First Touch Could be the Deepest

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24 September 2015 | Updated 01 January 1970

Comprising seven autonomous housing associations the Together Housing Group has chosen enterprise mobile workforce software from 1st Touch.

The software is currently being introduced across the organisation which manages over 35,000 homes, employing more than 1,400 staff.

One of the areas where the Group felt it could improve value for money was in the introduction of mobile workforce technology that would help mobile and customer-facing operatives by delivering all the role-specific information they need straight to their mobile devices. It was felt that once the technology was fully installed, it would deliver major efficiencies and significantly boost customer care.

With its multi-company structure, Together Housing Group felt that it would be best to identify a single mobile option so that it could harmonise policies and procedures across the group.

Having chosen an Aareon Housing Management System, Together Housing Group set up a small team to identify a mobile workforce system, suitable for use across the enterprise and chose 1^st Touch. The first department to go live was responsive repairs with over 200 operatives. Subsequently, the system has been introduced across the group to include the Asset Team and the Incomes Team along with a pilot for Voids Management and Planning.

In total there will ultimately be over 500 operatives using 1st Touch mobile technology

“With our Responsive Repairs operation, trades operatives don’t have to return to base for job sheets or information as all the details can be sent to their device each morning,” said Shane Hollingdrake, Systems Co-ordinator, Together Housing Group, explaining one improvement. “This saves time and travel costs. Operatives can also fit in more jobs per day which means we are even more efficient. In fact the whole process is also much more transparent as we know when operatives are on their way or have finished a job.” 

Further advantages

The system also allows having an interface with Wolesey, the builders’ merchant which can receive orders from an operative’s device and have the stock sent directly to a job.

Similarly with Voids if an inspector felt there needed to be a new bath suite in a property, this can be ordered from his or her device and dispatched directly to the relevant address.

Picture: 1st Touch mobile technology has been introduced for Together Housing Group staff in a range of services

Article written by Robin Snow | Published 24 September 2015

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