Showing posts sorted by relevance for query end of life. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query end of life. Sort by date Show all posts

Friday, 9 August 2019

Nothing Lasts Forever In The Same Old Scene

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


What does last forever? Not relationships, cars or software it seems. Of the latter, there is a lot of old solutions about, particularly within the Social Housing sector. It always brightens up my day when someone tells me they still have some solution based around Lotus Notes, PICK, character based screens or applications written by long gone local software houses.

On a serious (Lotus) note however, we have a few housing systems in the sector and used by local councils still managing housing, currently with an end of life deadline or heading to be legacy. Capita Academy, Civica Saffron and a mix of other, being some that I have advised on recently and have pressing deadlines. The unfortunate customers still on these, all need to organise themselves and plan a reliable way forward.

Chances are and in my experience, organisations with these applications are also likely to have legacy software in other housing teams too. Examples I have seen are very old DLO/Contractor solutions, Homelessness & signposting and case management. Often these were all purchased because these areas were beyond the scope of the original solutions. A common attribute of these peripheral items is that they rarely integrate, if at all.

A lovely memory of Saffron, Universe PICK at its best
Having a solution or piece of software for 15-20+ years can be costly. A quite fag packet check often reveals that each solution may cost £60-80k annually in support, as all those years of RPI or CPI have taken their toll. The user is a victim of compound interest %increases.

If you read this and consider panicking to rush out to fast track jumping into bed with any particular system, I would suggest taking a more measured approach. It will help you be better informed, ensure you are getting value for money, transformation you most likely desire and a modern platform for the future.

INGRES at its best Academy, lovely!
I have worked recently with several clients, where within a few weeks, we had surveyed the lay of the land, considered options up close and seen solutions first hand, having opportunity to question them in detail too. There is no ‘default’ pathway or ideal way forward, don't let anyone assure you of that.

For one particular legacy HMS, in Somerset, the best outcome was to upgrade with the existing key supplier. At a council in Scotland, with the same legacy solution, the option was to go to market and in that situation, an alternative option was successfully procured.

A number of current offerings also can provide credible, tried, tested and well integrated solutions, that were historically peripheral. So DLO Contractor, Asset Management, Homelessness, Case Management etc, can all come out of the box, on day 1 going live. Consideration of any possible future mergers, cloud strategy (as the world does seem to be going browser based and off-premise), are also crucial considerations.

My involvement rarely stops at helping to enable a procurement too. In most of my projects, my Critical Friend role enables me to see the strengths and weaknesses of various solutions, which can be examined and mitigated for future clients, during pre-market engagements or procurements. My historic experience uniquely of implementing full HMS solutions, unparalleled data migration knowledge and managing a team of implementers, does also come in the mix and makes me somewhat unique among consultants suitable for this kind of task, in the UK and Ireland.

Often within just a few weeks, it’s possible to plot a way forward and make it happen, bringing reliability and surety to dealing with end of life social housing solutions.

If you are suffering software solution end of life, feel free to contact me for an informal chat. DM me or give me a call on 07854-655009. If you get some Hobnobs in and the kettle on, I am happy to pop in for an hour, when nearby. My current projects involve me in the SW, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire, Central & NE Scotland

Related Post: How many Social Housing self Service Offerings fall well short of real-world offerings?  
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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.

Roxy Music -Same Old SceneRoxy Music -Same Old Scene.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


