Rip it up and start again

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

Every so often a landlord, council, charity or other organisation gets in touch asking for what they describe as, “a bit of quick consultancy”. The pitch usually goes something like this: “Tony you are the housing IT Guy, can you help us swap out this system we’ve decided we don’t like? We’ve just seen something new, the demo was slick, the salesperson was charming, and it all looked ten times better than what we’ve got.”. Now it could be a contractor/DLO, CRM, Housing, Asset Management or Finance FMS or any other solution.

It sounds simple on the surface, but let’s be honest, this is classic grass-is-greener syndrome. A shiny system being shown in a carefully crafted demo is not the same as a solution that fixes our real world problems. Most of the time nobody has actually stopped to ask the most important question: what is the actual issue we are trying to solve? Instead the assumption becomes that the software is broken, the supplier is useless, or the old (clunky?) system is holding the business back.

But in my experience, the culprit is rarely just the tech. It is often something deeper. Culture getting in the way. Processes designed in a hurry years ago that no longer fit. Organisational habits that nobody notices until a properly planned change project shines a light on them. Poor configuration decisions made on day one and never revisited. Shabby implementations that were rushed or under supported. Or the classic regular favourite, a complete lack of resourcing for training, data quality and business ownership. Software cannot magically compensate for all of that, no matter how sexy the demo reel.

Which is exactly why I turn down these swap requests unless we start in the right place. 

Before anyone goes system shopping, someone needs to lift the floorboards and find out what is actually rotten. Sometimes it turns out the system is fine and it is everything wrapped around it that is creaking. Sometimes there is a case for a change, but it should come from evidence, not impulse and not a too optimistic sales pitch. 

Replacing a system without diagnosing the underlying issues is like repainting a damp wall for a resident. Looks great for a week, then the stains creep straight back through. You spend a fortune, disrupt your teams, and recreate the exact same pain on a new platform, transferring all our gripes into a Cloud SAAS full responsive browser application. Everyone just ends up asking why the promised magic fix never arrived.

Think on, no, I am not your man for a quick ditch and shift job. But if you want someone to come in, ask valid yet awkward questions, identify what is genuinely going wrong and help you fix the foundations before you reach for a GCloud or other framework, then aye, give me a shout. That is where the real value sits.

Is your SocialHousing  ICT / transformation project drastically overrunning  ? 

Get in touch , I will drop in for a strong brew & bring the Jaffa Cakes ☕

       Related Post: Will the right Critical Friend will save you stress, time (and money) ?

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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.

Orange Juice – Rip it up and start again

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


Access a quick list of our Social Housing ICT blog posts here , what projects do we get involved in? Access them 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,ActiveF,ActiveFinance,ActiveHousing,Acutence,Advanced,Affinity,Aidenn,Agile,Agile365,AHB,AirWatch,Alscient,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,BrikHousing,Browser Applications,BC, Business Central, 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,Esynergy,Etive,Exhibition,Exponential-e, F&O, 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, HCL,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,HousingOne,Housing-One, Housing Support Pro,HousingIT,HousingSupportPro,HyperOptic, IMS,IPC,iProperty Cloud,IT,IT Budget,IT Training,ITIL,Impact Response,In,In4,In4Systems Promaster,InfinityGroup,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,InclineIT, Keyfax,Keylogic,Keypera,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keynamics, Landlord,Ledgers,Linkedin,Liquid,Locality,Localz, M3,MadeTech,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, MRI,MRI Housing One, 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,Plentific,Plus,Portfolio Management System,PowerObjects,Pro,Pro-Points,Prodo,Progress,Promaster,Propeller,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,Techlabs,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,Visitour,Visualmetrics,Voice,Voice and data,Voicescape,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Wheatley,Windows Server,Workflow and,Work Hub,Works Connect, XML,Xen App,XenApp,Xmbrace, Yuneo,TS Acutance Consulting, ...

. . . . . . . . . . . . ES | FR | DE | IT | UK

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, 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

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 – 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 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?

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.

Buzzcocks - 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, ...
. . . . . . . . . . . .

