynamics 365 implementation, and we look forward to working with them in the future.”


If your transformation strategy is taking you down the Cloud-First route, or it might be on your radar in the next eighteen months, catch the Omfax team exhibiting later this month at #Housing2022 in Manchester, 28-30th June. I’m sure they will be happy to chat about your Dynamics scripting requirements, on stand TE34. When I chatted to the Omfax chaps last week, they still had a few exhibition passes left, if anyone is interested in booking a slot with them – get in touch at https://www.omfax.co.uk/contact-us/

I will be at the event too, I hope to see many of my regular blogcats & post readers there!

If we at Acutance Consulting can help your organisation with CRM, Digital Platforms, scripting or wider HMS transformation, please just get in touch, for a chat over a brew. 

I will bring the Jaffa Cakes ☕😉

       Related Post: Is Microsoft Dynamics the only CRM option? Why not give Salesforce a look? 


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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.

Santana – SmoothSantana – Smooth.
(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.


File Under: #HomesForBritain,#HousingDAY,#InternetOfTenants,#Shout,#UKHousing, 07854655009, 1st Touch,1stTouch,360,365Agile,3squared,4Js, ACL,ALMO,AMS,AX,Aareon,Abritas,Academy,Accuserv,Accuserve,Active Housing,ActiveH,ActiveHousing,Acutence,Advanced,Affinity,Agile,Agile365,AirWatch,Alfresco,Alignment,Allpay,Amazon Web Services,Anite,Apex,App,ArchHouse,Archouse,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Associates,Aurora,Average IT Costs,AWI SX Integration Toolkit,AWS, BI,BO,BPR,BancTec,BigChange,Blockwise,BluTek,Bluebox,Blueprint,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning,Business Process Review,Business social networking, CACI,Capita One Housing,CBL,CCS IT Keystone CCSIT,CEDRM,CHICS,CHR,CIH,CMS,COA,CORE,CPL,CRM,CRM2013,CRS,CTI,CTX,Cadcorp,Capita,CapitaOne,Capita One,Capital Management,Cashflow,Castle,Castleton,Castleton Technology,Cedar Open Accounts,Cerrus,Change,Charges,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, Citrix,Civica,Civica CTX,Civica Cx,Civica 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Void,MriEngage,MrVoid,MoreIQ NDL,NINTEX,NINTEX workflow,NPS,NPS ASSIST,NPS Housing,NPS Job Manager Mobile,NROSH,Natural,Neighbourhoods and Communities,Nintexworkflow,Northgate,Northgate Codeman,Northgate Public Services,Notice, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,OJEU Limits,ORS,Ohms,OmFax,Omniledger,One,OneAdvanced,OneServe,Open source,OpenContractor,OpenHousing,Opti-time,Options,Optitime,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OutSystems, PIMMS,PIMSS Data,PM,PRINCE2,Paloma,Pamwin,PanConnect,People Value,Peoplevalue,PfH,Pick,PlanForm,Planned maintenance,Plenfific,Plus,Portfolio Management System,PowerObjects,Pro,Pro-Points,Prodo,Progress,Promaster,Propoints,Proval,Providers,Pyramid, QL,QuantSpark,Qube,QLX,Qlikview,QueryView,Queryview reporting,Quiss, RM865,ROCC,RPs,RSL,Rave,ReAct,Reality,RedkiteCRM,Red Olive,Registered,Registered Social,Rent Increase,RentSense,RentSenseLite,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,RobotAutomation,Rocket, Salesforce,Salesforce.Org,SAP,SASSHA,SDM,SHBVN,SM,SOTI,SP,SQL,SQL 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. . . . . . . . . . . .

Saturday, 21 May 2022

Love You More

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

You may have caught my blogpost, touching on the expansion of choice for scheduling Social Housing repairs and other areas, a couple of months ago. Since then I have been doing a bit of a deep-dive into the most exciting full Cloud innovation available for scheduling, from More IQ

For me, that ‘Full Cloud’ and designed from the ground up for Cloud, is these days the most crucial attribute.