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

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

File Under: #HomesForBritain,#HousingDAY,#InternetOfTenants,#Shout,#UKHousing, 07854655009, 1st Touch,1stTouch,360,365Agile,3squared,4Js, ACL,ALMO,AMS,AX,Aareon,Abritas,Academy,Accuserv,Accuserve,Active Housing,ActiveH,ActiveHousing,Acutence,Advanced,Agile,Agile365,AirWatch,Alignment,Allpay,Amazon Web Services,Anite,Apex,App,ArchHouse,Archouse,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Associates,Aurora,Average IT Costs,AWI SX Integration Toolkit,AWS, BI,BO,BPR,BancTec,BigChange,Blockwise,BluTek,Bluebox,Blueprint,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning,Business Process Review,Business social networking, CACI,CBL,CCS IT Keystone CCSIT,CHICS,CHR,CIH,CMS,COA,CORE,CPL,CRM,CRM2013,CRS,CTI,CTX,Cadcorp,Capita,CapitaOne,Capita One,Capital Management,Cashflow,Castle,Castleton,Castleton Technology,Cedar Open Accounts,Cerrus,Change,Charges,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, Citrix,Civica,Civica CTX,Civica Cx,Civica Genero,Civica Saffron,Clearview,Clik,Cloud Dialogs,CloudDialogs,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Commontime,Community Reward Services,Company,Competitive Dialogue process,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Consultants,Contact Manager,Context,Contractor Systems,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,Crystal Reports,Customer Relationship Management,Cx, DRS,Deeplake,Designer Software,Development Systems,Director,Document,Documotive,Dynamic AI,DynamicAI,Dynamics 365, ECMK,EDM,EDRMS,ERP,ESRI,Elmhurst,Enghouse Interactive,England,English,EnterpriseBI,Estatecraft,Etive,Exhibition,Exponential-e, Facebook,Factorwise,Field Service management,Finance,Financial Systems,Financials,Footprint,Forms,Freezes,Fusion, Gas Tag,G-Cloud,GCloud,GDPR,GGP,GIS,GasTag,Genero,GeoSolveIT,Getting best from,GoTonySmith,Grasp,Grip,Group Apex, HFI (Housing Financials interface),HG,HRA,Hardware,Hitachi Systems,Hitex,HomeMaster,Hometeam,HouSys,House,Housemark,Housemark survey,Housing,Housing Contact,Housing Group,Housing Insight,Housing Management,Housing Management Consultant,Housing Partners,Housing Portfolio Management System,Hub Asset Management, Housing Support Pro,HousingIT,HousingSupportPro,HyperOptic, IMS,IT,IT Budget,IT Training,ITIL,Impact Response,In,In4,In4Systems Promaster,InfoBoss,InHouse,InMotion,InMotion2015,InMotion2016,InfoBoss,Infoflow,Information,Information Technology,Information@Work components,Informix,Innovation, Informetis,Inphase,Inside Housing,Insight,Internet Portal,Internetalia,Invu,Ireland,Irish,itLab, Keyfax,Keylogic,Keypera,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera, Landlord,Ledgers,Linkedin,Liquid,Locality,Localz, M3,MAVIS,MD,MDM,MI,MIS,MIS-AMS,MISCS,MRI,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,MWL,Management,Management Server,Manifest,Measuring,Mebus,Microsoft Dynamics 365,Microsoft dynamics GP 2013,Miracle,MobileIron,Mobysoft,Monopoly board images and pictures,Montal,Mr Void,MriEngage,MrVoid, NDL,NINTEX,NINTEX workflow,NPS,NPS ASSIST,NPS Housing,NPS Job Manager Mobile,NROSH,Natural,Neighbourhoods and Communities,Nintexworkflow,Northgate,Northgate Codeman,Northgate Public Services,Notice, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,OJEU Limits,ORS,Ohms,OmFax,Omniledger,One,OneAdvanced,OneServe,Open source,OpenContractor,OpenHousing,Opti-time,Options,Optitime,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OutSystems, PIMMS,PIMSS Data,PM,PRINCE2,Paloma,Pamwin,PanConnect,People Value,Peoplevalue,PfH,Pick,PlanForm,Planned maintenance,Plus,Portfolio Management System,PowerObjects,Pro,Pro-Points,Prodo,Progress,Promaster,Propoints,Proval,Providers,Pyramid, QL,QuantSpark,Qube,QLX,Qlikview,QueryView,Queryview reporting,Quiss, RM865,ROCC,RPs,RSL,Rave,ReAct,Reality,RedkiteCRM,Red Olive,Registered,Registered Social,Rent Increase,RentSense,RentSenseLite,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,RobotAutomation,Rocket, Salesforce,Salesforce.Org,SAP,SASSHA,SDM,SHBVN,SM,SOTI,SP,SQL,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting,SQL Server,Saffron,Safron,Saturn,Scenario,Scotland,Scots,Scottish,Scout,Sequoa,Serengeti,Serros,Server,Service,Services,Servitor,Sharepoint,Sim,SimPro, Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Housing ICT,Social Housing Software Applications,Social Media,Software,Software solutions,Spotlight Service,Spotlightservice,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic,SunAccounts,Sunguard,Surveys, Swordfish,Sx3,Symatrix Human,System alignment,Systems,Systemwise, T-Files,TEAMS,TED,TFiles,TP Tracker,TSG,Tagish Casework,Tagra,Task,Technologies (India) PVT Limited,Telecetera,Template,Terminal Services,That,Three Star,Today,Tony Smith,Tony Smith That Housing IT Guy,TonySmith that housing IT,TonySmithHou,TonySmithHousing, ,TonySmithHousingITguy,Total,Total Mobile,Totalmobile,Trace,Tribal,Twitter, U2,UC,UK,UK Housing,Ukhousing,UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,United Kingdom,Universal,Universalcredit,Universe,Unrest, Valueworks,Van Stock,Vantage,Vantage Sentinel,Version,Virtualisation,Visualmetrics,Voice,Voice and data,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Wheatley,Windows Server,Workflow and,Work Hub,Works Connect, XML,Xen App,XenApp,Xmbrace, ...
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Tuesday, 14 April 2015

The Beginning of the End



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/

Well, not that long to go now until 14th July 2015, when Windows Server 2003 follows XP in going end of life, security updates will be no more. No one can really claim its crept up on us, we did get six years warning. Most clients I work with migrated off 2003 last year, but a few still have the odd server kicking about in their technology stack. Organisations still with some Server 2003 will be a prime target for hackers and potentially would not be making best use of their hardware anyway.

