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Many Housing Associations
not on top of IT Systems

from "UK Landlord" magazine, January 2007

A recent study into 50 housing associations across the UK has indicated that the social housing sector could use its IT systems more efficiently, and should consider a greater use of mobile technology.

The research records more than 80 per cent of repairs systems in use by housing associations not being integrated with their contractors' job maintenance systems; three-quarters of the associations questioned had no mobile interface with the maintenance operative carrying out the work; and 70 per cent of IT systems are not properly tailored to the specific business requirements and increasing pressures on social landlords.

Martin Taylor, managing director of Impact Applications which commissioned the study, said, "pressures on social landlords are increasing, not just from the Housing Corporation and the Audit Commission but also from their customers. In addition, the way in which they are judged, for example by annual efficiency statements or Key Performance Indicators, is increasingly moving away from detailed low-level activity measures to higher-level outcome measures. The use of effective IT is critical to success in this environment." Taylor acknowledges that cost and time to implement new software are the main reasons why the sector is not moving towards new technology.

Impact Applications are software experts specialising in web-based business solutions. For more information, see www.impactapplications.com

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