South Yorkshire Housing Association has just begun using mobile workforce software from 1st Touch for its responsive repairs staff, with the intention of extending the use of the new tool to other field-based workers over time.
SYHA has been keen to introduce PDA-based mobile working for some time but it needed to fine-tune its Aareon housing management system first. Having done so, it was then able to review the available tools for mobile workforce management.
A key factor in SYHA’s selection of 1st Touch was the software’s existing integration with Aareon QL as well as with the Opti-Time dynamic scheduling system that the housing provider also already used.
Third-party integration
Russell Wright, computer services manager, South Yorkshire Housing Association, said, “At first nothing caught our eye but the 1st Touch partnership with Aareon galvanised us by offering a robust solution that had good integration with Aareon QL. It also had a strong track record of integration with Opti-Time.
“We are clear about the efficiencies the system will deliver. Whether it’s the ability to do more jobs with the available resources or to reduce the time spent travelling between jobs, the overall effect will contribute towards better customer service.”