I have read some articles suggesting that Windows Server 2003 end-of-life is the biggest security threat of 2015. Back in November 2014 it was estimated that in the UK, possibly as many as 1/4 of a million businesses had some reliance on 2003. So many social housing organisations will be certainly in that mix.

The obvious choice is a move to Windows Server 2012 R2. Twelve years ago it was a way different place. It's likely now that many of these servers will make the step to the cloud and visualised environments, which are already commonplace with clients recent servers.

There is still the chance that Microsoft will offer some premium support service at elevated cost. I wouldn't put it past them. This is the ideal time to refresh hardware & infrastructure to drive long term business efficiency. Grab it with both hands if you have to and don't look back. Cloud computing is a great way to pay as you go and use what you need. if you need more space, more MIPs, more CALs etc, just add them when you need them, or reduce them if you don't. Bear in mind a hybrid approach can also work for many organisations very well.

Lanarkshire based Castle & Southampton based Keylogic are popular players in UK social housing for managing hosting, but many alternatives are available out there. So there's no excuse to not getting a keen deal if you are 'looking to host'.

Related Post: How much of your infrastructure is in the fluffy white clouds

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

Nine Inch Nails - The Beginning of the EndNine Inch Nails - The Beginning of the End.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009

PS As usual, if there are subjects you might like me to tackle on this blog, or you could benefit from any of our services please get in touch and let me know!

You can access a quick list of blog posts here
Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems or issue.
File Under: 360,1stTouch,4Js. , 07854655009 , ," """" ",,#UKHousing,#HousingDAY, #HomesForBritain, #Shout,1st Touch,3squared,Accuserv,Acutence,Aareon,Academy,ActiveH,Alignment,ALMO,Anite,Apex,ArchHouse,Archouse,asbestos,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Aurora,Average IT Costs,App,Associates,ACL,Abritas,AMS,AX,aspireview, BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning, Business Process Review,Business social networking, Blockwise, Block wise,BI,BancTec,BluTek,Bluebox, Castle,CBL,Cedar Open Accounts,Cx,Change,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, CHR,Citrix,Civica,Clearview,CMS , CCS IT Keystone CCSIT, Contractor Systems,CORE,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,CRM,Crystal Reports,CTI,CTX,Customer Relationship Management,Cashflow, COA,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Competitive Dialogue process,complex IT procurements,Component Accounting, Community Reward Services, Consilium, Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context,CIH,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cadcorp,Cerrus Saturn,convergeOne,CACI,CPL, CRS Director, Deeplake,Development Systems,Accuserve,Document Management,Documotive,datasystems , Microsoft dynamics GP 2013, DynamicAI, Dynamic AI, ECMK,EDRMS,England, English,EnterpriseBI,ERP Systems,ERP,Elmhurst,Estatecraft,EDM,ESRI,Exponential-e, Finance, Financial Systems, Financials, Factorwise,Facebook ,Fusion, Getting best from,gotonysmith, Grasp,Grip,GeoSolveIT,GIS,GGP, HouSys,Housing software,HG,Housemark survey,Housing Blueprint,Housemark, HRA, Housing Options, Housing Group,hotpixuk, HousingIT,hotpix,Hardware,Hitex,Housing Contact Company, Impact Response,implementations,In House,In4,InMotion, InMotion2014, InMotion2015, InMotion2016 , Exhibition, conference, Infoflow,Information Technology,Informix,inHouse,in-house workforce, Innovation,Inside Housing,Internet Portal,Internetalia, Invu,Ireland,Irish,Inphase , IT Budget,IT Training,iWorld, Innovation Group Apex,ITIL, In4Systems Promaster,IT,Insight, Keylogic,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keyfax, Ledgers,Linkedin,Locality,Liquid Voice, MD ,Mr Void , MrVoid, Measuring Change,Mebus,Miracle,MISCS, mobile functionality,Monopoly board images and pictures, Montal,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Miracle Software,Management Reporting,MI,M3,MIS,MIS-AMS,Mobysoft, Northgate Codeman,Neighbourhoods and Communities, Northgate,Notice,NROSH,NINTEX , NINTEX workflow,Nintexworkflow, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,Ohms,OJEU Limits,OmFax,Omniledger,Open source software,open tender,OpenHousing,Opti-Time,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OpenContractor,ORS,OneServe, PIMMS Data Systems, Paloma,performance management systems,PfH, Pick,PIMMS,pimms4communities, Planned maintenance,People Value,Plus, Peoplevalue, PM,Progress,Promaster,Proval,Pyramid,PRINCE2,prince,Pamwin,PlanForm, Propoints, Pro-Points QL,QLX,Quiss,Qlikview, Registered Providers,Registered Social Landlord,Rent Increase Freezes,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,ROCC , Rocket,RPs,RSL,Reality,ReAct,reidmark,RM865, Saffron,SAP,Scots, Scottish,Scenario, Scotland,SDM,sector,TonySmithHou,Server Virtualisation,servicing, Servitor,Sharepoint,Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Media,Software,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting Services,SQL reporting services,SQL Server,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic Asset Management,Sunguard ,Surveys,Sx3,System alignment, TonySmithHousing, Systemwise,SM,Sequoa,Serros,SP,Scout,score,Swordfish,Serengeti,SOTI,southview,Sunguard,Service Charges,Spotlight Service, Spotlightservice, SunAccounts Template,Task,Terminal Services, tonys , tonysm , tonysmi , tonysmith, tonysmitht, gotonysmith, tableau Business Dashboards, tonysmithth, tonysmiththa, tonysmiththat, tonysmiththath, tonysmiththatho, tonysmiththathou, tonysmiththathous, tonysmiththathousi, tonysmiththathousin, tonysmiththathousing, tonysmiththathousingg, tonysmiththathousinguy, sharepoint, share point Three Star,Today,Total repairs,Tribal,Twitter,U2, tonysmith , tonysmiththat , thathousing , thathousingIT , thathousingITguy ,TED,Tagish Casework,TP Tracker,Telecetera,Tagra,Trace, Totalmobile, Total Mobile, UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,Universal Housing,Universalcredit, universal credit, universal credits,UC,Universe,Unrest, UK, United Kingdom ,Ukhousing,UK Housing, Van Stock,Voice and data,Vantage Sentinel,Version One,Visualmetrics,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Windows Server,Workflow and tasking,Wheatley, Xmbrace,XML ,XenApp,Xen App .

