Under The Gun

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

Just when you thought it was safe to come out and look at new social housing & council software solutions, one of the biggest suppliers has found itself unexpectedly under the gun. You will have perhaps read here in this blog back in early July  , about the sale of London-based outsourcing and professional services company Capita Software, to US Solon, Ohio headquartered MRI (now owners of Orchard & Castleton).

The CMA (Competition & Markets Authority) who have the job of discovering any companies enabling monopolies and restricting choice, this week 05/11/2024 issued an Initial Enforcement Order against MRI. For legal eagles out there, it’s under section 72 of the Enterprise Act 2002. The LSE update is here on the latest for this £207m software takeover. Back following the July announcement there was an early 18% surge in Capita shares to just over 18p each.

The most recent parallel to this affecting UK Socialhousing and Local Authority solutions, was a few years back again involving Capita’s merger with IBS. That took many months and involved having to farm off benefits applications.

In this case, the least optimum outcome for MRI could be a decision to have to hive off the OneHousing applications and MRI retain the remaining non-housing sector solutions. The latter includes education and other areas non-key to Real Estate, MRI’s specialism. However it would keep more traditional HMS options available for procurement in the medium to large providers zone.   

Of course there are plenty of housing system options beyond the traditional HMS, particularly suitable in the crowded micro to medium sized provider zone. These include written specifically for Cloud/Responsive Browser offerings, would-be dinosaur slayers, D365, client-server options hiding behind thin clients and Salesforce.Org options.

Notably MRI seem to currently have a gap in that lower sector segment. Methinks we might yet possibly see another acquisition being needed before long.

Checkout the full CMS chapter & verse here with lots of legalese. As at time of writing, no word of this on MRI's official UK news page.

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Struggling with changing to a modern Cloud HMS all in a responsive browser?

Get in touch , for a chat soon over a brew & I will bring the quality biccies ☕

       Related Post: In procurements, what are the right questions to ask (& when to remain compliant)?

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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 Black Keys – Under The Gun.
(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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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,QLX, QLF, QL Yuneo,QuantSpark,Qube,QLX,Qlikview,QueryView,Queryview reporting,Quiss, RM865,ROCC,RPs,RSL,Rave,ReAct,Reality,RedkiteCRM,Red Olive,Registered,Registered Social,Rent 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Victim Of Changes, Progress (the database)?

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

We all try to stay ahead of the curve. No sooner we have Windows 7, we have Windows 10, then 11. It’s a constant fight to stay current and protected. 

The Silverlight support deadline has been & gone. Woe betide any Socialhousing organisations still on Keystone asset management cowering behind their firewall.

One de-support notice that might have passed your attention however, is the close of Progress OpenEdge database version 11.7, next April 2025. Apache Tomcat 8.5 security support has already ended, back in March 2024. While from April Progress based solutions will still operate, however will no longer receive security updates and patches. While not generally web facing, that reduces but not totally eliminates risk.

Progress, very much a database of the 1980’s and mid-90’s still has a large footprint in UK Social Housing. This is due to the number of IBS/Capital OpenHousing and MRI/Orchard housing systems still in use and the large footprint of openAccounts as finance solution, often sold with those solutions. Of course a lot of folk are looking to the market to research alternatives, some with housing/Finance combined.

The sector does have a severe problem with not keeping application solutions up to date. Of course this is not limited to the above examples. I have found it endemic across many applications, regardless of contracts attempting (but generally failing) to enforce frequent upgrades.

Many users will be expected to be way behind with versions of OpenAccounts, Pro2, Ebis, OpenPeople as well as housing solutions.

While there is a good nine months to upgrade, bear in mind that many dozens of sites will need to take this leap and also a year-end will sit in the way of finance users. So how if you are a site affected by this, to move forward smoothly?

Getting across to Progress Version 12 is crucial and a pre-cursor is to get upgraded to MRI Orchard’s latest version, in order to be Progress v12 ready. This will be more clunky for organisations many versions behind. This will involve applying a number of incremental versions with attendant testing/UAT. Interfaces are the most important areas to concentrate on, in addition to any local development outside of what’s supported as supplier IP. Although often helpdesks fall down in spectacular manner!

For OpenAccounts, the target needs to be v10.1 – If this can be achieved by late summer, this would be ideal. Where existing users are still on OA versions 8 or 9, it’s a heavier upgrade path. Getting up to v10.1 will then provide Progress v12 compatibility.

