Smooth

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

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

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

The Keyfax scripting environment

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

The D365 KeyNamics App

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

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

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

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

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

KeyNamics setup in D365

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I will bring the Jaffa Cakes ☕😉

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

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.

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


Access a quick list of our Social Housing ICT blog posts here

Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems and help with your organisation issues.

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

Call Me Up

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/


One for readers with an interest in socialhousing customer service centre's and self-service, just like myself!

Last autumn, I attended and chaired, a roundtable event, at St Leger homes Doncaster, organised by Omfax Systems. The session offered an opportunity to discover how leading registered providers are taking different approaches to the ever-changing landscape of customer services in social housing. It was an extremely good event, and a little heated at times. In a good way of course!

As part of that, the 'Your Call' survey has been sent out to more than 1,000 senior customer service professionals across the social housing sector. The brilliant Tina Hilton from OmFax tipped me off this week, that the results are now in.

It's an interesting read, with a few surprises, but much supporting many of my recent experiences, in the varied organisations I work with, across the UK and Ireland.

Omfax director Peter Graddon sums the place the sector is in, very well. In many cases, squeezed by regulation/UC pressures, while struggling with a lot of fragmented & often inadequately integrated systems. It's a very accurate snapshot of the sector, circa Spring 2016.

RSL's received an average of eleven calls per home. The bulk of calls querying existing repairs or tenancy/rent issues. Many of these must be waste or calls, many of which could be satisfied online, as approx 60% of adults access the internet via smartphones.

With 72% of adults having a social media profile, it's disappointing that only 53% of service centres, managed social media enquiries too. I have noticed that Housing Associations often take the view that the comms team need to take care of that. The reality is that the call will just come back to customer services anyway. With 25% of adults with a Twitter account using it to complain, we need to be revising that view IMHO.

Customer Service Centre's seem to getting busier too, and felt even 'more' important. Since you are wondering, calls are up more than 5%. Shouldn't that statistic, with 77% of adults having basic digital skills, be 'internet self service traffic on the increase'?

Well seemingly not. The report picks out something I said at St Leger about why tenants and other customers, are not choosing to interact with us online. Go on your portal and try to find your 'Pay Here' or 'Log Repair' button. If you have to hunt or multiple-click for it, your customers choice will be to pick up the phone, believe me. Do like Amazon, get the 'Bread & Butter stuff right', for goodness sake.

There's plenty more insight in the report, which might help shape a better customer service centre, for the future.     

Access the Omfax report here - http://www.omfax.co.uk/pdfs

Catch me at the next 'Your Call' discussion event, to be held 29th April 2016 in Edinburgh, at Hanover Scotland. It would be great to meet you there!

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

Related Post: When last, were you and your team, the dangerous brothers? 

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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.


Gang Of Four - Call Me Up.
(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 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 ,Footprint,Fusion, Getting best from,gotonysmith, Grasp,Grip,GeoSolveIT,GIS,GGP,Genero,GCloud,G-Cloud,HouSys,Housing software,HFI (Housing Financials interface),HG,Housemark survey,Housing Blueprint,Housemark, HRA,housingtITguy,Housing Support Pro,HousingSupportPro,Housing Options,Hometeam, Housing Group,hotpixuk, HousingIT,hotpix,Hardware,Hitex,Housing Contact Company,Impact Response,iPayPro,implementations,iRobot,In House,InHouse,In4,InMotion, InMotion2016, InMotion2015, InMotion2016 , Exhibition, conference,Housing Management Consultant,Housing Management Consultants, 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Your Call - So Good

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


A big deserved thank you for OmFax and St Leger Homes in Doncaster, for inviting me to host the 'YourCall' event last week. I always enjoy meeting and chatting to the incredible staff and managers, delivering excellent customer services in the social housing sector.


This 'Your Call' event was a cracker, really interesting with some varied opinions, starting straight after the breakfast pastries and coffee. The event was attended by a great group, including from St Leger (natch!), A1 Housing in Worksop, Astraline (who provide out of hours services), Berneslai Homes  in Barnsley, WDH in Wakefield, Newark & Sherwood and Ongo in Scunthorpe.

First up after the stats from the 'Your Call' survey was revealed, ( you can still register your thoughts via the link on http://tonysmiththathousingitguy.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/say-something-about-state-of-social.html ), was a discussion on the diversification of channels. Everyone these days want to channel shift, offer cheaper 24/7 service online. But what does it mean for the traditional customer service team?