Wednesday, 18 June 2025

Break ‘Em Off Some

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

How long do you commit to stuff? You know, phone contracts, ISA saving terms, even personal relationships? A old friend of mine when on his third wedding day, his best man (a hat trick of wedding attendances under his belt) described Gary as, “Reliable chap, has been faithful to every woman he has ever slept with”. A bit near the bone, but accurate. I have now long lost touch with Gary, but I would be surprised if he is not already on his 5th or 6th set of nuptials.

Sometimes a break and reflection is necessary, almost essential.

Which brings me to housing software contract terms. Changing HMS or moving to a new solution platform on a CRM perhaps, is no quick decision, or implementation. Take those claims of phasing an implementation putting in a MVP module every 3 months with a pinch of the expensive Himalayan sea salt. Most of those claims are expensive and farcical, much like health claims for that particular sexy condiment 

While smaller sites (under 3,000 homes)  can usually move faster, most full HMS moves typically take 18-30 months. That’s partly down to suppliers and partly to the organisation implementing. Probably a theme for a whole new blogpost that one - resourcing right. So a 5 year term only may  gives us 3 years-ish max of live running, hence aiming for a longer term. Indeed. 

Some frameworks will only allow you to contract to a fixed term, maybe 3 or 4 years, then by the nature of those arrangements, the contracting body will have to go back to market. In some cases right back to that same framework. Most frameworks will allow you to contract for a longer period, however after that it is likely your procurement colleagues will expect a new procurement. On frameworks, don’t be confused about the typical three year re-tender term, this is for suppliers not you and generally the framework ID will change. RM1853 becomes RM3821 etc, when some suppliers might be added and some drop off. This 3 year cycle (which often becomes 4 year or more) does not restrict the length of contract that can be entered into. Hence, a 10 or 15 year contract is feasible, although I would say not practical or sensible.

Contracts are best split  as something like a '5 plus 5 plus 5' or my favourite, a 5 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 which if your procurement folks will allow it, will give you from 5 to 19 year relationship, with plenty of option to exercise breakpoints. These can be used to reset relationships if service has deteriorated, your supplier has been 'acquired' or decided not remove their focus on SocialHousing, or technology dictates it. For example, who would have predicted the hybrid way we work now back in early 2020?