Where Orchard/OpenHousing is used in conjunction with openAccounts, there are bound to be dependencies. Be sure to check these out in detail with whoever supports your solutions.

This all kind of underlines the good sense of upgrading often where you can. You know it makes sense!

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ *** Join the discussion with Claire & Aiden *** _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

If you are stuck on a legacy SocialHousing system, reach out

please just get in touch , for a chat over a slice of LDC ☕😋

       Related Post: Is your finance chart of accounts, the size of Saturn ?

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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.

Judas Priest – Victim Of Changes.
(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,Cx Assets, 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,CxFeedback, DRS,Deeplake,Designer Software,Development Systems,Director,Document,Documotive,Docuware,Dynamic AI,DynamicAI,Dynamics 365,D365,Dynamics365,Dynaway ECMK,EDM,EDRMS,ERP,ESRI,Elmhurst,Enghouse Interactive,England,English,EnterpriseBI,Estatecraft,Esuasive,Etive,Exhibition,Exponential-e, Facebook,Factorwise,Field Service management,Finance,Financial Systems,Financials,FLS,Footprint,Forms,Freezes,Fusion,Fuzzlab 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,Keynamics, 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,MoreIQ,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,QLX, QLF, QL Yuneo,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,Rubixx, 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 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Another partner In Crime

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

The new megalith newcomer in UK & Ireland Social Housing, MRI, grew bigger still today (5th Aug 2020), as it snapped up ‘Housing Partners’.

You may use a Housing Partners product, if you have Homelessness to deal with in England & Wales (Housing Jigsaw), Anti-social behaviour not dealt with in your Housing Management System (Streetwise), track and tracing of tenant debt (TAIM), or make use of Homeswapper.

The statement on the Housing Partners website went as follows:

“We are proud to welcome Housing Partners to the MRI family, adding an exciting and innovative range of digital solutions to our powerful and interoperable MRI Living residential portfolio,” said Patrick Ghilani, Chief Executive Officer of MRI Software. “This acquisition expands MRI’s ability to facilitate the delivery of front-line services, helping social housing providers bring increased flexibility, mobility, safety and security to communities – building on our commitment to improving the lives and experiences of social housing tenants through the power of technology.”

I am loving the across the pond use of English, “Interoperable MRI Living Residential Portfolio”. Some should think of turning that into an acronym, it being a bit of a mouthful.

Proof of the pudding in the use of the housing systems from the usual suspects is generally level and quality of integration. This is a deceptively tricky nut to crack, particularly when the number of original sourced ‘Jigsaw’ pieces multiply. Get that wrong and an upgrade or change to one piece can create a nightmare of testing required.

A few years back, I remember sitting in a presentation at a Housing Technology conference, where a supplier who had bought up about 5 housing products, from multiple sources, expected to have them all linked together, integrated in just 9 months. With my colleague in the next seat, we both agreed they would struggle to even get them looking similar with colour-scheme and branding, in 9 months.

So, maybe it will be some time I expect, before the ‘I’ in ‘IMLRP’, can be swapped to ‘Integrated’ (or even ‘TIMLRP’ for ‘truly integrated’.

It will be interesting if the MRI shopping spree will continue and who else might be worth adding to this smorgasbord of mixed solutions. There is a danger of the mix becoming a little like 'The Curates Egg', with too random a mix.  

Of course too, with the background of the traditional HMS providers rushing to move to SaaS and true browser GUI delivery and the clear alternative of MS Dynamics CRM or Salesforce, providing whatever RSLs want, we are in interesting times. Lets see who are the winners and losers here, although its clear that supplier deep pockets may be needed in the next few years, just to pretty much stand still. 

Related Post: Have you hit rock bottom with any of your software  suppliers?

Catch the blog monthly archive at https://soundcloud.com/housingitguy/

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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.

Ocean Alley – Partner In Crime.
(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,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,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,Dynamic AI,DynamicAI,Dynamics 365, 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,acquisitions, 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,MWL,Management,Management Server,Manifest,Measuring,Mebus,Microsoft Dynamics 365,Microsoft dynamics GP 2013,Miracle,MobileIron,Mobysoft,Monopoly board images and pictures,Montal,Mr Void,MriEngage,MrVoid, 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,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, ...
. . . . . . . . . . .