Since just before our two years of painful pandemic lockdowns, already I was aware of ‘an about turn’, to the Cloud and browser delivered apps, especially from local councils during procurement.  “If its not Cloud Tony, we don’t want to procure it!”. Very wise too!

Clearly, this seismic shift has understandably wrong-footed many suppliers with older, more traditional Client-Server solutions. Redeveloping/retrofitting those can be extremely expensive and also suffer from not being able to absolutely start again, from the philosophical “blank sheet of paper”. If exploited thoroughly, a well designed Cloud architecture can provide infinite extendibility and expansion. On scheduling solutions, I have seen many projects, as a critical friend where scaling up from a fairly nippy fifty operative diaries to 500, has quickly meant a second or third physical server with 65%+ CPU utilisation, or over a minutes wait, to offer a customer some slot options. Conventional client-server based solutions, do too suffer from many of those 'all weekend' upgrades too!


Out of the box, back office agent view of MOREIQ, showing estimated cost/journey time
Out of the box, back office agent view of
MOREIQ, showing estimated cost/journey time

Out of the box, scheduler MoreIQ web user view
Out of the box, scheduler MoreIQ web user view

The key architects of More IQ, Nick Shipton, Gael Sainson and Katie Evans, who I am sure will be known to many particularly from the Xmbrace days, appear to have cracked this issue using key Cloud infrastructure features. I have seen the More IQ scheduler effortlessly handle 3,000 filled diaries, deftly with performance to spare. On that last point, one of the main asks of any scheduler, on the performance front is being ‘Dynamic’. I surround the word in brackets, as its much maligned and mis-used. What do we mean by it?

Graphical features of MoreIQ
Graphical features of MoreIQ
A dynamic scheduler in my book, brings decent automation & potentially allows many more diaries to be managed with a leaner manager/scheduler role headcount. So often I have seen legacy scheduling solutions purchased on a business case of reducing staff and the headcount grows instead. Has that ever happened to you in an organisation you have worked in?

In contrast to quite a few other schedulers out there, MoreIQ ticks a lot of my boxes here. Three operatives phoning in sick at 08:06 is not a drama, just handled automation within a minute. A HR link has been thought through too, so only one system need be updated, not three or more. Metrics available for efficient automation are forward thinking too, covering strategies to favour reduction of CO2, bonus/penalties, mobile journey AI learning, all supported.  

As we know in SocialHousing, scheduling a responsive repairs team is different to managing voids, planned works or coordinated actions, such as an eviction or combined gas/arrears visit. MoreIQ deals with these situations by design, using a concept of ‘parcels’ to better manage our sequenced tasks.

Parcels of dependent work in MoreIQ – Eventually in 2022, smarter Voids
Parcels of dependent work – Eventually in 2022, smarter Voids 😉

With scheduling solutions, like any other, integration can be the Achilles Heel. Traditional solutions built integration links, as they went along. MoreIQ sensibly brings them all with decent documentation, right out of the box. Web & text based integrations are available and being used by a number of early partner adopters such as Propeller Powered, and being considered as an option for the D365 community.

Propeller and More IQ have a first customer live which was completed within a few weeks with no additional hefty ‘implementation days’. The MoreIQ costing model is pretty much a reasonable ‘all in per seat/diary’, so much more attractive to your finance director. No need to recontract and buy it all again after 5 years, which I have seen to be a recent emerging theme.

Quickly customise the supplied MoreIQ working templates<br> with the same team ICT skills being deployed in D365
Quickly customise the supplied MoreIQ working templates with the same team ICT skills being deployed in D365





There are opportunities with MoreIQ in a number of relevant current situations. Firstly, if your organisation is considering or already on a journey with Microsoft Dynamics 365. Secondly, if back-office solutions are under review (quite common in my recent assignment), to squeeze the very most from integration.  Lastly, where it might be felt your current suppliers are not thinking out of the box with alternative scheduling solutions. There’s no excuse for mediocre field service efficiency.