Well Twitter and social media raised its head, increasingly a method that customers are using to contact & express opinions about the social landlords in the group. For some just a 9to5 Twitter prescience was enough. Most were all experiencing some levels of added commercialisation and some were experiencing group expansion. These brought their own challenges and the creation of waste in the customer service centre. Often it was in-complete integration  that created problems. That old chestnut, data not held in a single place, presenting information to customer service staff.

One other issue cited was incomplete channel shift or a partial implementation that actually doubled up tasks. Examples are when a website form can be completed at any time 24/7, but arrives as an email, for customer services to key into another system, the following morning. I recalled my experience of the Halifax online bank 'IF' from 1999, doing just that. Spookily enough, one of the attendees still had an 'IF' (Intelligent Finance) account. I bet the Halifax have managed to integrate it all properly by now!

On the subject of personalisation of service, all agreed that one of the tricks was to recruit for attitude not knowledge. One RSL tried its best to recruit staff from its resident bodies. An absolutely brilliant idea. The better integrated systems seemed to make it easier to personalise. often a CRM module was badly synchronised with back-end housing systems. This can lead to duplicate contacts, data spread across many places or completely missing in action sometimes.

To empower staff to be able to deliver expert service, some attendees utilised work shadowing, to see the effect on other staff. Seeing the process as a long customer journey was seen as useful and had informed front & back-end staff as to the importance of each step as being part of delivering excellence. Failures generate waste calls and small changes, such as automated texts and keeping customers/tenants informed, can significantly reduce waste.       

So, all in all a very interesting morning indeed. I hope Peter Graddon & Omfax will be continuing the 'Your Call' idea into the future. A great way to exchange great ideas, issues and best practice.

Related Post: Does Mobile or Channel Shift often mean doing everything twice?

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

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.


Joy Zipper - You're So Good.
(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 ,Footprint,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,SimPro,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,worksConnect, Xmbrace,XML ,XenApp,Xen App .

Say Something about the state of social housing customer service

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

Well, the week of the big CIH Manchester Get-together has been and gone. I had a great time there, learnt some stuff, an old friend treated me to a free lunch and I got a lot done.  Great stuff, it works great in Manchester IMHO.

While there, I was chatting about a new survey that is just about ready to start, covering something close to my heart, "The State Of Customer Service Operations in the Social Housing Sector". Or SOCSOITSHS for short, although I am the first to point out, they probably should have paid a PR agency to come up with something snappier than that.

You will know that I have recently teamed up with Ade Capon & Brett Sadler recently to pull together insights on 'Customer self Service'. That was a very rewarding exercise and over 100 RSL's, ALMOS, councils managing housing and other Registered Providers participated in that.

As a result of my dogged mission to improve social housing IT and help everyone to procure it, implement and use it better, I am on-board with this one and may well be involved with some road-show events. This will be when the results are out, later in the year, around the UK.

The survey is pretty intensive and looks at service centre penetration, what they are used for etc. Is your service centre specialist, having a dedicated repair or lettings team? Maybe you expect its role to diminish with growth of channel shift, as your customer self service portal takes off? What are your challenges?

Do you find your call volume is increasing? How much of that is 'waste'. By waste, I means calls and enquiries that should never really have come into the service centre. Here are some examples:

• Tenants call to ask,"When's my repair appointment"?
• Tenants call to ask someone to help them the letter they have just been sent.

Do you have the solutions to these common conundrums? Here's some if you are struggling:

• Send your customers a free SMS text on setting or moving that appointment. The cost of that is about 10p to you (It included), the cost of your 'waste' call is £6-10.
• Design your letters to read in plain English. If it's a statement, don't tell your customers that they are in debit or credit, tell them how many pounds they are "in-front" or "behind". Not rocket science I am sure you will agree....

You may be chuckling at that last one, but honestly, isn't that much easier to understand?

Anyway dear reader, please pass a link to this on to your customer service team and let's see your opinions on SOCSOITSHS.

Here's the link, take the survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1LQ4wx3WtsBGlr4wLuUprdTuti9KBSMS_GSV9eQmJRIk/viewform?c=0&w=1

Related Post: Be honest, how well planned are your projects?

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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.


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


Access a quick list of our Social Housing ICT blog posts here
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