Apple Tree

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


Why-aye, interesting news for the North East this morning, as MRI Real Estate Software ‘broadens capabilities’ an acquisition of Orchard Information Systems.

Veterans of social housing asset management, might remember Qube, quite a ‘family atmosphere’ outfit in the day and also RAM (which many RSLs have purchased for Component Accounting), all part of this big US software group.

While rumours have done the rounds for a decade (like a few other UK standalone social housing software houses), that the for-sale signs were up, this is an interesting development. Orchard may well see a large injection of cash, similar to when NEC acquired Northgate recently. Alternatively, some consolidation, particularly around asset management solutions, may be on the cards. I would certainly consider some of the latter myself, even if investment was forthcoming. Many peers in this tight market are now scrambling to move to SaaS/browser delivery, or successfully implement new adopters. Slow movers stuck on traditional client-server models, will soon not be long for this world I fear.

MRI certainly have deep pockets and it will be interesting if some of it will be coming to ‘toon soon, to revive Orchard’s Progress based integrated housing solution and successfully move it to the SaaS space. Orchard have had a few false starts and there is a risk that once royal customers, may find they need/want to go to market sooner than development roadmaps permit. I have encountered a few sites where often perfectly happy housing teams, have been corralled to OJEU, due to having deemed to have hung on to a solution too long.

It’s a fair point, as RPI/CPI accumulates, like compound interest on annual maintenance, these organisations can be effectively re-purchasing the solution, very 2-3 years or so. Not brilliant value for money. Orchards relatively static and broadly content customer base, might well be the biggest attraction to MRI. It will be interesting what differences Orchard customers will experience going forward. I will keep an eye on this one (from my lock-down household  )

Full press release here

***************** 15/04/2020 *** U P D A T E ********************************
MRI Software Enters Agreement to Acquire Castleton Technology PLC
**********************************************************************************

Related Post: Covid-19, is it changing the way your organisation measures staff contribution and throughput?
 

Catch the blog monthly archive at https://soundcloud.com/housingitguy/

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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.

Wolfmother – Apple Tree.
(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,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,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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data,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Wheatley,Windows Server,Workflow and,Work Hub,Works Connect, XML,Xen App,XenApp,Xmbrace, ...
. . . . . . . . . . .

Statue of Liberty

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/

Its autumn (although its spookily warm!), another day another housing IT conference, last week it was the turn of everyone's favourite independent housing management system and Promaster provide Orchard. Manchester's classic, rambling but ornate Victorian palace, the Midland hotel. Again I have got to say, it left me and attendees, with a nice warm feeling about its systems and the developments going forward.

I was pleased to see that a lot of new initiatives are underfoot, which look to benefit Orchard users in the coming months. It will be interesting if the drive to 'solutionise' bears fruit, also the idea to communicate in less of a detailed fashion to help customers make better use of solutions they already have. Over the years I have spend days of my life, I will never get back, analysing detailed amendments with clients, to extract the gold nuggets, worth switching on. I should say that's not just Orchard ones, they can be better than most that I see. Praise where its due Aidan!

These days it does seem that every HMS supplier is eagerly refreshing into GUI or moving to more modern underlying technology. Orchards new 'Liberty' project is now looking tantalising close, with high expectations of its new mobile offering. Promaster users will be the first to experience the shift and it will be interesting to see what opinion I hear from my spies, in the asset management community.

It's interesting too that Orchard, like others have recognised that mobile is no longer just a 'bolt-on' module. It needs to support the enterprise at every point and in the new world of tablets with everything, users will find it pretty un-natural at work, to be tied to their desks.

I wasn't stalking Aidan, but did seem to spend a lot of time in his sessions. One particularly packed one was the one covering income protection, in the new world of Universal Credit and Housing Benefit Caps.

Looking at alliances with other excellent third party tools in the sector, such as truly automated pre-dialling with proven inbound customers  and credit checking services are good ideas. Money manager apps, links to ethical credit sources, as well as the right technology to intercept customers when needed, to collect growing risk of arrears, is crucial. IMHO landlords (social or PRS) who assist or guide their tenants to make good choices, are going to suffer a lot less with growing arrears and other issues.

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

Related Post: Is it asking too much these days to go green our UKhousing ?
 