This is  the real deal as regards industrial strength truly reactive scheduling, and an enabler of potential outstanding field service efficiency. Check MoreIQ out. It does come with its full browser GUI, which is easily customised in a way most others out there struggle to achieve, as well as having the ability for your existing partners to fully white label it

Grab some additional info at More-IQ.com -  via the white paper at https://more-iq.com/#whitepaper 

They are on my doorstep, at CIH Housing 2022 Manchester 28-30th June (Stand TE22), arrange in advance to have a look yourself.

If we at Acutance Consulting can help your organisation with any aspect of scheduling, transformation issues/procurement, please just get in touch, for a chat over a brew. 

I will bring the chocolate digestives 😉

       Related Post: SocialHousing can turn voids around quickly, but is it effective for new tenants?


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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.

Buzzcocks - Love you MoreBuzzcocks - Love you More.
(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.


File Under: #HomesForBritain,#HousingDAY,#InternetOfTenants,#Shout,#UKHousing, 07854655009, 1st Touch,1stTouch,360,365Agile,3squared,4Js, ACL,ALMO,AMS,AX,Aareon,Abritas,Academy,Accuserv,Accuserve,Active Housing,ActiveH,ActiveHousing,Acutence,Advanced,Affinity,Agile,Agile365,AirWatch,Alfresco,Alignment,Allpay,Amazon Web Services,Anite,Apex,App,ArchHouse,Archouse,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Associates,Aurora,Average IT Costs,AWI SX Integration Toolkit,AWS, BI,BO,BPR,BancTec,BigChange,Blockwise,BluTek,Bluebox,Blueprint,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning,Business Process Review,Business social networking, CACI,Capita One Housing,CBL,CCS IT Keystone CCSIT,CEDRM,CHICS,CHR,CIH,CMS,COA,CORE,CPL,CRM,CRM2013,CRS,CTI,CTX,Cadcorp,Capita,CapitaOne,Capita One,Capital Management,Cashflow,Castle,Castleton,Castleton Technology,Cedar Open Accounts,Cerrus,Change,Charges,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, Citrix,Civica,Civica CTX,Civica Cx,Civica Genero,Civica Saffron,Clearview,Clik,Cloud Dialogs,CloudDialogs,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Commontime,Community Reward Services,Company,Competitive Dialogue process,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Consultants,Contact Manager,Context,Contractor Systems,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,Crystal Reports,Customer Relationship Management,Cx, DRS,Deeplake,Designer Software,Development Systems,Director,Document,Documotive,Docuware,Dynamic AI,DynamicAI,Dynamics 365,D365,Dynamics365, ECMK,EDM,EDRMS,ERP,ESRI,Elmhurst,Enghouse Interactive,England,English,EnterpriseBI,Estatecraft,Etive,Exhibition,Exponential-e, Facebook,Factorwise,Field Service management,Finance,Financial Systems,Financials,Footprint,Forms,Freezes,Fusion, Gas Tag,G-Cloud,GCloud,GDPR,GGP,GIS,GasTag,Genero,GeoSolveIT,Getting best from,GoTonySmith,Grasp,Grip,Group Apex, HFI (Housing Financials interface),HG,HRA,Hardware,Hitachi Systems,Hitex,HomeMaster,Hometeam,HouSys,House,Housemark,Housemark survey,Housing,Housing Contact,Housing Group,Housing Insight,Housing Management,Housing Management Consultant,Housing Partners,Housing Portfolio Management System,Hub