Hard Cash

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



I don’t know if you spotted it, (you won’t at the writing of this blog find it on Civica’s news section of their website), but last week (Wed' 3rd May 2017) it was announced that Banks are readying around £450m of debt financing to back a sale of Civica.

Civica have some penetration within social housing, via various mainly legacy housing systems, Keystone asset management, Servitor contractor module and the recent acquisition of common housing register platform Abritas. Of course they are into a lot of other local authority & public sector areas, such as Government & National Security, Local & Regional Government, Public Safety, Social Housing, Health & Care, Education, Travel & Transport, Commercial & Utilities, Telecoms, Financial & Legal.

They moved from 3i in 2013 to Omers Private Equity, with £255m of leveraged loans.

Social housing customers will be interested, particularly as the new Cx Housing Software product is at last being seriously rolled out. The large list of RSLs & RP’s on the sold-to list will be eager to see if additional resources can be leveraged to move more sites live, much more quickly.

These are interesting times with Cx being a very recently developed HTML5 delivered product, which could be a good potential future proofed option, compared with where some of its peers are at currently, with either systems still stuck fully or partially in old technologies or requiring a ‘skin over the top’ to make them presentable. I would not be so rude as to mention them here by name 8-) 

The list of solid ‘future-proofed’ systems for housing out there, seems to be reducing. It would be interesting to author a white paper or similar to research where it all seems to be going. Feel free to share any thoughts on that, via the comments area below or on direct message.

Read the full chapter and verse on the Reuters site

July 2017 Update- Civica Sold to Partners Private Equity Group for £1.06b

Related Post: Void recharges, something to think seriously about 

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.

Miracle Of Sound - Hard Cash.
(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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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 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 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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 ..

Get The Message ...

"I always thought of you as my brick wall, built like an angel, six feet tall..."

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/

I read with interest this week a couple of blogposts about social housing and where it sits within the public conscientiousness: http://jamesatbromford.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/keith-lemon-on-social-housing-whats-the-message/ and http://paulbromford.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/does-social-housing-need-to-find-a-richard-branson/

There are some great points made in both of those and no surprise they both originate from one of the UK’s most progressive landlords. Bromford in the English Midlands try hard to persuade staff to think outside the box to create great housing for their residents and spread the gospel of creating better customer service around the sector at large.

I am a great fan of BHG and have seen how they work first hand. However, they are just one housing group in a sector that does not appear to get its act totally together, in respect of explaining to the wider public ‘What we do” and “What we are for”. Most of the public have not been updated in what’s changed in the sector over the last 15 years.

There is still much ignorance for the wider public in terms of what the difference is between ‘Social Housing’, Private landlords and that old phrase “Council Housing”, which these days is pretty meaningless, as most housing actually left LA control decades ago. Try asking your non-housing mates when you are out socially and the general ignorance is clear. Most would be well into minus figures on Qi wouldn’t they!

In the current climate Jobs, Health and Housing should be the three main themes that affect the general public we see on the news and in general media. In the housing area we hear more of house prices and mortgage availability than the direct issues that affect social housing. That includes the success stories as well as the more obvious challenges like the bedroom tax and Universal Credit changes. Not enough success stories get out there on the mainstream news, Twitter and elsewhere.

The truth is that the responsibility lies with every RSL out there to always be finding opportunities to bang the drum for social housing and particularly where it is joined up with a number of peripheral charities and commercial organisations. Housing needs to be intrinsically plumbed in with health and jobs and the organisations involved with delivering those aims. The CIH should be more prominent in this area, consistently banging the drum even more intently for the sector. I would like to hear Grainia Long on the R4 Today program every single week and her face as familiar as Mark Prisk (who again is not that prominent either).   Grainia would be one of my nominations for our (non-bearded) Richard Branson plus a cabal of other housing heavyweights.