Another gotcha is anchoring a long term with payment arrangements. What  happens if you are on the hook for 8  or more years of paying for a product or service and it becomes end of life mid-term? What if some of its underlying technology or components go that way? Any Third Party Items will have been resold with your primary supplier taking a wedge. |Housing solutions landed with unsupported Silverlight spring to mind (Keystone anyone?). CRM platforms are not a lot better, MS D365 components that can be difficult to upgrade when needed, represent a security risk or (get this) are acquired and then closed down deliberately. 

I helped a D365 site that had this latter issue, when its MS Dynamics reseller had this happen and came back to the social care housing provider for another £60k to replace the obsolete component they had on their development. Luckily I could prove the original component had already been declared end of life 3 months before the reseller had started embedding it. Hence they had been negligent and it was not my clients liability. Just a few day's work for me but like many Critical Friend projects, I generally save organisation's more money than I cost them.      

Anyway, I hope that helps provide some food for thought. If you have queries on this, procurement etc, please  be in touch !

Any comments, observations or queries, please share.  

Off the shelf or build your own - how to scope your options ?
Get in touch , I will drop in for a brew & bring the Jaffa Cakes 

       Related Post: Software contracts - such a minefield. What to be aware of and what to try to avoid..

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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.

Cyprus Hill - Break ‘Em Off Some Cyprus Hill - Break ‘Em Off Some

(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,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,Business Objects,Business Planning,Business Process Review,Business social networking, CACI,Capita One Housing,CBL,CCS IT Keystone CCSIT,CEDRM,CHICS,CHR,CIH,CMS,COA,CORE,CPL,CRM,CRM2013,CRS,CTI,CTX,Cadcorp,Capita,CapitaOne,Capita One,Capital Management,Cashflow,Castle,Castleton,Castleton Technology,Cedar Open Accounts,Cerrus,Change,Charges,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, Citrix,Civica,Civica CTX,Civica Cx,Civica Genero,Civica Saffron,Clearview,Clik,Cx Assets, Cloud Dialogs,CloudDialogs,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Commontime,Community Reward Services,Company,Competitive Dialogue process,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Consultants,Contact Manager,Context,Contractor Systems,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,Crystal Reports,Customer Relationship Management,Cx,CxFeedback, DRS,Deeplake,Designer Software,Development Systems,Director,Document,Documotive,Docuware,Dynamic AI,DynamicAI,Dynamics 365,D365,Dynamics365,Dynaway ECMK,EDM,EDRMS,ERP,ESRI,Elmhurst,Enghouse Interactive,England,English,EnterpriseBI,Estatecraft,Esuasive,Esynergy,Etive,Exhibition,Exponential-e, Facebook,Factorwise,Field Service management,Finance,Financial Systems,Financials,FLS,Footprint,Forms,Freezes,Fusion,Fuzzlab Gas Tag,G-Cloud,GCloud,GDPR,GGP,GIS,GasTag,Genero,GeoSolveIT,Getting best from,GoTonySmith,Grasp,Grip,Group Apex, HCL,HFI (Housing Financials interface),HG,HRA,Hardware,Hitachi Systems,Hitex,HomeMaster,Hometeam,HouSys,House,Housemark,Housemark survey,Housing,Housing Contact,Housing Group,Housing Insight,Housing Management,Housing Management Consultant,Housing Partners,Housing Portfolio Management System,Hub Asset Management,Homeswapper,Housing jigsaw,HousingOne,Housing-One, Housing Support Pro,HousingIT,HousingSupportPro,HyperOptic, IMS,IPC,iProperty Cloud,IT,IT Budget,IT Training,ITIL,Impact Response,In,In4,In4Systems Promaster,InfinityGroup,InfoBoss,InHouse,InMotion,InMotion2015,InMotion2016,InfoBoss,Infoflow,Information,Information Technology,Information@Work components,Informix,Innovation, Informetis,Inphase,Inside Housing,Insight,Internet Portal,Internetalia,Invu,Ireland,Irish,itLab,InclineIT, Keyfax,Keylogic,Keypera,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keynamics, Landlord,Ledgers,Linkedin,Liquid,Locality,Localz, M3,MadeTech,MAVIS,MD,MDM,MI,MIS,MIS-AMS,MISCS,MRI,MS Dynamics,MRI,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Microsoft365,microsoft 365,MWL,Management,Management Server,Manifest,Measuring,Mebus,More IQ,MoreIQ,Microsoft Dynamics 365,Microsoft dynamics GP 2013,Miracle,MobileIron,Mobysoft,Monopoly board images and pictures,Montal,Mr Void,MriEngage,MrVoid,MoreIQ, MRI,MRI Housing One, NDL,NINTEX,NINTEX workflow,NPS,NPS ASSIST,NPS Housing,NPS Job Manager Mobile,NROSH,Natural,Neighbourhoods and Communities,Nintexworkflow,Northgate,Northgate Codeman,Northgate Public Services,Notice, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,OJEU Limits,ORS,Ohms,OmFax,Omniledger,One,OneAdvanced,OneServe,Open source,OpenContractor,OpenHousing,Opti-time,Options,Optitime,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OutSystems, PIMMS,PIMSS Data,PM,PRINCE2,Paloma,Pamwin,PanConnect,People Value,Peoplevalue,PfH,Pick,PlanForm,Planned maintenance,Plentific,Plus,Portfolio Management System,PowerObjects,Pro,Pro-Points,Prodo,Progress,Promaster,Propeller,Propoints,Proval,Providers,Pyramid, QL,QLX, QLF, QL Yuneo,QuantSpark,Qube,QLX,Qlikview,QueryView,Queryview reporting,Quiss, RM865,ROCC,RPs,RSL,Rave,ReAct,Reality,RedkiteCRM,Red Olive,Registered,Registered Social,Rent Increase,RentSense,RentSenseLite,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,RobotAutomation,Rocket,Rubixx, Salesforce,Salesforce.Org,SAP,SASSHA,SDM,SHBVN,SM,SOTI,SP,SQL,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting,SQL Server,Saffron,Safron,Saturn,Scenario,Scotland,Scots,Scottish,Scout,Sequoa,Serengeti,Serros,Server,Service,Services,Servitor,Sharepoint,Sim,SimPro, Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Housing ICT,Social Housing Software Applications,Social Media,Software,Software solutions,Spotlight Service,Spotlightservice,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic,SunAccounts,Sunguard,Surveys,Streetwise, Swordfish,Sx3,Symatrix Human,System alignment,Systems,Systemwise, T-Files,TEAMS,TED,TFiles,TP Tracker,TSG,Tagish Casework,Tagra,Task,TAIM,Techlabs,Technologies (India) PVT Limited,Telecetera,Template,Terminal Services,That,Three Star,Tilt,TiltAffinity,Today,Tony Smith,Tony Smith That Housing IT Guy,TonySmith that housing IT,TonySmithHou,TonySmithHousing, ,TonySmithHousingITguy,Total,Total Mobile,Totalmobile,Trace,Tribal,Twitter, U2,UC,UK,UK Housing,Ukhousing,UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,United Kingdom,Universal,Universalcredit,Universe,Unrest, Valueworks,Van Stock,Vantage,Vantage Sentinel,Version,Virtualisation,Visitour,Visualmetrics,Voice,Voice and data,Voicescape,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Wheatley,Windows Server,Workflow and,Work Hub,Works Connect, XML,Xen App,XenApp,Xmbrace, Yuneo,TS Acutance Consulting, ...
. . . . . . . . . . . . ES | FR | DE | IT | UK |


