Chelsea Girl

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




Well not long now until the all new and re-vamped National Housing Federation IT in Housing conference and exhibition. You might remember this event in the past was generally held at Olympia exhibition centre, West London, third week of September. It's now moved to a 'nearly' spring slot at Chelsea Football Club, 10th & 11th February 2016. This borrows a trick from some of the old HiTex events, that used to showcase social housing solutions, in various UK sporting stadia. Over the years I have been to these, down at Villa Park, DW Stadium and numerous others.

This year should be a good opportunity to check out the best of 2016 housing applications as well as getting a sneak preview of the Stamford Bridge stadium. With UKHousing under nearly as much pressure as Chelsea to stay in the Barclay Premier League this season, it's going to be a very popular event.

For over ten years, I have attended the NHF It event and it's been going much longer than that too. For suppliers, (as I was back 5 years ago), it's an essential to attend, speak to existing customers and meet new opportunities. When I have attended as a delegate, it's great to network and hear the varied speakers, to pick up lessons learnt from peers and other RSLs.

Speakers already booking and planning insightful keynote sessions include @PaulBromford from the Bromford Group Innovation Lab, Zopa, Microsoft, Google and Sky. I am impressed that the national Housing Federation have tried to shape sessions with a focus on delivering efficiency savings through effective IT strategy. In particular, Learn how others are using IT solutions  to address budget constraints.

The exhibition is also free to attend this year, and well worth it in itself. I have spoken to a raft of suppliers covering all the key solution areas; mobile, apps and self-service, integrated Housing Management Systems, hosting, EDRM, Finance, HR/OD, Contractor, Scheduling, asset Management, ICT team support, CRM/scripting and infrastructure. The breadth of suppliers exhibiting, which I believe is over 90, makes it worth getting down for. My spies tell me that there are still a few stand spaces left, which can be secured from about £1,200.

In fact I am aware that, at least a couple of senior staff from Australian RSL's I have worked with, are crossing the world to attend. Now it might take nearly as long to get up to London with First Great Western, from Devon or further afar, than Melbourne, but it's definitely worth checking it out. I will most likely be blogging about my experiences at the event, take the opportunity yourself to attend. Please DM me if you are going, it would be great to meet up with existing contacts and followers from @HousingITguy on Twitter.

Check out the programme on this link: http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/microsite.housing.org.uk/conference_brochure_new_times_WEB.pdf

To book as a delegate or a free exhibition attendee, use this link here: https://onlinestore.housing.org.uk/Ebusiness/Default.aspx?TabID=1356&productId=2542338&_ga=1.35608033.1376231084.1448014529

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

Related Post: Where is the future of online repairs capture going & can it really work well? 

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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.


Simple Minds - Chelsea Girl.
(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, #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,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 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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, QueryView,Queryview reporting,Registered Providers,Registered Social Landlord,Rent Increase Freezes,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,ROCC,RobotAutomation,Rave Technologies (India) PVT Limited, Rocket,RPs,RSL,Reality,ReAct,reidmark,RM865, Saffron,SAP,Scots, Scottish,Scenario, Scotland,SDM,sector,TonySmithHou,Safron,Server Virtualisation,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,Symatrix Human Capital Management, 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,Tony Smith That,Tony Smith That Housing IT Guy,TonySmith that housing IT, guy,tonysmiththathousing, tonysmiththathousinguy,tony smith housing guy,sharepoint, share point, SHBVN, 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,verse one,verseone,vWork,Version One,Visualmetrics,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Windows Server,Workflow and tasking,Wheatley,Works Connect,worksConnect, Xmbrace,XML ,XenApp,Xen App ..

Pictures At the HOMES Exhibition

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/
 



You will probably have noticed that the usual fixture of the mid-November UK Housing exhibition and conference season, Olympia's NHF IT, has now moved to February. That's the bad news, but the good news is that HOMES is at Olympia instead, on the 18th & 19th November. George Grant is also still hosting his Housing Technology Pizza Express bash on Tuesday 17th November.

I have enjoyed a good decades worth of NHF-IT Conferences in my time, from both sides of the stand. Its a shame this is moving, but I think HOMES this year will be most worthwhile. Always more assets & repair focused, supplier contacts on the grapevine are telling me that more will be doing HOMES this year. Its going to be a very interesting one.

More info here:
   http://inmotion-forum.com/homes-event-2015-register-free/

Our session details here:
   http://www.homesevent.co.uk/page.cfm/Action=Visitor/VisitorID=2185/loadSearch=27435_211

Get registered for free here:
   http://www.speeddata.co.uk/Forms/Default.aspx?FormRef=HomB5Visitor&EGRef=HOMIN42

For that reason, at the suggestion of those InMotion people, I have signed up with my good pal in the Get Real Partnership and Friends Critical, Barry Marlow (@BarryMarlow & http://www.barrymarlow.com/) and Alan Rogers from Curo, to tackle a slot at HOMES, Wednesday afternoon. Its entitled 'The Famous Five Do VfM' and I know you will enjoy it.