Cuddling up to government is no bad thing if there is the opportunity for policy to be given a reality check before it is released. We need a few more Paul Tennant’s with vision to promote social housing in parliamentary circles and have it considered as part of wider social policies to help job seekers, improve health and our neighbourhoods over all. This job won’t do itself, come on housing brothers and sisters lefts take the message to the people and our leaders, whatever leaning they may be. If we don’t, social housing probably deserves to be regarded as an afterthought.

You can link with me on LinkedIn here - uk.linkedin.com/pub/tony-smith-bsc-hons-acih/a/979/351/ It would be great to connect !

Read on, to greening our housing

http://tonysmiththathousingitguy.blogspot.com/2013/12/jack-in-green.html

Electronic - Get The Message.


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

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

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CHR,Citrix,Civica,Clearview,CMS ,Asprey e-state pro, ECMK , Innovation Group Apex, Mr Void , MrVoid, In4Systems Promaster, CCS IT Keystone CCSIT, Northgate Codeman, PIMMS Data Systems, datasystems , Template,COA,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Competitive Dialogue process,complex IT procurements,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation,Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context, MD , Director , Housing software, UK, United Kingdom,Contractor Systems,CORE,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,CRM,Crystal Reports,CTI,CTX,Customer Relationship Management,Deeplake,Development Systems,Document Management,Documotive,ECMK,EDRMS,England, English,EnterpriseBI,ERP Systems,Finance,Financial Systems,Getting best from,Grasp,Grip,hardware,HG,Housemark survey,Housing Blueprint,Housing Group,Impact Response,implementations,In House,In4,Infoflow,Information Technology,Informix,inHouse,in-house workforce, HousingIT, Innovation,Inside Housing,Internet Portal,Invu,Ireland,Irish,IT Budget,IT Training,iWorld,Keylogic,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,management reporting,Measuring Change,Mebus,Miracle,MISCS, mobile functionality,Monopoly board images and pictures, Montal,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Neighbourhoods and Communities,Miracle Software, HouSys, Northgate,Notice,NROSH,OA,OGC Buying Solutions,Ohms,OJEU Limits,OmFax,Omniledger,Open source software,open tender,OpenHousing,Opti-Time,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,Paloma,performance management systems,PfH,Pick,PIMMS,pimms4communities,Planned maintenance,Plus,PM,Progress,Promaster,Proval,Pyramid, QL,QLX,Registered Providers,Registered Social Landlord,Rent Increase Freezes,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,ROCC, NINTEX , NINTEX workflow , Rocket,RPs,RSL,Saffron,SAP,Scots, Scottish,Scotland,SDM,sector,Server Virtualisation,servicing, Universalcredit, universal credit, universal credits, Servitor,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, Systemwise, Factorwise, Blockwise, Block wise, Task,Terminal Services,Three Star,Today,Total repairs,Tribal,Twitter,U2, 07854-655009 , 07854655009 , 07854 655009 , "07854 655009" , tonysmith , tonysmiththat , thathousing , thathousingIT , thathousingITguy ,UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,Universal Housing,Universe,Unrest,Van Stock,Voice and data,Wales,Welsh,Windows Server,Workflow and tasking,Xmbrace,XML

October Daze - #HousingDay – 10th Oct 2018

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


As readers of this blog or followers perhaps on Twitter will know, I have been involved in previous years, taking part in hashtag #HousingDay. This year it will be Wednesday 10th October 2018.

I have worked within the Social Housing sector for over 20 years, even grew up in ‘Council Housing’, so I have an acute understanding of how low cost housing can change peoples lives. I believe wholeheartedly that it’s a definite ‘lift up’, not a hand-out. Lack of truly affordable housing (not ‘A’ffordable, which is 80% of a market rent, and pretty much out of reach for so many, particularly in many of our cities), is a massive issue.

The sector does much good, on so many levels. Like in any sector, sometimes it gets things wrong and I am of the view that a lot of what I can do, to help organisations with systems & processes, we can position and get in the right tools to enable continuous improvements, to take place. Many random tenants across the UK have contacted me for advice or guidance what to ask landlords for, or how to make their voice heard.

