Together Housing Group is deploying mobile workforce software from 1st Touch across its seven operating companies in order to boost its value for money strategy.
At the start of its selection process, Together Housing decided that it wanted a single mobile solution so that it could harmonise policies and procedures across its multi-company structure. Having chosen an Aareon housing management system, Together Housing then chose 1st Touch as it already had close integration with Aareon.
The housing provider’s responsive repairs team was the first to go live with over 200 operatives. The 1st Touch system has since been rolled out across the group, including the asset and income teams along with a pilot project within the voids and planning teams. Together Housing will eventually have 500 people using 1st Touch’s mobile technology.
Shane Hollingdrake, systems co-ordinator, Together Housing Group said, “By introducing the technology across the business, we will drive value for money and derive some major benefits. For example, with our responsive repairs operation, workers don’t have to return to base for job sheets or information because all the details can be sent to their device each morning so they can fit in more jobs per day. The whole process is much more transparent because we know when operatives are on their way or have finished a job. We also have an interface with Wolseley, the builders’ merchants, who can receive orders from the operative’s device and have the stock sent directly to a job.
“Similarly with voids if, for example, an inspector thinks that there needs to be a new bathroom suite in a property, then this can be ordered from their device and despatched direct to the relevant address. Our incomes team benefits as well because 1st Touch sends through all the rent and payment information they need to their mobile device.”
Greg Johns, CEO, 1st Touch, said, “Together Housing has taken a very professional approach to the introduction of mobile technology. Rather than instigating a piecemeal programme of fitting mobile solutions in different departments as the opportunities arise, it has adopted a planned process aimed at optimising value for money.”