It will be in the same vein as the alternative session Barry & I did at Housing Technology, in March at the Oxford Belfry. Afterwards, from that session, George Grant passed on to me a comment made, that an attendee had nine take-aways from that session.That made me and Barry very proud and convinced us that the format must be useful for others.

Please come along, its free, and we would love to see you.

Also, if you are in town on the Wednesday evening, see you at George Grants Housing Technology bash at Pizza Express (sponsored by Cloudview - http://www.housing-technology.com/events/reception/  )

Related Post: Voids & recharges in social housing, why so difficult?

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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.


ELP - Pictures At An Exhibition.
(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,Barry Marlow, Tony Smith, Alan Rogers Famous5 Do Value For Money,Famous Five,FamousFive,HOMES,2015,HOMES2015, 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 Support Pro,HousingSupportPro,Housing Options, Housing Group,hotpixuk, HousingIT,hotpix,Hardware,Hitex,Housing Contact Company, Impact Response,iPayPro,implementations,iRobot,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, iSupport,iSupportPro, 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,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, 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,RobotAutomation, Rocket,RPs,RSL,Reality,ReAct,reidmark,RM865, Saffron,SAP,Scots, Scottish,Scenario, Scotland,SDM,sector,TonySmithHou,Server Virtualisation,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 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,Works Connect,worksConnect, Xmbrace,XML ,XenApp,Xen App .

The Conference Season

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related Post - Learn To Fly, the Housing Technology Conference

Here are the most important / relevant ones:

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

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

Nitin Sawhney – The Conference.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009

PS As usual, if there are subjects you might like me to tackle on this blog, please get in touch and let me know!

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Many Too Many

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

Conference and exhibition time for housing, particularly CIH and NHF, is always insightful, immensely valuable and a great way to connect with colleagues in the sector from all corners of the UK.

Again this year I was fortunate enough to be able to visit the Manchester Central #Housing2025 June and Liverpool September Housing Community Summit exhibitions. Indeed, although I am hyper-local to both venues in the North West of England, I am fortunate to work with #SocialHousing providers & AHBs, in all corners of the British Isles. Everyone I work with I can see is trying hard, with ever squeezed budgets and other constraints.

Previous to 2024 we had a single conference and exhibition (held for many years at Manchester Central), which with the historic collaboration between CIH & Ocean Media seemed to satisfy attendees and suppliers to a reasonable extent. Everyone understands that not all relationships are forever and things are ever changing.

However, it does feel that we have one too many of these mid-year national events. This is on the basis of conversations I have had with colleagues working within the sector and housing suppliers spending significant amounts to exhibit. The former if budget is available need to pick one or the other. The latter are naturally looking for some return of prospects or contacts, generally driven by some related footfall. 

As an outside observer, hearing & taking on feedback from suppliers and attendees, I would suggest that in 2026 again a unified CIH & NHF event would probably work best for all, but that probably be a single event. Otherwise I think events will be diluted and become ineffective. Otherwise we risk having a trade show, followed by a sector conference with trade not getting much of a look in. Both are not a cheap few days out for exhibitors.

Solid events that feel grounded can quickly become irrelevant, as many attendees of the old NHF IT conference at Olympia would testify. No sooner a new and better forum emerged and if the sector is not open to introspection and feedback, that might happen again.

As said right at the top of this blog, I am sure these conferences and exhibitions are valuable and essential, but need to be effective, producing good outcomes for all. Yes and that’s the point. These conferences enable ideas to be shared and outcomes to be continuously improved for residents and communities. 

Multiple councils are expected to merge, how best to manage bringing systems together?

Get in touch , I will drop in for a brew & bring the Chocky Hobnobs ☕

       Related Post: Compliance as presented as a conference on Northern Ireland

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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.

Genesis – Many Too Many

(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,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 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. . . . . . . . . . . . ES | FR | DE | IT | UK |

National Housing Federation IT Office Escape

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


As regular readers know, I am a big fan of letting staff escape the confines of their office environments, particularly in the social housing autumn 'Conference Season'.

There is a lot to be said for seeing some new solutions, networking with others in the sector and hearing about innovation. Goodness knows, we are in times when we need to increasingly drive our organisations with it, delivered imaginatively and faster than ever before.

The re-booted  National Housing Federation IT in Housing Conference and Exhibition, over two days, comes to Manchester Central, early December. Relocating it to the UK's second city, follows in the footsteps of the CIH and many other supplier conferences. Excellent transport links, sensible hotel prices, super places to eat & drink, and friendly locals (naturally) are drawing more people to conferences in Manchester than ever before. Compared with Olympia where I attended nearly a decades' worth of events, I think it's a good move.

