Invitation Housing Technology Conference 2011

national college for leadershipHousing Technology 2011 will take place at the National College for Leadership of Schools and Children’s Services in Nottingham, with its state-of-the-art conference centre set in its own tranquil lakeside grounds. The National College for Leadership has excellent transport links, being close to both Nottingham railway station (15 mins by taxi) and the M1. There is ample free parking.

national college for leadership of schools and children’s servicestriumph road, nottingham, ng8 1dh

actimaxActimax Plc is a national supplier of unified communications, including IT and telecoms infrastructure. Actimax supplies WAN solutions including DSL, MPLS and Ethernet together with Mitel and Alcatel telephony, Aruba wi-fi, data switches and call recording. Our voice solutions include ISDN, SIP, Non-Geographic Numbers (NGN) and mobile network solutions.

www.actimax.co.uk

ib solutionsIB Solutions, part of the Capita Group, is a market leader in providing world-class integrated business software solutions to service-centric organisations. With a product and services portfolio of outstanding depth, its offerings extend from e-procurement and bespoke software to enterprise-wide management accounting software for efficiencies across entire organisations

www.ibsolutions.com

metThe culture at MET is based on customer service and innovation. We have developed a successful track record delivering best-in-class ICT outsourcing services, allowing clients to focus on other key areas. This significantly lowers the ICT total cost of ownership by 30-50 per cent yet still delivers increased ICT performance.

www.met.co.uk

intechnologyInTechnology is one of the UK’s leading service providers and delivers cloud-based services to over 800 public and private sector businesses across the UK. It has an unrivalled mix of skills embracing networking, hosting, data, voice and unified communications. InTechnology is also the first UK provider to integrate hosted IP telephony with Microsoft OCS and offer it as a fully-managed, hosted service.

www.intechnology.co.uk

aareon ukAareon will explore how its QL housing management software, using the latest innovative technology, has enabled customers to continuously develop the ways in which they communicate and engage with tenants. A demonstration of the system will include the CRM module, I-Housing web access for tenants, and QL Task Centre for automated text and email communications.

www.aareon.co.uk

civicaCivica supplies housing solutions to more than 200 customers, managing more than 1 million properties. Drawing on 20 years’ experience in the housing sector and with a focus on engineering and automating streamlined business processes, Civica’s solutions deliver improved customer service and efficiency and a tangible return on technology investment.

www.civica.co.uk

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kironaKirona is the leading provider of field force automation (mobile working) solutions. Our portfolio of business applications enable you to streamline your services, including automatically scheduling jobs and monitoring their progress in real-time, reducing admin and travel in the mobile operative’s day to provide more time for core tasks, and locating and tracking your field-based assets for operational and lone worker purposes.

www.kirona.com

optical record systemsOptical Record Systems has a proven track record in the successful delivery of efficient and effective document management to housing associations. A range of services have been provided to businesses and organisations throughout the UK for the past 23 years from our multiple sites across the UK. Our services help associations to remove the burden that correspondence handling and transaction processing places on their core business functions.

www.orsgroup.com

mitel networksMitel is a leading provider of unified communications and collaboration software and solutions for organisations of all sizes, operating in over 90 countries via over 1,400 certified partners. Mitel solutions help organisations save money, improve productivity, stay connected, attract and retain customers and be green.

www.mitel.com

agendaPlease see www.housing-technology.com for exact timings nearer the event.0900 - 09501000 - 10401040 - 11001100 - 12301200 - 14001330 - 1540 1540 - 1600 1600 - 16401640 -1800

Registration, breakfast and informal introductionsOpening presentationsRefreshments in exhibition areaIndustry presentations (4 streams)Lunch in exhibition areaIndustry presentations (4 streams)Refreshments in exhibition areaFinal presentations (4 streams)Closing drinks reception in exhibition area

housing technology 2011 The second Housing Technology conference and executive forum will take place at the outstanding National College for Leadership in Nottingham on Thursday 10 February 2011.Better targeted and more exclusive than other housing events, this one-day event will comprise presentations on the latest technology innovations and success stories from housing providers, an exhibition from leading technology providers, discussions with industry experts and senior-level networking. Register now as places are limited.