Friday, 21 December 2018

Indian

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


We are at an interesting place in the life cycles of a number of traditional integrated housing systems in the UK and Irish marketplace. From a choice of just about nine options, not all covering the full spectrum of a few hundred to a few hundred units either, many are at somewhat of an impasse.

Some are now and feel very, very old and long in the tooth, using some old or unpopular technology (Silverlight, VB6 etc) or pretty much declared (officially or unofficially) end-of-life already.

Its no wonder that MS Dynamics CRM resellers, are seeing some potential rich pickings, based on offerings available and/or the perceived or actual level of customer care received, from existing or previous suppliers.

Some existing suppliers are working hard to redevelop their solutions, particularly into an improved, or new browser presentation. Having past experience of a rewrite that was originally estimated at 18 months and took over for years eventually, I am aware of the rampant unreliability of developer estimates. Even worse if those estimates and targets are driven by sales.

Blimey I am forever railing against people giving me wild estimates. I must sound like a stuck record. Are these staff inexperienced, short-sighted, or unable to bother taking previous projects and learn the lessons from what worked well and less well there?

Clearly for building new software, the cost of development in the UK and the variable skill-set, attitude, motivation of developers etc, can limit how fast new products can be brought to market. Have too small a pool or ones with limited skills, maybe losing two or three particularly talented staff, can all put a break on rapid transformation of products.

The clear shortcut to accelerating development and product production is off-shoring.

Interesting to read this month that Castleton are the latest to explore enhancing their operation with India offices, Bangalore in the south and Baroda in the north. There’s potential here for some accelerated development, although from my previous experience, off-shore teams need careful management.