So, apart from the delights of the North, what should draw you to this flagship event?

I enjoyed the new format of the last one and based on wider feedback, 94% of attendees from the last event, said based on the new format they would attend again. 90% of attendees were at Head, Director or Manager level. 95% surveyed were happy with the February conference content.  Personally I think holding the conference prior to Christmas, also means there is a chance for attendees to get new innovations comfortably into next year's budgets too.

Suppliers and a big exhibition area is provided, although conference sessions seem on the whole to be dedicated to RSL's talking about what they have achieved, which I think is great. Well, we all know everything is perfect in demo-land, I do prefer to hear experiences first hand from users. We learn much more then, allowing us to better understand what works and how to get the best from it.

Key discussions across the two days that caught my eye include, 'Data Protection & Security', 'Making real-time online services intuitive and easy to use', 'How technology must change the housing association business model' and In IT procurement, 'the questions you should be asking, but aren't' .

As usual, I will be going and will be blogging about my experiences and what I took from individual sessions. If you are there Dec 6th & 7th, please say 'hi'. To book or to obtain more info as an attendee or to book a stand, follow this link - http://it.housing.org.uk/

Book by 7 October as there is £100 discount on offer.

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

Related Post: For Customer Self-Service, take a leaf out of Scotlands book.? 

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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.


Fingerprintz - Beat Escape.
(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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,Surveys,Sx3,System alignment,Symatrix Human Capital Management, 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,Tony Smith That,Tony Smith That Housing IT Guy,TonySmith that housing IT, guy,tonysmiththathousing, tonysmiththathousinguy,tony smith housing guy,sharepoint, share point, SHBVN, 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 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The Logical Song

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


Increasingly I encounter more and more socialhousing organisations, looking to develop a tight digital strategy, in some cases building one with them. Pretty much all ask, how can we do this well? Who is doing this well, particularly in providing resident omni-channel and increasing channel shift and footfall to digital, rather than more traditional means?

We all see and are used to customer self-service. Daily I bet like me, you use Amazon, online Banking, supermarket and apps for booking travel & hotels. These set our expectations and for my money, this is where the bar is set. Don’t look to your supplier’s ‘out of the box’ systems, they in general look too much like your back-office solution. Strangely, none of the apps listed above, behave like something sat on a desk, near the water cooler.

Taking the dull, techie, logical components from your back office systems however, you can add sparkle and magic, with some web services, to get closer to a real world offering, your residents & customers are more likely to flock to.

Yarlington Housing Group is one forward thinking organisation, I have had the pleasure to have worked with, on a number of occasions. In my book, they tick that box of consistently strive to ‘Do it well’. So, let’s have a look at some of the top tips and silver bullets we can learn from an innovator such as this.

Welcome to MyYarlington

(1)    Get a decent Third party web partner with extensive experience, in and out of the SocialHousing Sector. Proven experience working with a number of popular integrated housing management solutions reduces risk. Hallnet here have used their Active Housing range of products and services (https://www.activehousing.co.uk/). These are proven at in social housing organisations and are currently been implemented in Guinness, West Lothian Council and Sovini Group, among others.

(2)    Keep it simple (stupid). If you are a diverse go-ahead housing group (like these Somerset guys), use simple colourful disability-friendly icons/design to provide one click direction to your key digital footfall.

(3)    Make it as easy as possible for customers to sign up or get on with what they need to do, as fast as practical. Using Hallnet’s solutions, The Torus Group customers manage to diagnose, request and (DRS) appoint a repair in an average of 90 seconds, which is quicker than over the phone. Slow or inefficient self-service will just drive your customers to your helpline. Not good!

The 'Basket'

(4)    Size, or rather re-size is everything. I have blogged here about if apps are good, bad or essential. Reality is that most customer Smartphone's these days are in good wifi, 3G/4G coverage. A responsive website, which is still a breeze to use on say an iPhone4 or 5, may provide the flexibility of an app, at a fraction of the cost.


(5)    Make your site work like Amazon, the Trainline or EasyJet. Get a familiar basket, to make it natural for customers to group requests together, or change their mind. Give them what they already are used to and understand. If they have to bother learning how to use your self-service, they just won’t ‘bother’, remember that.  

(6)    Ask your customers, ‘How was it for you’? When did you last do anything you were not asked to rate? Hotels you stay in, that Byron Burger, that Uber journey. On that last one, you rate the driver as well as them rating you! Understand what your customers like and dislike about your self-service and act on that valuable feedback.

Don't forget the valuable feedback

(7)    Use Google Analytics or similar to find out how visitors navigate your pages, and act on high numbers of abandoned or in-complete transactions. Undoubtedly, these will translate into waste calls, into your service centre before long.

