Don’t Leave

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


In marketing courses, its nailed home that new customers cost about twenty times as much to acquire, as retaining existing happy ones. Any sales people who forget that, would be better looking for an alternative vocation.

Suppliers who are lucky enough to have their customers engage me to improve their systems and applications, generally have an opportunity to fix problems, before a client just jumps ship, to a perceived better supplier. If you are a bit down in the dumps with your supplier and their performance, its maybe easier to see greener grass elsewhere. However, my advice is not to throw the baby out with the dishwater!

It always baffles me why suppliers often have such terrible account management. A good trusted friend of mine once said that after agonising about the costs of account management, they decided that for the job of retaining satisfied customers, it was a price they had to come to terms with. Poor account management is an open goal to competitors.

I had a funny experience a few months ago, when one supplier went out of their way to give me a great story about how sales were up, all recent implementations were kosher, pigs were fed and all ready to fly. The strange thing was that earlier in the day, another supplier had informed me that they were expanding from one product to a full integrated one in one of their key regional customers, pushing out the current incumbent. Almost certainly the current incumbent knew on that day, but it was a total surprise that notice came to quit. In fairness, we do have our ears to the ground and little escapes us.

So, a great example of account management failure, I am sure you would agree. Something that should never happen if suppliers are well resourced and switched on. Ask yourself, how much love do you receive from account management? Do your suppliers care about your problems and inform you about improvements you can make use of?

Responsive suppliers make better suppliers. Think carefully before terminating those contracts however. If you are considering calling it a day with one of your suppliers, do get in touch. Always happy to facilitate some marriage guidance!

Related Post: Does your ICT team ever deliver anything on time? 

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.

Faithless – Don’t Leave.
(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 ..

Parallel Life

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



As readers of this blog are aware, I get involved with a lot of procurements of Housing and Financial systems. Also on many occasions I get involved in project management or helping to recover/kick start stalled projects. For the later, in many cases these days, an old system is being replaced with a shiny new one. This we would hope is going to provide a step change in efficiency or customer service levels, or some other benefit.

The logical thing to do, you would have thought, is do a bit of parallel running, between changing systems. That would entail repeating work in two systems (old and new).

Surprisingly perhaps, I don’t think I have ever experienced anyone truly parallel running, across the 50 or more implementation projects, I have been involved with over the years. The reasons for that are the doubling of resources needed to get it right and the difficulty in being disciplined enough to carry it out in reality.

Inevitably, once a new system goes live, there is little chance of going back.

The practical alternative is to the classic parallel run, is to have great quality UAT (User Acceptance Testing), to conclusively prove as many core functions and processes as practical. For some clients, I have provided UAT build and monitoring support, to enable tightly controlled and well evidenced testing.

UAT in progress and some progress %ages

In some of my projects, when go-live has gone smoothly, with few issues, on more than one occasion, I have heard users and often managers saying, “I don’t know what the fuss with all the testing was about, it’s all gone smoothly!”. That kind of misses the point, as high-quality testing does reveal all the problems, that can be fixed prior to the go/no-go decision, a week or two before.

What does good quality testing look like then?

Well testing by actual users for a start. They will be at the sharp end using your new systems after all. Splitting testing into distinct areas helps, as does creating tests, where record ID’s of data created or accessed can/must be recorded, for easy evidencing. The UAT document can also allow links to processes, diagrams, videos or other documentation, to help testers to tackle each area.

Each test can generate issues and queries, as well as be stalled for fixes and re-tests. I usually structure my UAT’s, so it’s really easy to monitor progress.

Users who cheat while completing the UAT, cause problems later down the line with go-live or after.  I remember a project where a rent debit raise had apparently been tested, but caused an issue which meant that a whole housing association was without a system for a whole day. So, discipline is essential. While testing, users are using the skills gained during training too, which can only be good. Too much training occurs too early in projects, so can be of little use sometimes, once UAT occurs or go-live approaches.

Do bear some of the above points in mind. Feel free to contact me if you think you could use some help, around your new application/system UAT processes. Get them right, for more successful go-live.

Related Post: Is an app, what your residents need? 

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.

Saint Jude – Parallel Life.
(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 ..

Don’t Let Efficiencies Pass You By

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



One of the primary laws of efficiency is do it once, do it right., have the information available to all who need it. Ask yourself, does this always happen in your organisation? If not, you are clearly doubling up effort, or creating waste during the delays created around hand-offs and hand-overs that inevitably happen.