New Beginning

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



It was great last week to be invited to present, by what used to be the DWF (the Direct Works Forum) group, which is being re-organised and getting a makeover, a new beginning as ‘Direct Works’.

It will still have a discussion forum, but should be a better organisation to represent Housing Associations, Local Authorities and RSLs employing their own trades staff to undertake repairs and maintenance.

A big thank you to Mike Wilson and Russell Thompson for inviting me. Judging by the volume of recent projects, it’s a good time more than ever, for internal workforces and DLO’s, to share best practice. So I wish them well.

My session was my take on ‘Why we buy some of the best IT and then implement and use it badly” and we had good attendance, many people I am sure have experienced, first hand, a lot of the areas I covered. As anyone who reads this blog knows, I am not keen that everyone has to suffer and learn from their own mistakes, why not get a leg up from others? So where with systems do you start?

Well, know your market to start with. Too many organisations rush in and buy the first silver bullet they see. OJEU has always provided pre-market analysis as an option, its strange so few take advantage of it. Risks are rarely taken into account too. Who might have thought that software was risky? Sales people never mention risks, do they?

What about alternatives to external software packages? Who hasn’t had their social housing ICT team, offer to ‘write a system for you’? Often I wager, followed by, ‘How hard can it be’? This approach contains risks too, particularly as its more likely your IT team are more skilled at support than writing quality software. When I was a supplier I had a few customer IT teams suggest they had useful things they had written, which might be profitable (for us both) when sold to a wider customer audience. Only one idea ever made the cut and only then after a total re-write to bring error trapping etc, up to scratch. A common problem, quality control.

When we go to seriously buy, do we understand the problems we are looking to solve? A business case generally flushes this out with benefits. I have seen many business cases done afterwards to tick the box. OJEU does try to protect us from ourselves and we should embrace formal process that does that.

After the excitement of the procurement, how well do we resource projects. Regular readers know I always prefer the A-Team, although occasionally it’s the C, D or reserve teams, we can get stuck with. Never try to involve staff who have to juggle their day jobs too.

In DLO’s and internal workforces, often introducing software creates cultural changes for staff too. This is often neglected and the reason why dynamic scheduling is most often far less than dynamic and users are not guided into new roles and behaviours. As with many issues, some are embedded in the phrase, “well we have always done it that way”.

Well I cover all of the above and more in the recording of the session. I would guess there’s half a dozen takeaways, for even the most seasoned DLO systems implementers. If you would like to get access to the session, checkout this link - Zoom.US/DW_HousingITGuy_Jul2020

Related Post: Budget for regular ICT infrastructure or application maintenance & get the best from your previous investment

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

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

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.

Girlschool – New Beginning.
(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, 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 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. . . . . . . . . . .

Standing Still

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



Not having had time to fit my South East Asian holiday in this year, I always enjoy dispatches from the super Paul Taylor from Bromford, as he always includes some cracking holiday snaps, with plenty of natives cooking interesting stuff. Back in January, PT’s blog (strapline - Innovation Labs. Service Design. Social Innovation), asked ‘Is Your Organisation Making The Impossible Possible?’. Strangely, in most of the projects I work with, that has not lost me a lot of sleep.

It’s a sad fact that in a big chunk of the socialhousing sector, we seem to be struggling to be making the possible, possible.

Has your organisation made the possible, well… possible?

Think carefully before you answer that one. It might well be a question more for your staff, than senior management. I spend my time with a wide range of staff, from front line surveyors, to court/scheme managers, trades colleagues, managers, directors, CEOs and occasionally residents and board members. Your staff often have come from other sectors, other RSL/RP’s or straight out of college, Uni or other education. Often they come with expectations of all kinds, around how they can do a good job, expecting the right tools for the job, with the appropriate training and communication, to keep them on track.

Incoming staff are used to the possible.

A bit like ourselves at home, we constantly improve to implement the possible. I don’t think we notice over time, it’s quite gradual. Our lightbulbs started as tungsten, then they went low energy, now they are turning LED, controlled by Hive. The TV is getting smaller & flatter, Plasma has become HD, which became 4K, then 4K Ultra HD HDR OLED. Before long you have parted with a few grand. A bit of effort and you have got yourself there.