(8)    Taking account of GDPR, think out of the box, by shaping online services around your customers. Yarlington and Hallnet have clearly applied some serious thought around this. Clearly back end systems need to support the good control of the tenant data journey, conforming to the legal principles of GDPR.

Make selfservice GDPR ready

(9)    Do not assume with your self-service, if you build it, they (your customers that is) will come. Paradoxically, conventional methods such as quarterly updates, mailshots, mention on the service centre line, when call waiting (…did you know you can do most things online, instead of listening to Dire Straits here?). Yarlington are making full use of a launch brochure as well as digital classes. Borrow some clothes from the commercial world to oil the wheels of your customers channel-shift journey. ‘Digital Eagles’ anyone?

(10)     Like in the garden of Eden, from day one, try to have all the ‘low hanging fruit’ on offer to tempt customers in. I.E. Tenant dashboard with notifications alerts, rules based content, privacy opt-ins, view and update personal details, Account section (current/future charges, fast statement generate for UC and other users), End-to-end repairs (‘real’ appointments, cancel, schedule, SMS reminders etc), messages, end tenancy request.

Yarlington who manage over 11k homes, aim to have 80% of transactions occurring online, with plans to reinvest substantial savings into property development and existing property renovation.

Stats from just the first fortnight are promising. 1100 signed up users, 1,650 account page views, 887 views of repair history, Repairs diagnosed and appointed: 200. If each phone call cost £3, it can be seen Yarlington will start to see some dramatic savings.

Chris Reed, who I have worked with on many occasions at Yarlington, was impressed with what has been achieved in a relatively short period. “Not only were Active Housing able to develop a fresh, intuitive and integrated customer portal, they were also extremely approachable and went the extra mile to ensure the project was delivered on time and to budget whilst meeting all our requirements.”

Hallnet, with their Active Housing range of services, are attending the up-coming HOMES exhibition, Nov 22/23rd at London Olympia. Visit them on stand H35. Alternatively, catch them on https://www.activehousing.co.uk/ or on 0800-023-9024. For HOMES they have a number of free passes. Grab one while you can!

Learn more about Yarlington Next-Gen here 

Related Post: Got vacancies? Share them for free here... 

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.

Supertramp – The Logical Song.
(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,housing predictive analytics, Impact Response,iPayPro,implementations,iRobot,In House,InHouse,In4,InMotion, InMotion2016, InMotion2015, InMotion2016 , Exhibition, conference,Housing Management Consultant,Housing Management Consultants, Infoflow,Information Technology,Informix,inHouse,in-house workforce,Information@Work components, Innovation,Inside Housing,Internet Portal,Internetalia,Information Management Server,IMS, Invu,Ireland,Irish,Inphase , IT Budget,IT Training,iWorld, Innovation Group Apex,ITIL, In4Systems Promaster,IT,Insight, iSupport,iSupportPro, Keylogic,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keypera Hometeam,Keyfax,Ledgers,Linkedin,Locality,Liquid Voice,MD ,Mr Void , MrVoid, Measuring Change,Mebus,Miracle,MISCS,mDesign,mobile functionality,mobile platform,Monopoly board images and pictures, Montal,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Miracle Software,MDM,Management,CRM2013,Reporting,MI,M3,MIS,MIS-AMS,Mobysoft, Northgate Codeman,Neighbourhoods and Communities,NPS,NPS Housing,NPS CRM,NPS Job Manager Mobile, Northgate,Notice,NROSH,NINTEX,NINTEX workflow,Natural Forms,Nintexworkflow,NPS ASSIST, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,Ohms,OJEU Limits,OmFax,Omniledger,Open source software,open tender,OpenHousing,Opti-time,Oracle,Orchard,Optitime DRS,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,predictive analytics for housing, QL,QLX,Quiss,Qlikview, QueryView,Queryview reporting,Registered Providers,Registered Social Landlord,Rent Increase Freezes,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,ROCC,RobotAutomation,Rave Technologies (India) PVT Limited, Rocket,RPs,RSL,Reality,ReAct,reidmark,RM865, Saffron,SAP,Scots, "Social Housing IT",Social Housing ICT, Scottish,Scenario, Scotland,SDM,sector,TonySmithHou,Safron,Server Virtualisation,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,Symatrix Human Capital Management, TonySmithHousing, Systemwise,SM,Sequoa,Serros,SP,Scout,score,Swordfish,Serengeti,SOTI,southview,Sunguard,Service Charges,Spotlight Service, Spotlightservice, SunAccounts, Social Housing Software Applications, 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, SHBVN, 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,verse one,verseone,vWork,Version One,Visualmetrics,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Windows Server,Workflow and tasking,Wheatley,Works Connect,worksConnect, Xmbrace,XML ,XenApp,Xen App ..