The ultimate handover was in use between about 1920 and 1990, when many organisations had a concept called the ‘Typing Pool’. It was quaint, I will give you that. Also, because of the gender politics of those places, sexist. Here’s one below:

Staff (most likely men without an ‘assigned secretary’), would bring in handwritten notes, or a Dictaphone tape, for typing up, or from the early 1980’s consumption as ‘data entry’. Commonly this latter phenomena was known as ‘Key To Disk’. In my technician apprenticeship, I encountered this at GEC at Higher Openshaw Manchester. Actually, lord Arnold Weinstock’s fiefdom was the ‘General Electric Company’, although to many it was colloquially known as the ‘Go Easy Club’, sitting out another decade or so for a decent pension. But I digress…

I often encounter many processes where person A, takes notes on site, brings them into the office a day or more later, putting them in the tray of person B, who eventually does the original promised task, such as logging a workflow task, repair or initiating some other action.

Now just imagine if that was a note of rubbish to be cleared and it took three, maybe four days to action. That might cause the original resident who raised the image, to create a waste call into our service centre asking why your organisation is not on to it. There’s £6-10 of waste.

Now what if someone else had logged that request to clear the waste between those 3-4 days and it had been cleared already? Then in 4 days, we logged it again and on the Works Order, there was nothing to do. There we have  wasted probably another£30 on travel and time the operative or contractor, could have completed a more productive job.

By now the penny might have dropped, dear reader.

Empowering the original person in the chain to record the ‘transaction’ or ‘interaction’ as early as possible, is the way to grab those potential efficiencies by the nuts. Now that might mean giving those staff the right technology. In an ideal world, it might be a dedicated mobile forms solution. At worse it might be a full office solution (like access to a full Housing Management System), via Citrix or Thin Client on a 3G/4G connected laptop/tablet. Now the latter is clunky, needs an always on connection, there’s lots not convenient with it. However, the extra perseverance of that user, in logging that issue early, on that kit, may save 100-2,000% of that effort in follow-on costs.

Motivation needs to be provided, to that front line end user. Communication and training. Perhaps performance can be measured based on a number of the factors below:
•    Speed of logging issues directly into the system (i.e. logging WO’s, tasks etc)
•    Reduction in mileage claims
•    Increase in scheme/close visits
•    Increase in satisfaction levels in those schemes/closes
•    Decrease in complaints
•    Decrease in waste calls, coming into service centre etc.

There may be many more metrics you could dream up, in addition to these, I am sure.

To change cultures, it needs setting of targets, monitoring of performance, then use of carrots or sticks. Could these metrics be linked to bonus or annual salary increases? If not could they be linked to an organisational culture change, based on a well-coordinated communication plan?     

Is it time you stopped your internal efficiencies, passing you by chum?

Getting data correct is more a cultural than an ICT challenge. If you think I can help you with that challenge, please be in touch. http://acutanceconsulting.co.uk/acutanceconsultancy.htm  

Related Post: How up to date is your self-service? 

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.

UB40 – Don’t Let It Pass You By.
(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 ..

My Mistakes Were Made For You

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



Do you make mistakes?

It’s a bit of a trick question in a way, as being human, we are fallible and mistakes are actually something we all do. How we manage or learn from them is really the key. Best selling authors have made fortunes writing and creating methodologies around that whole concept. 

Putting our mistakes aside for a moment, focus now on ones that create problems in organisational data. So often detail data brings down a lot of KPI’s and returns. Slow or missing repair order updates can distort performance. Poor void processes can exaggerate the cost of empty properties and boost average void days. A key SocialHousing KPI yardstick. I am sure you and fellow colleagues may know of many more local ‘hobby-horses’.

I was involved in a session with a group looking at better KPI’s and summary reporting quite recently. Not surprisingly some of those very problems came up.

If you were in a ‘Reporting’ or ‘Performance & Quality’ team, the first reaction I am sure, is to ‘fix the data’. I mean, who would want to report an average void turnaround of 14.5 days, when you knew sensibly that it was nearer ten days? That is what in many places, actually happens.

Bad data is filtered out, often users are chased to sort the data, so another cut can be taken. Your KPI team get there in the end. In many situations, the KPI team ‘fix’ the data, so the results look more like reality, or at least somewhat better.

In my world, I am unsure that is really the best strategy.

Like a teenager, who has his room tidied by their mother, rather than taking pride in it themselves, the problem gets moved upward. If your data is massaged by your KPI team, those users will never understand the value of getting data right, in a timely manner. The only way our staff will understand the value of data and getting it accurate, as much as possible, is that their own problems/errors are passed back to them to correct every time. Of course, after they have been educated in why getting it right is so crucial. 