How quickly we improve our home experience. But how fast do we move when in the work environment? How often have we not improved a work environment, because the cost was ‘a few grand’? Many I suspect and like at home, it does not take such a lot of pain, just a lot of determination (and maybe a partner to help get you there). Just like a buddy when helping you give up smoking, or cycle with you to crack 200 miles a month (for instance…).

Here’s a quick checklist of the top half-dozen areas where I have helped RSL/RPs get to the possible. Just the possible honest. No blue sky nonsense here, I promise. No drones, 3D printing, headless devices, blockchain etc

1. CRM – An essential one. Bringing all your resident/customer interactions in one place, to help satisfy their needs faster. Available in many forms and at various cost and risk levels.
2. Document management. Commonly known as EDM or EDRMS or similar. Your paper files, such as invoices, letters, tenancy files etc, could all be digitized and available at an instant, by staff.
3. Customer (Resident) self-service. At its best, Amazon style service for housing, at its lowest common denominator,  ChannelShift which will in no sensible 21st century world, er… Channel shift.
4. Mobile working. Get your staff out of the office working like the Martini Ad, anywhere, anytime they can.
5. Virtualise and use the cloud to get the flexible infrastructure you need to support the organisation. If you desire it, maybe you can virtualise from the icon on your desktop, including telephony too.
6. Integrate properly. Most organisations have this problem to some degree. I have lost count of the clients I have helped, who told me from the start that there is no way to properly plumb in solution x to y. Scheduling & mobile often feature in these scenarios. Spookily enough, I have always managed to find a great example of connecting solution x to y, which dis-proves the experience my client is experiencing. A lot of what will actually never connect, should in fairness, never have been purchased from day one. More than likely, with my help, we would have probably have discovered this, from an early stage, and considered the sensibility of purchasing these crazy solutions/applications/ideas/concepts, in the first place. 

If you are a board member, stakeholder, director or senior manager reading this, please think carefully about the six areas above. If you have all of them and they are effective, pat yourselves (and your colleagues) on the back. Well done you!

However, if your organisation has not managed to implement some or all of the above to a successful degree, here in 2017, to be brutally honest, you are not just doing ‘the standing still’, you are way behind. There may be a number of reasons for this, however it’s all fixable, believe me. Management do need a drive to do so. Often, I have been a part of unlocking projects, coming to it with none of the previous organisation or political baggage and a practical, proactive attitude, to just solving our problems.

I hope this helps you hold a mirror up to your organisation. If you think I can help, feel free to get in touch. Better systems mean more budget for delivery and opportunity to improve a right first time culture, for all of our neighbourhoods.

Related Post: Could your personal digital assistant, be the spy in your living room? 

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.

The Table - Do The Standing Still.
(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 ,365Agile," """" ",,#UKHousing,#HousingDAY, #HomesForBritain,#InternetOfTenants, #Shout,1st Touch,3squared,Accuserv,Acutence,Aareon,Academy,ActiveH,AirWatch,Alignment,ALMO,Anite,Apex,ArchHouse,Archouse,asbestos, Asprey e-state pro,ActiveHousing,Asset Management,Aurora,Average IT Costs,App,Associates,ACL,Abritas,AMS,AX,aspireview,Agile365, 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 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Sledgehammer

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

Taking your social housing repairs service back in house. Now is that taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut?

In the last few weeks, there have been a succession of larger RSLs and social housing groups, making decisions to bring responsive repairs back in house, or expand their existing handyperson teams. These include Midland Heart, Muir HA have bought one, Affinity Sutton leave Osborne after contract ends.

It's difficult to know if these are all driven by an agenda to drive up quality or drive down average cost per property. Both of these can be controlled very well internally, although overheads of controlling your own workforce, need to be factored in. We all know that a saving of 20% VAT is up for grabs, but what cost the other prerequisites to control the operation?