Mukesh Patel, Sushil Tasgaonkar, Dean Dickinson, Ian Niblock
Other suppliers have seen development run away or perhaps not provide expected productivity, without embedding ‘senior managers’ or directors, in the off-shore operation for 4 or 6 weeks typically, at a time, to get the absolute best from a remote operation. Nice work if you can get it, if you like the culture, such as the famous Benne Masala Dosa with chutney, bring it on. I enjoyed Bangalore very much when I backpacked around the sub-continent, a few decades ago.

The key managers in India have worked with CEO Dean Dickinson before, in his previous life at Advanced/COA, so hopefully Castleton customers may be experiencing the benefits of the new additions soon, without excessive supervision. My contacts in the know tell me that direct off-shore salaries can be up to a seventh of equivalent UK salaries, for effective development.

16 staff are mentioned, compared with other suppliers known to me doing this, that sounds like a very low number. At least doubling or trebling that, might well provide more bang for the buck, also allowing some true leap-frogging here from Castleton. Just a thought, it would be great to see suppliers stepping up.  

Read more from the news release here

Related Post: Ask yourself, where has all my quality time gone? 


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I would be pleased to connect with you on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy Message me with any issues or queries, you would like to be explored in this blog. We generally receive a couple of suggestions each month.

The Cult – IndianThe Cult – Indian.
(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.

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Tuesday, 13 February 2024

Jet Set Junta

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

It's been a little while since I have properly emersed myself in components, Asset Management and stock condition surveys, although I have been involved with many projects over a couple of decades. 

Obtaining decent component information is a challenge, while an even bigger one is keeping it up to date afterwards. Its not easy but rewarding from the viewpoint of being able to make insightful budget and planning decisions, going 2, 5 or up to 30 years ahead.  

Unless you are managing less than a few (3) hundred homes, an Excel spreadsheet will not cut it. There’s many a module out there of decent quality and some good standalones too. Anyone who has been out into the market to choose one will also know that each has its blind-spots. One I saw a demo of recently (obviously I wont name the guilty party), was only capable of reporting past expenditure, rather than planning potential future budgets based on providing (English) Decent Homes, SHQS or the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS). Clearly a software supplier with no socialhousing solution, they then asked “why a landlord wouldn’t just do the replacements?”.

It seemed inconceivable that there would not always be budget to just do the work, quite the reverse of what generally needs to be worked with. Decent graphical modelling tools are a boon to productivity in a planning process like this, rather than manually moving assets around a Life Cycle Costing report piecemeal.

The quality of surveyors vary and also their understanding of socialhousing. Often this can be corrected by issuing surveyors with the actual data we want them to collect, before they start a traditional 20% survey. Surprisingly this is rarely the case. The most extreme example I ever saw was a socialhousing asset condition survey completed by an outfit who previously specialised in surveying North Sea oil rigs. I kid you not. We could see how many hanging baskets our units had, but not the state or existence of kitchens or bathrooms.

Often too, surveyors get hung up on life of components and a predetermined idea of condition coding. If we were surveying passenger aircraft, there are certainly many parts for sure, that will need to be serviced after every 5,000 logged flying hours. Unlike an Airbus A320, after 30 years kitchens and bathrooms just don’t drop out of the skies desperately requiring replacement. Clearly in student accommodation or bigger households, these might not last 30 years. Where an elderly resident on the other hand have some from the 1960s that they have looked after and actively refuse upgrades. These would now be getting on for 50 years old.

Surveyors love the idea of doing a survey this year to determine a remaining life and counting it down annually, towards a ‘poor’ or ‘failed’. One popular surveyor used to charge to take data away each year for ‘aging’. While we could at this point make parallels with fine wine, I would make it with real ale. Our asset data like proper beer which is a living breathing thing and is better when nurtured and carefully looked after.

At the end of the day, socialhousing condition of components can only be based on a sampled view at a point in time. While predictions could be assumed, within decent home calculations, many criteria are defined based on components being old (i.e. exceeded expected life) and poor (i.e. usable condition), in order to define a failure.     

If we are unable to disconnect ‘Condition’ and age exceeding expected life, we will apparently have more failures than actually defined in the legislation. Our (incorrectly) budgets (incorrectly) may then need to be higher. In fact the biggest obstacle to being more accurate in planning budgets is ensuring all internal improvements are properly recorded. IE timely recording in your system of major void work and planned maintenance improvements. Relevant examples may be whole boiler, heating, kitchen, bathroom replacements, rather than minor upgrades. The former will also reset the clock for component accounting for these items. Another area there which often is spreadsheet or standalone application based. Probably one for a future blog since I have helped suppliers to design in this area as a critical friend too.  