Asset Management,Homeswapper,Housing jigsaw, Housing Support Pro,HousingIT,HousingSupportPro,HyperOptic, IMS,IT,IT Budget,IT Training,ITIL,Impact Response,In,In4,In4Systems Promaster,InfoBoss,InHouse,InMotion,InMotion2015,InMotion2016,InfoBoss,Infoflow,Information,Information Technology,Information@Work components,Informix,Innovation, Informetis,Inphase,Inside Housing,Insight,Internet Portal,Internetalia,Invu,Ireland,Irish,itLab, Keyfax,Keylogic,Keypera,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera, Landlord,Ledgers,Linkedin,Liquid,Locality,Localz, M3,MAVIS,MD,MDM,MI,MIS,MIS-AMS,MISCS,MRI,MS Dynamics,MRI,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Microsoft365,microsoft 365,MWL,Management,Management Server,Manifest,Measuring,Mebus,More IQ,Microsoft Dynamics 365,Microsoft dynamics GP 2013,Miracle,MobileIron,Mobysoft,Monopoly board images and pictures,Montal,Mr Void,MriEngage,MrVoid,MoreIQ NDL,NINTEX,NINTEX workflow,NPS,NPS ASSIST,NPS Housing,NPS Job Manager Mobile,NROSH,Natural,Neighbourhoods and Communities,Nintexworkflow,Northgate,Northgate Codeman,Northgate Public Services,Notice, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,OJEU Limits,ORS,Ohms,OmFax,Omniledger,One,OneAdvanced,OneServe,Open source,OpenContractor,OpenHousing,Opti-time,Options,Optitime,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OutSystems, PIMMS,PIMSS Data,PM,PRINCE2,Paloma,Pamwin,PanConnect,People Value,Peoplevalue,PfH,Pick,PlanForm,Planned maintenance,Plenfific,Plus,Portfolio Management System,PowerObjects,Pro,Pro-Points,Prodo,Progress,Promaster,Propoints,Proval,Providers,Pyramid, QL,QuantSpark,Qube,QLX,Qlikview,QueryView,Queryview reporting,Quiss, RM865,ROCC,RPs,RSL,Rave,ReAct,Reality,RedkiteCRM,Red Olive,Registered,Registered Social,Rent Increase,RentSense,RentSenseLite,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,RobotAutomation,Rocket, Salesforce,Salesforce.Org,SAP,SASSHA,SDM,SHBVN,SM,SOTI,SP,SQL,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting,SQL Server,Saffron,Safron,Saturn,Scenario,Scotland,Scots,Scottish,Scout,Sequoa,Serengeti,Serros,Server,Service,Services,Servitor,Sharepoint,Sim,SimPro, Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Housing ICT,Social Housing Software Applications,Social Media,Software,Software solutions,Spotlight Service,Spotlightservice,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic,SunAccounts,Sunguard,Surveys,Streetwise, Swordfish,Sx3,Symatrix Human,System alignment,Systems,Systemwise, T-Files,TEAMS,TED,TFiles,TP Tracker,TSG,Tagish Casework,Tagra,Task,TAIM,Technologies (India) PVT Limited,Telecetera,Template,Terminal Services,That,Three Star,Tilt,TiltAffinity,Today,Tony Smith,Tony Smith That Housing IT Guy,TonySmith that housing IT,TonySmithHou,TonySmithHousing, ,TonySmithHousingITguy,Total,Total Mobile,Totalmobile,Trace,Tribal,Twitter, U2,UC,UK,UK Housing,Ukhousing,UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,United Kingdom,Universal,Universalcredit,Universe,Unrest, Valueworks,Van Stock,Vantage,Vantage Sentinel,Version,Virtualisation,Visualmetrics,Voice,Voice and data,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Wheatley,Windows Server,Workflow and,Work Hub,Works Connect, XML,Xen App,XenApp,Xmbrace, ...
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Tuesday, 9 February 2021