Sponsored by Aareon, Actimax, Civica, IB Solutions, InTechnology, Kirona, MET, Mitel and Optical Record Systems, refreshments will be served throughout the day in the sponsors’ exhibition area where delegates can network informally and discuss their technology requirements with some of the industry’s most innovative technology providers.Attendance at Housing Technology 2011 is just £245 (£295 after 21 January 2011) for housing providers, local authorities, government agencies and other end-user organisations. IT and technology companies, consultancies and business service providers can attend Housing Technology 2011 for £445 (£595 after 21 January 2011).Delegate places are limited so please visit www.housing-technology.com to find out more and to reserve your place.

who should attend?• Chief executives & managing directors• IT directors & managers• Corporate services directors• Finance directors• Operations directors & resources directors• Tenant communications directors

delegate feedback from 2010 conference

97% rated the conference very good or good100% rated the conference very relevant or relevant

97% rated the presentations very good or good98% rated the event organisation very good or good

aareonWhere is the traditional housing management system going? The changing role of housing management systems in the past and present, and an examination of the likely shape and role of HMS in the future.

accent groupUnifying IT systems – projects and processes in practiceAccent Group has spent three years modernising and unifying its IT systems, aligning business processes along the way. We will take a practical walk-through to show how we have achieved this using a case study which looks at the tools and techniques used on Project TriStar – the implementation of our group-wide housing management system – and some of the lessons we have learnt in the process.

actimaxUsing SIP and NGN systems to improve customer responseActimax will explain the business, IT and financial advantages of SIP and non-geographic numbers (NGN). The benefits of SIP include enabling businesses to retain their existing customers, the ability to appear to have ‘virtual offices’ by using local telephone numbers, free calls between SIP users and lower trunk rental costs than ISDN. The advantages of NGN include increased caller response levels, revenues from incoming calls, the ability to track responses to marketing campaigns, and in-built disaster recovery.

bromford groupBuilding a new ICT infrastructure from server room to desktop – improving service and reducing costsA behind-the-scenes look at Bromford’s relocation to a new HQ and the consequent refresh of the organisation’s entire IT infrastructure. This presentation looks at how this was planned and achieved, the main technology components involved, and the real cost and productivity benefits realised. It also stresses the importance of working with proven technology partners and having a good project management approach.

civicaUsing IT to improve efficiencies and service in housing managementThe coming year will be a major challenge to social housing providers in the light of the recent Comprehensive Spending Review. Civica is working with its customers to enable them to use their existing technology to generate a better return on investment, increase efficiency and improve tenant services.

coastline housingDigital inclusion – moral imperatives, business benefits and practical implementationsAlthough many socially-excluded people are unable to access the internet, why should housing associations get involved, what benefits will they see, and how can they make a difference? Coastline makes the case for improving digital inclusion among tenants, discusses the benefits for both housing providers and tenant communities, and gives practical examples from Coastline and others of how even limited resources can make a real difference.

presentations and speakers customer experience foundationWhat is the future role of technology in housing?Is it smart homes that require less maintenance, or lower service costs to manage tenant and sub-contractor relations? What are the ‘low-hanging fruit’ of 2011/12 and what will prove important in 3 years’ time?

dunedin canmore groupMobile solutions in maintenanceDunedin Canmore will discuss how it used technology to become more efficient in the back-office functions relating to its in-house maintenance. Based on its experience of managing 60 staff and 25,000 jobs per year, this presentation will show how Dunedin Canmore manages jobs, customer satisfaction, stock control and other ways of collecting data.

gentoo groupFrom RSL to IT providerAs stock numbers have reduced, Gentoo has been looking for other ways of diversifying its business. Gentoo has embarked on developing in-house software, engaging IT practitioners in the development process. Using this methodology, it can ensure the systems meet the needs of the business and the wider commercial social housing market.

havebury housing partnershipA beginner’s guide to straight-through processingStraight-through processing offers a utopian ideal of data effortlessly routing itself from system to system with no loss of data value. Is it feasible to move away from the traditional idea of an interface, are we stuck with putting CSV files into folders, and is it all just like the paperless office – noble but unattainable?

helena partnershipsFrom knowledge management to customer excellenceCustomer insight enables Helena Partnerships to improve customer access, anticipate customer needs and create a greater intimacy with tenants. A purpose-built CRM system developed in-house and customer segmentation by Experian is supported by the use of knowledge maps in Helena’s One Call contact centre, increasing first call resolution.

housing technologyHousing Technology 2011 – the blueprint for ITHousing Technology will preview the results of its 2011 report – The Blueprint for IT. While every housing provider will have its own view of its ideal IT infrastructure, the 2011 report will reveal common themes covering business applications, IT infrastructures and technology delivery models. The presentation will also cover changing working practices, technology budgets and IT goals.

hyde groupBuilding trust through technologyHow Hyde Group is reinforcing resident and customer trust through all available digital channels.

ib solutionsRequisitions through to payments – recognising the achievable savingsIB Solutions will show how housing providers can make significant savings in the ‘requisition/orders through to payments’ process without the need to invest in a new housing or finance system. Discussing existing implementations and methodologies, IB Solutions will provide its views on how to achieve these benefits while streamlining approaches to order and invoice management.