#HousingDay is one opportunity for those residents and all the organisations providing #socialhousing to make their voice heard.

In recent years, #Housingday has been organised by Ade Capon, who has done an excellent job. Ade has now left the sector, but this year passed the baton to Leslie Channon (who has been involved as tenant and now joined the sector with HACT). Together with journo Jon Land (many will recognise from 24dash / 24housing), I was pleased they asked me to help with blog set up and generally spreading the word.

We now have an emerging blog at https://housingday2018.wordpress.com/ where we will be featuring articles from the sector, as well as insights from residents, which I think is one of the most important elements. Without tenants and their experiences, we would not have a sector, more importantly, organisations would not have the feedback to improve, which is so vital.

Please look out for the #HousingDay hashtag and think what you will do to shout far and wide about Social Housing, what we do, how it feels to experience it and why we need much more of it, to provide enough housing of all tenures across England, Wales & Ireland.

Feel free to contact me, Leslie or Jon, with news, blogs and other material, we can add to the wordpress site, Twitter or other social media.   

If you are a housing organisation struggling with poor systems for delivering excellent customer service, feel free to get in touch too!


Related Post: When choosing applications software, why you should always look beyond the badge... 

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.

Nitin Sawhney – October Daze.
(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,Housing Portfolio Management System, 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,Portfolio Management System, 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,Valueworks,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Windows Server,Workflow and tasking,Wheatley,Works Connect,worksConnect, Xmbrace,XML ,XenApp,Xen App ...

Inform - Educate – Entertain (GDPR 2 of 3)

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



In part two of this short and to the point series, let’s explore some of the GDPR nuts and bolts. Checkout the first part here.

Namely, have we got lawful basis for even storing our data and can we release it completely when requested? To robustly comply with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), organisations must now be able to maintain and produce a wide range of documentation, on demand if needed.

All orderly organisations will already I have sure, identified if its lawful for our data being held and processed. However, how well documented is this? GDPR requires robust documentation covering how holding and process of our data is lawful. In addition, privacy notices need to reflect this too. Examine yours, how good is your documentation in this regard? Remember that responsibility for the documentation’s accuracy will generally be down to the designated data controller.

Documentation of consent, how it is being obtained from each data subject, where is the record of it, is very important. GDPR strengthens this aspect of data protection. In social housing, it is likely that at lettings or tenancy sign up, we already tick this box. We need to review if current procedures meet the GDPR standard, or if they need to be made more transparent or robust. Question how your organisation seeks, records and then manages consent. Where is this recorded, could it easily be audited?

For the above, its hoped that mainstream systems will be providing specific fields to record and audit where consent has been positively obtained. Use of UDF/UDE/ad-hoc fields, while undoubtedly working, will lead to non-standard approaches, even within the same social housing systems. Hopefully some approaches have already started to be described for future enhancements particularly for GDPR pressure points along the tenant lifecycle, in a release late in 2017, by your software provider/supplier, in time for GDPR.

At this point, its salient to say that you should not really be asking your software suppliers, "What are you doing about GDPR?". You should be asking, "How can I use features of your system/solution, to better implement and comply with GDPR, and how are you improving those?".

In addition, we need to be engaging with our contractors, partners and others, who we are supplying data to, for limited use. EG during the life of the issue of a reactive repair or Works Order. How can we educate and 'ripple down' a GDPR culture to them too? Consider special workshops or briefing sessions with your contractors and vendors.

You can find numerous training organisations that have sprung up, to provide 'documentation packs' and the like, supporting this. Truth is, you can probably sort it easily in less than an afternoon, yourself. After all, a lot of that 'documentation' will only set you off on the road to getting this stuff in place. 

Information regarding children, now may need additional consent of parents or guardians. If not already in place, possibly systems to verify ages must be put in place.