It would be great to be able to look externally to see how the private repairs sector uses technology to manage its operations and control costs. In my experience, unfortunately, much of the private sector, some big names too, still rely on spreadsheets, Access databases and T-Cards (anyone remember those) to control work carried out. There are some really big examples I could name, but wont in order to contain the embarrassment. It is a fact that DLO's inside social housing tend to have better application software than outside.

I've worked with many DLO's and the core application needed is a flexible Contractor module, with good stock functionality, and good interfaces to client housing systems and mobile. A flexible mobile system that is reliable, proven with existing user operative volumes in the same range as required is essential. Proven in or out of coverage, mobile pushes administration to its source and enables electrical, gas safety and other certificates to be generated there too. The holy trinity, to go all Catholic on us, is formed by the addition of dynamic scheduling.

A move to an expansion of an internal workforce needs to take into account the costs of the above applications, plus additional back office administration required. Satisfaction can be improved and costs reduced by the use of good processes, SMS and emails to keep repair customers informed. Good integration into a customer self service portal also makes an impact, if sufficient numbers are provided a comfortable and efficient environment, to channel shift.

Great KPIs are the essential tool to manage operative productivity, costs and compliance with priorities and SLA's. This is one area often missed by RSL's procuring new systems, also one where decent off the shelf reports are often thin on the ground. Ad-Hoc reporting is also essential, and must be easily available. Knowing which vans are incorrectly stocked, who takes longest on average on breaks, why do certain operatives visit the stores more often, where did we fit that type of boiler, now found to have a vulnerability?         

While new DLO's probably don't need sledgehammers to crack nuts, sometimes they will need good advice to pick the right tools for the job.

Related Post: Why the reluctance in housing, to Bring Your Own Device?

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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.


Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer.
(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,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 .

A Day At The Races

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

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of a couple of days at the Kirona Optitime DRS conference held at Chester Races. Needless to say I caught up with a large number of friends, contacts, clients and new interesting folk, wrestling with some of their systems.

I went along with a dedicated group of people I do a lot of work with at Walsall Housing Group (whg) , we work a lot on continuously improving our customer journey. As you can imagine, the group I was with were very interested in how many others had tackled this.

Surprisingly, a number of the speakers were still wrestling with some areas such as accurate diagnosis of response repairs, including arriving at reasonably accurate SMVs. Use of front end scripting tools appeared basic at best and often more primitive and inflexible options were in use. Although I don’t think many realised it, some organisations would really benefit from help & assistance in that area. Whg are relentless in their use of scripts, enforcing them widely and keep them tightly accurate and up to date. Indeed, we had Sarah, whg’s super scripting lady with us at the conference.

David Todd lets his hair down and belts out 'Hey Jude' at the Kirona Rocks evening entertainment

While scripting is a brilliant tool in my opinion when used correctly, a good CRM or Contact Manager type solution is also a pretty essential component. By that I do mean one that should be used by the whole organisation, not just where calls come in. If the latter is the only means of populating it, the organisation sees a 110⁰ view, not a 360⁰ one. Whg for one, have recognised this and CRM is utilised universally across staff supporting 19,000 homes, allowing excellent customer service.

Ann Parkes, from whg’s customer service team will be leading a session at the NHF IT conference at London Olympia, Tues 18th Nov, entitled ‘Personalising The Call’. I will be helping with any techie questions we might have, it would be great to see you there.

On efficiency, again The Wrekin explained what can be done with no backlog repairs, weeding out of your worst rated stock and consistent replacement/development. Even being a bit sceptical and looking beyond the statistics, which clearly come out a bit lower, it’s still an impressive story. Backlog/unallocated repairs are the bane of any organisation, it does baffle me why these persist at most places. Clearing those allows faster tackling of repair requests and potentially better service. Knowing your stock categorised by NPV, desirability etc is also essential. Something you should have already to feed into your Living Will, more on that here http://tonysmiththathousingitguy.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=living+wills  

Related Post: Are DLOs ripe for a come-back?

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

Queen - Tie Your Mother Down (from the album A Day At the Races).
(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
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