A good example I saw a few months ago is poor data recorded when signing up and starting tenancies. Taking the default DOB (‘date of birth’ to you none hipsters..), as todays date in many (un-helpful) systems, to apply to the tenant (or joint tenant), causes all kinds of issues. Also setting the wrong member of the household, as the key contact. I have seen DLO staff, looking for primary school children to sign jobs off, on the doorstep. Wrong on too many levels to list here.

Can you guess how the above problem was solved?

Well, rather than the performance team defaulting ages to 18 if under, consider for a moment that legally, none of our tenants should be under 18, the fixes were pushed to the staff that got them wrong. If they had some to address, they got them daily by email, and it was explained to them why they received this stuff. The inference was that if you get it right first time, you will not be clearing it up later.

The truth to be communicated is that we are paid to be responsible, accurate and record stuff that all our colleagues will find useful and in many cases essential. That’s what we are all paid for, people. If that all goes into coherent systems, then maybe the KPI folk can just take a data cut on the 5th of the month, every month and that will reflect where our organisation is actually at.

Getting data correct is more a cultural than an ICT challenge. If you think I can help you with that challenge, please be in touch. http://acutanceconsulting.co.uk/acutanceconsultancy.htm  


Related Post: Should your projects be a race or a marathon? 

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.

The Last Shadow Puppets - My Mistakes Were Made For You.
(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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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 ..

Chatterbox

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



As already explored previously in this blog  , I experience different reactions to webchat. Some organisations love it, others shun it, as it’s not really channel shift.

Sometimes the webchat experience is very good and the customer (or prospect) receives their advice in a timely way. On other occasions, it can be a bit like the disjointed one below.

You can see how webchat using customer services operators, can fall well short.

That’s why webchat is becoming superseded by the chatbot.

At this point, I would ask if you are in customer services, it’s worth taking a comfy seat, for reading the remainder of the blog.

Chatbots are becoming widespread in the states. In fact a colleague was telling me that when hiring a car, (or rather an automobile) recently, a break-down was dealt with fully just by chatbots. It worked well for him too.

Chatbots are coming here. In their simplest form, they are computer programmes that can talk for your organisation, in a limited context. They use artificial intelligence (AI) and are generally designed to be self-learning.

Context is important, as it accurately targets the useful zone of engagement. Readers familiar with Red Dwarf and the Talky Toaster, will understand what I mean. Imagine such a machine, just able to talk about toasting crumpets, bagels, waffles and rolls, and that being the machines’ only programmed purpose in life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRq_SAuQDec

A useful chatbot, will chat about services, products and customer’s needs. The first one to emerge in the UK, for active use is at Enfield Council. It’s called Amelia. Cunningly named down the early end of the alphabet, like Amazons Alexa, it is designed to have many thousands of conversations, simultaneously.

Here she is, made digital pixelised flesh.

It will be used to help residents find information online and fill in forms, guiding users through a chat feature on their computer screen. For the moment, any questions Amelia cannot answer will be referred to a human colleague.

Amelia will be able to learn however.

It is said to be 60 percent cheaper than using a human worker, although the council has not divulged how much has been paid for the software. Enfield council are facing budget cuts of £56m over the next four years and has made nearly 350 redundancies in the past year.

This might be the development that has one of the widest effects on so many customer service teams and departments, in the coming years. With webchat we were playing with the future, chatbots will be most likely be AI replacing customer service bums on seats.

It will be interesting how this all unfolds, as costs plummet. Read more on Amelia at Enfield here.

Related Post: Is our ICT training broken? 

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.

New York Dolls – Chatterbox.
(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 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London Thunder

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




Manchester and London are two of my very favourite cities and a particular couple that will not be beaten by terrorists, racists, malpractice, or austerity. These have been an unbelievable few weeks in terms of sad events and needless death, injury and damage.

You like me I am sure was truly horrified to see the Grenfell tower fire unfold, with such terrible loss of life, 79 people and displacement of residents. An incident that every landlord dreads and everyone I work with take very seriously in terms of fire risk assessments (FRA’s) and general communal block safety.

Of course, accurate up to date FRA’s do not guarantee complete and absolute safety, but these are structured to detect issues and failures, which can lead to increased risk of incidents such as this tragic one. Clearly too, as highlighted at Grenfell, quality and specification of materials is also crucial. Since last week, every single one of my clients I am working with, are giving FRA’s in their stock, additional attention and board members with management are very focused on this area. The eye is on the ball, so to speak.