Once all the above is in place, how robust are our systems and procedures for responding to ‘Subject Access Requests’? What places and system applications may be the sources, to satisfy a subject access request? Certainly, main housing management systems may be the primary source, but do not miss document management and other peripheral systems and applications. It’s time to think this all through now, be prepared (as Baden-Powell used to say).

• A quick recap on those essential compliance documents:
• (GDPR Article 13) - Statements of the information you collect and process, and the purpose for processing.
• (GDPR Article 7 & 8) - Records of consent from data subjects or relevant holder of parental responsibility.
• (GDPR Article 30) - Records of processing activities under your responsibility.

In the last and final blog, we will explore Data Breeches and Privacy Impact Assessments, including  documented processes for protecting personal data, information security and cryptography policy, procedures, etc.Checkout the first part here.

Related Post: How much does each method of payment cost your organisation? 

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.

Public Service Broadcasting - Inform - Educate – Entertain - Spitfile.
(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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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 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Another partner In Crime

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

The new megalith newcomer in UK & Ireland Social Housing, MRI, grew bigger still today (5th Aug 2020), as it snapped up ‘Housing Partners’.

You may use a Housing Partners product, if you have Homelessness to deal with in England & Wales (Housing Jigsaw), Anti-social behaviour not dealt with in your Housing Management System (Streetwise), track and tracing of tenant debt (TAIM), or make use of Homeswapper.

The statement on the Housing Partners website went as follows:

“We are proud to welcome Housing Partners to the MRI family, adding an exciting and innovative range of digital solutions to our powerful and interoperable MRI Living residential portfolio,” said Patrick Ghilani, Chief Executive Officer of MRI Software. “This acquisition expands MRI’s ability to facilitate the delivery of front-line services, helping social housing providers bring increased flexibility, mobility, safety and security to communities – building on our commitment to improving the lives and experiences of social housing tenants through the power of technology.”

I am loving the across the pond use of English, “Interoperable MRI Living Residential Portfolio”. Some should think of turning that into an acronym, it being a bit of a mouthful.

Proof of the pudding in the use of the housing systems from the usual suspects is generally level and quality of integration. This is a deceptively tricky nut to crack, particularly when the number of original sourced ‘Jigsaw’ pieces multiply. Get that wrong and an upgrade or change to one piece can create a nightmare of testing required.

A few years back, I remember sitting in a presentation at a Housing Technology conference, where a supplier who had bought up about 5 housing products, from multiple sources, expected to have them all linked together, integrated in just 9 months. With my colleague in the next seat, we both agreed they would struggle to even get them looking similar with colour-scheme and branding, in 9 months.

So, maybe it will be some time I expect, before the ‘I’ in ‘IMLRP’, can be swapped to ‘Integrated’ (or even ‘TIMLRP’ for ‘truly integrated’.

It will be interesting if the MRI shopping spree will continue and who else might be worth adding to this smorgasbord of mixed solutions. There is a danger of the mix becoming a little like 'The Curates Egg', with too random a mix.  

Of course too, with the background of the traditional HMS providers rushing to move to SaaS and true browser GUI delivery and the clear alternative of MS Dynamics CRM or Salesforce, providing whatever RSLs want, we are in interesting times. Lets see who are the winners and losers here, although its clear that supplier deep pockets may be needed in the next few years, just to pretty much stand still. 

Related Post: Have you hit rock bottom with any of your software  suppliers?

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.

Ocean Alley – Partner In Crime.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