Alone, Jealous and Stoned

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

I'm afraid to disappoint that this post is not a summary of my pandemic lockdown condition.

Many of us are feeling alone and jealous of those Kiwi’s and Aussies, enjoying their BBQ’s together in the sun, with minimal Coronavirus restrictions. You may too be enjoying a few more drugs of choice, whether that might be wine, the odd tipple or something tending more to the medicinal. Hopefully we are keeping our mental state stable and checking in on our friends & neighbours to ensure they are ok.

My subject in this post is more to do with the ‘alone’ than the ‘Jealous and Stoned’.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 (or just D365 as its increasingly referred to), is increasingly being sold as the modern antidote to your existing sluggish vertical supplier suppliers, you have suffered with and been overcharged from, for yonks.

Now its fair to say I have met quite a few social housing organisations, that feel that way. Possibly that they have been let down by existing supplier integrated solutions, or they have got so complex, even they at times, struggle to have consultants and implementers with broad enough skills/knowledge to get them working properly. 

Many organisations are quite middle of the road in reality and just crack on to use the horses for courses. Also, some of the ineffective solutions out there, can quite easily be the client, not the suppliers fault. Not many are happy if they are hiring me to point that out, but always honesty is the best policy, I find.

Microsoft resellers are targeting the sector pretty actively however and notching up some impressive wins. Whether all organisations totally understand what they are buying into at the outset is doubtful, although that’s perhaps a subject for another post later in the year.

Any D365 reseller worth his salt will always sell it on its CRM capabilities, a true thing of beauty. It should be, it’s a CRM platform after all! No one selling D365 will be banging on about its Rent Accounting capabilities. I have on occasion seen that questioned and occasionally MS Dynamics gets mentioned in passing. As anyone in socialhousing knows, a rent account is a few levels more sophisticated than a Sales Ledger Account. The other suggestion is often, “well just keep your rents  in your old HMS”. Takes me back to the 80’s, what did they say, “Shampoo and Conditioner”?

I thought the sales pitch was that “Your existing supplier is not giving you what you want, that’s why you need to swap to this”? Why then do we need to keep paying for a whole HMS, use just a little bit of it and have D365 over the top, doing its best to hide it from us?

For sites looking to minimise or remove the old HMS, then possibly it’s a hard learned lesson that you will still need a separate rent accounting and in some cases a repairs ordering module. This is becoming a new emerging requirement. Just getting those, relatively self-contained, with suitable API’s / integration, to connect seamlessly to D365, Salesforce, Netcall, Firmstep, IEG4 or whatever.

In work I have done recently, that’s not as easy a task as one might expect. Existing system options can come with all that ‘bloat’ of a big HMS platform, all those config days needed and perhaps getting it fully in the cloud (as most sites desire these days) can be pricy, as the off the shelf set up reflects taking a full HMS, not just one or two modules.

I am not criticising suppliers for this, its how they have been tooled up for the last decade. The future is being sold as SaaS, pay for what you use. It does need a re-think on the part of some suppliers, to compete at a sensible price point for CRM customers.

No-doubt we will be seeing more of this requirement and suppliers need to be aware of how they can offer very good product, that can be easily slotted into CRM quickly and at reasonable pricing. I for one would like to see more suppliers targeting this growing market, so providing more choice and range for RSL’s of from just 1,000 units to over 50,000.     

Clearly, those suppliers quick out of the blocks, have much to gain here.

Related Post: Have you and your team sussed it yet? Transformation is a marathon, not a sprint


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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 Secret Machines - Alone, Jealous, and StonedThe Secret Machines - Alone, Jealous, and Stoned.
(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.


File Under: #HomesForBritain,#HousingDAY,#InternetOfTenants,#Shout,#UKHousing, 07854655009, 1st Touch,1stTouch,360,365Agile,3squared,4Js, ACL,ALMO,AMS,AX,Aareon,Abritas,Academy,Accuserv,Accuserve,Active Housing,ActiveH,ActiveHousing,Acutence,Advanced,Agile,Agile365,AirWatch,Alfresco,Alignment,Allpay,Amazon Web Services,Anite,Apex,App,ArchHouse,Archouse,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Associates,Aurora,Average IT Costs,AWI SX Integration Toolkit,AWS, BI,BO,BPR,BancTec,BigChange,Blockwise,BluTek,Bluebox,Blueprint,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning,Business Process Review,Business social networking, CACI,Capita One Housing,CBL,CCS IT Keystone CCSIT,CEDRM,CHICS,CHR,CIH,CMS,COA,CORE,CPL,CRM,CRM2013,CRS,CTI,CTX,Cadcorp,Capita,CapitaOne,Capita One,Capital Management,Cashflow,Castle,Castleton,Castleton Technology,Cedar Open Accounts,Cerrus,Change,Charges,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, Citrix,Civica,Civica CTX,Civica Cx,Civica Genero,Civica 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