Use of qualified experts is key and also additional emphasis during and after completion of major cladding and insulation works. While residents are generally involved in consultations, the recent tragedy puts additional emphasis on this aspect. Fast action to remedy issues found is key.

From a systems point of view, how do you manage and store your Social Housing Fire Risk Assessments? As an RSL, can you evidence how you keep your residents in tower blocks as safe as possible?

FRA’s in my system mind, are filed in a similar place to that other hot potato of socialhousing, and that is Gas Servicing (LGSR). I am still amazed so many organisations, even big ones, of over 5,000 homes, still often still resort to Excel or manual means. While this can be effective with conscientious staff and meticulous record keeping, it’s far from fool proof.  Rows & cells can easily be moved, hidden, deleted or corrupted.

Many landlords will no doubt now find that the previous focus on efficient gas servicing and in particular, integrating these regular and essential checks with integrated system, will now be the next drive coming from the regulator. It’s obvious too that it all makes sense. Integrated systems can ensure that all blocks and communal areas can be evidenced as having recent and adequate checks, safe materials, with exceptions and anomalies easily reported, flagged up and tasked to appropriate staff.

Integrated reporting can be managed so much easier, as can cross-referencing assessment data, images etc with other means of categorisation. I.E. Need category, composition of residents, leaseholders, shared owners etc. The latter is useful where improvement works are found necessary and in-depth consultations will need additional organisation.

Within most Integrated Housing Management Systems, attributes or components can be easily configured to record relevant information, dates, inspection name, findings, areas to examine and photo records evidencing survey. Where the attribute/component can be placed in a planned or cyclical cycle, a regular plan can schedule weekly, monthly or annual levels of survey easily.

If you have flexible mobile forms, that can collect the info, it should be an easy job to configure simple forms and interface seamlessly to attributes.

Use of a standalone database or application is not ideal, but can be better than a badly (cell protected) spreadsheet.

Social landlords can do all they can to ensure their blocks and communal areas are safe. It is also down to honest contractors, to use the safe and legal materials specified and take all reasonable safety precautions. As we have seen, hundreds of innocent people’s lives depend on everyone doing the right thing and not cutting any unnecessary corners. No doubt, the planned inquiry/inquest will hopefully reach conclusions on exactly what happened here. There will no doubt be many lessons for everyone to learn here.     

The Grenfell fire JustGiving page is here - https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/categories/emergencies/grenfell-tower-fire

Related Post: Recognise your business change projects 

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.

Foals - London Thunder.
(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 ..

Venus Of The Soup Kitchen

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



It’s great to work within the housing sector and it’s certainly a diverse one. Better for it too.

This time of year all my friends and colleagues of a certain faith, are embarking on a month of fasting (Sawm). It’s fourth of the five important pillars of Islam, with beginning and end of Ramadan determined by the lunar Islamic calendar. So it moves slightly each year, making fasting in daylight hours, especially challenging in the summer months.

Those meals at sunset, particularly when photos are posted on social media, can look pretty good, particularly when posted from Momma Chowdry’s kitchen. Asif, I know what you are up to 8-)

Charity is another of the five pillars and is even more important during Ramadan. Fasting does focus the mind and particularly on the many in our own prosperous society, having to use foodbanks like never before. The Trussell Trust is the largest food bank network in the UK, and it handed out around 41,000 food packs in 2009/10 compared to 1.2 million in 2016/17.

Most social housing providers I work with, have a cardboard box in their kitchen to collect packets and tins for local foodbanks. Most towns sadly have and need one.

It was three years ago when a friend of mine in housing, Nasrin Fazal, connected a few of the thoughts above, and with a few other Twitter followers, #UKhousingFast was born. Read the story here.

Well, everyone can get involved this year on Wednesday June 14th , cut back on the scram and use the savings for a donation on the UK Housing Fast 2017 Just Giving Page - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/UKHousingFast-2017

My pledge plate

If you are unable to fast, but can donate for such a good cause, helping people around the UK get a square meal, drop by the page and let’s be having your dosh. You will be doing a fine thing!

On the 14th June I will be spending the day with these good eggs, already signed up. Why not pose with a plate yourself and join us?

Catch up with the official UK Housing fast blog here.

Related Post: When you break your fast, mind your Smartphone manners 

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.

Venus Of The Soup Kitchen.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


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