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

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

File Under: #HomesForBritain,#HousingDAY,#InternetOfTenants,#Shout,#UKHousing, 07854655009, 1st Touch,1stTouch,360,365Agile,3squared,4Js, ACL,ALMO,AMS,AX,Aareon,Abritas,Academy,Accuserv,Accuserve,Active Housing,ActiveH,ActiveHousing,Acutence,Advanced,Agile,Agile365,AirWatch,Alignment,Allpay,Amazon Web Services,Anite,Apex,App,ArchHouse,Archouse,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Associates,Aurora,Average IT Costs,AWI SX Integration Toolkit,AWS, BI,BO,BPR,BancTec,BigChange,Blockwise,BluTek,Bluebox,Blueprint,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning,Business Process Review,Business social networking, CACI,Capita One Housing,CBL,CCS IT Keystone CCSIT,CHICS,CHR,CIH,CMS,COA,CORE,CPL,CRM,CRM2013,CRS,CTI,CTX,Cadcorp,Capita,CapitaOne,Capita One,Capital Management,Cashflow,Castle,Castleton,Castleton Technology,Cedar Open Accounts,Cerrus,Change,Charges,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, Citrix,Civica,Civica CTX,Civica Cx,Civica Genero,Civica 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Group,Housing Insight,Housing Management,Housing Management Consultant,Housing Partners,Housing Portfolio Management System,Hub Asset Management,Homeswapper,Housing jigsaw,acquisitions, Housing Support Pro,HousingIT,HousingSupportPro,HyperOptic, IMS,IT,IT Budget,IT Training,ITIL,Impact Response,In,In4,In4Systems Promaster,InfoBoss,InHouse,InMotion,InMotion2015,InMotion2016,InfoBoss,Infoflow,Information,Information Technology,Information@Work components,Informix,Innovation, Informetis,Inphase,Inside Housing,Insight,Internet Portal,Internetalia,Invu,Ireland,Irish,itLab, Keyfax,Keylogic,Keypera,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera, Landlord,Ledgers,Linkedin,Liquid,Locality,Localz, M3,MAVIS,MD,MDM,MI,MIS,MIS-AMS,MISCS,MRI,MS Dynamics,MRI,MS Dynamics CRM2011,MWL,Management,Management Server,Manifest,Measuring,Mebus,Microsoft Dynamics 365,Microsoft dynamics GP 2013,Miracle,MobileIron,Mobysoft,Monopoly board images and pictures,Montal,Mr Void,MriEngage,MrVoid, NDL,NINTEX,NINTEX workflow,NPS,NPS ASSIST,NPS 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. . . . . . . . . . .

Down To Earth

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



I was chatting to a new-ish client last week about ‘Command and Control’

Many of my readers will be very familiar with it, others may be interested to know its recognised as a US Army thing. According to older versions of U.S. Army manual FM 3-0, C2 in a military organization is the exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commanding officer over assigned and attached forces in the accomplishment of the mission.

In short, it’s a technique utilised when something needs to absolutely get done.
My conversation revolved around if ‘Command and Control’ was used enough.

My personal opinion is that in many situations, particularly where new systems are being implemented, some C&C may definitely be needed. Examples abound that I am sure readers of this blog will find strangely familiar.

How often has a new application, innovation or process, been implemented and only a small number of applicable staff, seem to utilise it? Good examples are CRM systems. Of course, the customer service team utilise that, but what about the rest of the organisation key teams? How often have you noticed that Asset Management, Repairs, or that remote office in Pontefract, just never bother to use it?

Joining the dots, tracing back, its often managers that fail to see the importance or consequences of not using something like CRM, that actually benefits staff, all around the organisation. How often do managers tell staff ‘Oh don’t bother with that’, reinforcing a ‘can’t be arsed’, point of view?

When putting in new systems, such as CRM or Tasking Trays & Workflow, it is essential to communicate to all staff & teams, why these systems are being put in and why they benefit the whole organisation. Comms must play a big part.

In addition, these new systems should be monitored and feedback produced for managers, to pass down to their own staff. Good exception reporting can encourage early adoption, saving potentially tortuous issues later. Find ways to monitor compliance and automate where possible. This will ensure that new systems are in use by all and the benefits are realised by all.

Related Post: Be careful that your self-service, does not have extra unintended consequences  

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.

