Salix Homes has signed up cloud service provider ANS Group to improve its digital services, alongside pre-project research and assessment work carried out by Alysium Consulting.
The project involves migrating Salix Homes’ everyday operations to Microsoft Azure, moving its on-premise CRM system to Microsoft Dynamics 365 and transferring all of its staff onto Office 365.
Chris Henry, ICT manager, Salix Homes, said, “This exciting development marks the next stage in our journey to ‘rethink housing’. We’re digitally transforming the way we deliver all of our services and we’re confident that this ambitious upgrade with ANS of our ICT infrastructure will provide the foundations for a first-class digital experience for our staff and tenants.”
As covered in the May 2018 issue of Housing Technology, Salix has already introduced IoT sensors in some of its properties as part of its MiiHome research project. The housing provider said that it hoped that its partnership with ANS would enable it to develop its smart home technologies further, including the introduction of intelligent household appliances, such as self-reporting boilers.
Andy Barrow, CTO, ANS Group, said, “It’s very refreshing to be working with a forward-thinking housing provider who is willing to embrace new technologies. As a result, we expect to see the rest of the sector follow suit as they realise that IoT and automation are the future.”