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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.


XTC - Statue of Liberty.
(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: 360,1stTouch,4Js. , 07854655009 , ," """" ",,#UKHousing,#HousingDAY, #HomesForBritain, #Shout,1st Touch,3squared,Accuserv,Acutence,Aareon,Academy,ActiveH,AirWatch,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,Civica Genero,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,Liberty,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 ,Footprint,Fusion, Getting best from,gotonysmith, Grasp,Grip,GeoSolveIT,GIS,GGP,Genero,HouSys,Housing software,HG,Housemark survey,Housing Blueprint,Housemark, HRA,housingtITguy,Housing Support Pro,HousingSupportPro,Housing Options, Housing Group,hotpixuk, HousingIT,hotpix,Hardware,Hitex,Housing Contact Company, Impact Response,iPayPro,implementations,iRobot,In House,InHouse,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, iSupport,iSupportPro, Keylogic,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keyfax, Ledgers,Linkedin,Locality,Liquid Voice, MD ,Mr Void , MrVoid, Measuring Change,Mebus,Miracle,MISCS,mDesign,mobile platform,mobile functionality,Monopoly board images and pictures, Montal,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Miracle Software,MDM,Management Reporting,MI,M3,MIS,MIS-AMS,Mobysoft, Northgate Codeman,Neighbourhoods and Communities, Northgate,Notice,NROSH,NINTEX,NINTEX workflow,Natural Forms,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, Pimss Sapphire,Planned maintenance,People Value,Plus, Peoplevalue, PM,Progress,Promaster,Proval,Pyramid,PRINCE2,prince,Pamwin,PlanForm, Propoints, Pro-Points,Pimms,QL,QLX,Quiss,Qlikview, Registered Providers,Registered Social Landlord,Rent Increase Freezes,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,ROCC,RobotAutomation, Rocket,RPs,RSL,Reality,ReAct,reidmark,RM865, Saffron,SAP,Scots, Scottish,Scenario, Scotland,SDM,sector,TonySmithHou,Safron,Server Virtualisation,Sapphire,servicing, Servitor,Sharepoint,Simdel,Simdell,SimPro,Sim Pro,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,InFor Template,Task,Terminal Services, tonys , tonysm , tonysmi , tonysmith, tonysmitht, gotonysmith, tableau Business Dashboards, tonysmithth, tonysmiththa, tonysmiththat, tonysmiththath, tonysmiththatho, tonysmiththathou, tonysmiththathous, tonysmiththathousi, tonysmiththathousin, tonysmiththathousing,Tony Smith That,Tony Smith That Housing IT Guy,TonySmith that housing IT guy,tonysmiththathousing, tonysmiththathousinguy,tony smith housing guy,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,Works Connect,worksConnect, Xmbrace,XML ,XenApp,Xen App .

Show Me Magic

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

Anyone who reads this blog on a regular basis, will know that IT and getting systems right for housing isn't magic, its hard work and often dependent on sharing ideas that work from elsewhere.

One of those premier league forums for sharing great ideas and best practice is coming up in Oxford in March 2015.

The Housing Technology magazine conference comes up 4th/5th March 2015 at the Oxford Belfry Hotel. Lots of experience nuggets from a vast array of presenters to be had. I would seriously recommend it. A quick link over to it here http://www.housing-technology.com/events/ht2015/ All the important, significant, housing ICT suppliers will have stands there. Particularly if you are looking to change HMS or review other areas, such as mobile, tenant portals, EDM, contractor or letting systems, this is the event to look at lots of solutions in one place.

I will be there both days, if you follow my blog here, do feel free to pigeon-hole me and say 'hello'.

I will be doing a session about 'Thinking Commercial and Acting Socially, to Get INSPIRED' with CIH, NHF & Critical friend visionary Barry Marlow. Do come along and see us. Afterwards, an article is scheduled in the next Housing Technology magazine. Be sure to grab it at http://t.co/mE8HQUb9S3

Its always great to meet blog and Twitter followers, feel free to message me to arrange to meet up, as a number of people already have. Get in touch, lets chew the ICT cud 8-)

Related Post: When did you last consider how you baked your cakes? Or proceses, come to that?

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

Super Furry Animals - Show Me Magic.
(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 Acutance Consulting 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,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 .
  

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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