For sure, keeping a tight asset component database is of benefit to landlords and residents, opening the door to providing better informed service. Newer boilers, lifts and other M&E equipment where selected, often now have IOT capabilities. Yet another aspect where the asset management solution can earn its keep in flagging up issues before residents realise them, or protecting the asset from much more expensive damage.

Investment in targeted surveys, good data management for assets and some more blue sky thinking, will all bring together potential for better decision making and improving efficiency.  

 

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

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Acutance Consulting love solving asset data issues, 
please just get in touch, for a chat over a jammy dodger & a coffee 😋

       Related Post: The case for closer systems between #ukhousing development & assets..

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I would be pleased to connect with you on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy Message me with any issues or queries, you would like to be explored in this blog. We generally receive a couple of suggestions each month.

The Monochrome Set - Jet Set JuntaThe Monochrome Set - Jet Set Junta.
(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.


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Saturday, 15 November 2014

A Perfect (Housing) Day


If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy
On the 12th November 2014, anyone in housing and does a bit of Twitter, will know that was #HousingDay. A phenomena punctuated by John Popham's roadtrip and a reputed tweet-reach (yes I think Twitter nerds do describe it as that) of 7.5 million. Here's a few tweets and opinions that show a window on the day http://ow.ly/EcYyX

Here is a less positive tweet from the day https://twitter.com/mhedmin/status/532496504163139585 just showing that #ukhousing is not all good news. Tenants & local activists are always pushing us harder to improve and be better. In fairness, from what I see, the sector is up for improvement. I believe in a 'real-news' not a 'good-news' culture. Well look where a good news culture got IDS with his Universal Credit project. (http://tonysmiththathousingitguy.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/thankstouniversalcredit.html ).

I spent my #HousingDay at an arts centre in Leamore, north of Walsall (Forest Arts Centre), doing some work with Walsall Housing Group (hashtag #whg since you wondered). It had been set for that day for many months and a fantastic amount of preparation went into it. More than 240 internal repair trade operatives were involved, a lot of their team leaders, and about 12 housing staff, including some directors. Change and improvement was in the air, as we were looking at how a project (hashtag #Dovetail since you wondered), would transform the repairs service, availability of materials and better service to customers.

The #whg Walsall Housing Group #Dovetail Trades day 12/11/2014
The project will make #whg repairs more efficient, save operatives time and deliver even more exceptional service to customers. Everyone wins and this day, part of a big communication, will help the core project team harness ideas and comments that will contribute to that aim.

I know a lot of folk at this organisation and it's a very good one, although I know few trade colleagues. By the end of the event I had chatted in detail to about a half dozen, all appearing pretty inspired, positive and up for change to do things better and improve neighbourhoods, across Walsall. I have got to admit, I was surprised and a bit humbled. These lads (& a few ladies) were at the sharp end of the repairs service and clearly cared about what they did. This is the type of story that would more accurately describe social housing, rather than the usual red top tabloid fodder of scroungers.

If you work in housing and bother to find out the facts, it's an essential part of UK life. Even if we have a nice mortgaged house in a nice area, chances are that some social housing is barely a 10 minute walk away. Better social housing neighbourhoods = better you and me neighbourhoods.

Now, anyone who follows me knows that I do a lot of Twitter. I do my best to give good twitter. However, once again let's not fool ourselves. Getting the world (well UK at any rate), to walk a day in our shoes, housing needs to go way beyond just Twitter. The hundred top tweeters on here take the risk of us all just shouting at ourselves.

From the dismal options we have at next May's elections (hashtag #May2015 since you wondered), I fear it will take much more than a single #Housingday each year, to move the housing shortage and the shortage of affordable (small 'a' up the agenda). Cmon #UKhousing, wake up to this before it's too late and lets truly reach 7.5 million UK adults (most of them not on Twitter). Get the real story out there. No one else will do it. Better to regret what you did, rather than what you wished you had done.

If you are attending next weeks London Olympia NHF IT conference, I will be there both days. If you follow me here, please DM me, or contact me via Linkedin and say hello at the event. Being a NW lad, I will also be at the Manchester Central version on the Thursday 27th. Equally if you are visiting that one, let me know. At the Olympia event, whg will be doing a session called 'Personalising The Call'. Come and see Ann Parkes, one of my users at Walsall, share her experience of how technology, people and process = great customer service and a cabinet of awards. 

If you think your organisation could use some help with your ICT or housing processes, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Related Post: Is this the time for DLOs to make a come back?

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

Lou Reeds - Perfect DayLou Reeds - Perfect Day.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009

PS As usual, if there are subjects you might like me to tackle on this blog, or you could benefit from any of our services please get in touch and let me know!

You can access a quick list of blog posts here
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