Curiosity Killed The Cat – Down To Earth.
(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,Housing Portfolio Management System, 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,NEC,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,Portfolio Management System, 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, 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The State Of Things

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


As anyone who reads this blog knows, I work right across the UK, from England, into Wales, Scotland and Ireland. A continual problem is how do we know if our organisations are doing well? ‘Benchmarking’ is a well-used buzzword. Where should we look to benchmark and will it reflect reality? i.e.. compare ourselves to something similar and extract some useful insights.

I have done some work with a local organisation to me, Vantage, who host the ‘Performance Improvement Club’.  My work has involved greater efficiency in DLO teams, but clearly as readers of this blog will know, I have a long term geeky interest in better KPI’s and reporting.

On a chance conversation with Tony Bryan, Chief Executive of Vantage, at the 24Housing awards, it was mentioned their latest KPI stats from the benchmarking club were available. Improved performance can only be based on knowing what the norm is, what others are actually achieving. I am committed to better reporting, however creatively that can be achieved.

Its always good to know who’s part of the benchmarking club. In this case, its some of the leading landlord RSLs in our social housing sector. The Vantage club attracts a wide variety of significant large and medium landlords from across the UK. This means that a varied raft of statistics can be collated for some unique insights.

Firstly, who is involved in the Vantage benchmarking group? Well it’s a broad mix of English and Welsh landlords. Plenty of familiar names, many of which I have worked with over the years.

Some Vantage Improvement Club Members

When I read through the report, it gave me a warm feeling. There are clear insights in the data taken from 132 major RSL/RPs, distilled into clear information about our sector, which I recognise from the work I get involved with.

As a sector watcher myself, I feel it comprehensively covers all financial areas  I work with in improving systems and processes. I have provided a link to the full report at the end of the blog.



Despite the continual rollout of Universal Credit, a 4 year rent reduction, it’s clear we have a strong sector. As I have tweeted about a lot lately, recent noises from Westminster sound like socialhousing may be back on the agenda (and rightly so!). The political tide might yet be turning, as Tony Bryan mentions in his summary.


Let’s look at some of the headline figures:

• Turnover stable, only down by a very marginal 0.11% on a turnover of 16.69%
• The G15 group of London landlords still dominate turnover, 27% of all UK socialhousing
• £156m still being wasted in void property loss
• Employment costs down 6.6% on last year
• Operating surplus up (much greater in General needs housing)
• Financial performance operating costs (strangely greater in NE England.
• Routine operating costs, per unit (slightly lower)
• Operating costs (slightly falling by unit)
• Financial Health & Viability (Gearing generally increasing)
• Headline annual average social housing cost per unit £3,514

There are some striking regional variations. One case in point is voids, a key concern for landlords. The graph below shows how badly on average the North West performs, with a mixture of low average weekly rent and worst void loss %.

Void loss by English region

It would be interesting to research the penetration of modern void management systems, such as mobile and recharge recovery, in each region to consider if these innovations are contributing.

Another key area where improved systems should be making a positive effect is in control of costs per unit. Better controlled repair processes should be reducing waste due to wasted visits, unnecessary repairs and better appreciation of sustainability.

Headline Social Housing Cost per Unit

In the figures on the right, the number of capitalised components fell by over 16%, reflecting what I see with my clients. Again, the regional spread is interesting. The last area to mention is stock size and achieved housing cost per unit. There has been a lot of discussion recently following mergers, if bigger is better and can it be cheaper? The larger bubbles to the mid-far right in the graphic below, do suggest it. Seeing the data like this, it does suggest it’s the 15-35k groups/RSLs that may currently have most of the cost challenges.

Stock size vs Social Housing Cost per Unit

Vantage are certainly taking benchmarking to a new level.
Why not download the full 24 page 2017 report on this link

2017/18 version available here


For more information on the Vantage Performance Improvement Club, click here: YourVantage.co.uk 

Get in touch if I can add some insight to your data project, Integrated Housing or Finance system review or procurement.

Related Post: When you procure, bring all your team and users on the journey too! 

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.

Reverend and the makers - The State Of Things.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


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