intechnologyThe business case for cloud computingBuilding the business case for cloud computing consists of stakeholder analysis, organisational objectives and the assessment of new financial models. Furthermore, this presentation considers whether new delivery models such as SaaS, cloud computing and outsourcing are fit for purpose.

kironaA survival guide to financial armageddonHow mobile working is an essential cost reduction strategy for 2011 – this presentation will cover how housing providers have improved their service standards while reducing costs, thereby achieving more for less. Find out how mobile working can be implemented into an organisation, and become an essential strategy to manage housing providers’ budgetary and operational challenges.

lewis silkinTenant information – the pitfalls and opportunities around data sharing, security and complianceLewis Silkin will give a brief overview of the current data privacy compliance regime, covering roles and responsibilities, how to share data, data security and audit, common pitfalls and opportunities, as well as what lies ahead.

metMission impossible? Raising ICT standards yet significantly reducing costsMET will look at the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review and the more housing-specific Local Decisions report on how housing providers can still significantly improve ICT performance yet reduce operational costs.

mitel networksThe future of unified communications in housingThe key to good customer service is good tenant communications and resolving issues before they become major problems. Getting this right depends on how quickly people can share information – staff need seamless communications between colleagues, customers, suppliers and outsourcing partners, not restricted by location or geography.

newport city homesUnified communications – transforming the businessThe presentation will show the benefits organisations can gain through the implementation of a unified communications strategy, focusing on the use of Microsoft Lync by Newport City Homes and how it delivers business benefits through its integration with applications such as Office 2010, Exchange 2010, SharePoint 2010, and Dynamics CRM. The presentation will include a live demonstration of NCH’s unified communications environment.

optical record systemsIntegrated document management – the postman also delivers savings!IB Solutions will show how housing providers can make Optical Record Systems will offer a detailed insight into the world of enterprise-wide document management and demonstrate how housing providers could be wasting valuable resources without it.

origin housingGreen computingMeasuring the real business benefits of green computing, including practical examples.

places for peopleBeyond telecare – assistive technologies for vulnerable and deprived tenantsFind out how Places For People is using technology to enhance the lives of its most vulnerable customers; this is beyond traditional ‘telecare’ and social alarm systems, rather the application of hi-tech equipment to benefit our supported housing clients.

raceonline 2012The frontline of digital inclusion in UK housingRaceOnline 2012 will provide a strategic overview of how to get people on-line – addressing skills, access and motivation matrices. This session will look at the factors affecting uptake of the internet, and how hardware, connectivity, software platforms, user interface and content management solutions can be developed to lower the barriers to participation.

rct homesAdopting component accounting – the operational implicationsAs the deadline to adopt component accounting gets closer, this presentation explores the operational implications

for both IT and finance teams as well as highlighting best practice methods based on a successful implementation at RCT Homes. From software selection and database set-up to integration with existing software packages and how to encourage contractor support, learn how the dreaded move to component accounting can be easier and less time-consuming than first imagined.

rct homesBroadband as the fourth utility – necessity, not a luxuryRCT Homes is piloting the delivery of broadband to tenants through the use of Wimax, a 4G technology infrastructure. The presentation will deliver an overview of the issues RCT Homes wants to deal with to enable its tenants and other financially-deprived groups in South Wales to gain access to affordable broadband, the technology RCT Homes is using and the barriers it has faced.

seren groupBusiness intelligence – selecting and implementing the right solutionSeren Group will provide a case study of its recent selection and implementation of a business intelligence (BI) system – never as simple as it sounds. This session will detail the process undertaken, the spectrum of differences between BI suppliers and the end results achieved.

twin valley homesAn end-user’s guide to virtualisationThis presentation will look at why TVH moved to virtualised services, how it chose the VMware product, and the expected vs. actual benefits.

wake ield and district housingEnterprise-wide mobile working – taking the first stepsWakefield and District Housing will talk about how it is using mobile working software for property and land surveys as the first steps towards a scalable, enterprise-wide solution. The first stage involves the introduction of a range of forms including electronic Energy Performance Certificates, stock condition surveys and asbestos surveys, with all data captured and updated in real time in WDH’s core housing management system.

walsall housing groupIT, risk and today’s economic climateWalsall Housing Group will discuss how to manage IT and customer expectations in an increasingly tough economic environment for housing associations. WHG will show how to manage risk and still deliver effective IT services. The presentation will also look at the longer-term economic possibilities and how these might affect the delivery of internal IT services as well as how housing providers interact with their customers.

please see www.housing-technology.com for the latest presentation details and timings.