WHG is now one of the first housing providers to adopt Aareon’s new managed IT services in order to streamline and extend its use of Aareon’s 1st Touch mobile repairs software and associated add-on modules, with the overall aim of reducing costs and improving value for money.
The first phase of WHG’s implementation was the Aareon 1st Touch software, which is now being used by WHG’s 250 repairs and maintenance operatives, followed by additional modules for gas and electrical inspections, doorstep appointments, stock-condition surveys, pre- and post-assessments, voids management and van-stock replenishment.
Nigel Harris, director of home maintenance services, WHG, said, “The first phases of our technology investment were very successful. Our repairs processes are now more efficient and there are significant savings too, such as no longer paying £70,000 to generate gas or electrical certifications or using the existing Contractor module of Aareon’s housing management system, which saved £50,000.
“Doorstep appointments enable us to make follow-on and new appointments while still with tenants at their homes. With our pre- and post-inspections, there is no longer any need for someone to take photographs and return to the office because this is now done on-site before moving straight on to the next property, having already created a schedule of work. Void inspections are significantly more cost-effective and efficient, and digital van-stock management reduces wastage and saves time.”
Having seen the benefits of the Aareon software, WHG then decided to sign up for Aareon’s managed IT services, giving them cost-effective access to the IT services they needed without the need to deploy or manage the services themselves, with Aareon taking care of the new services’ integration with WHG’s existing back-office systems.
Harris continues, “Aareon’s managed services option lets us add the systems we need quickly, and it has consequently really moved our business forward. It is also great news for our tenants who are very supportive of our new service enhancements. We are confident that the services we have accessed are the very latest systems operated and managed by the sector’s leading experts.”
Paul O’Reilly, head of account management, Aareon, said, “Many of our housing customers want to ensure that they are using their IT estates to the very best for their tenants while pursuing optimal VFM and the best use of their internal IT resources. Our managed services help them achieve this.
“WHG is an excellent example of this. By using our managed services, WHG can access high-performance, cost-effective services far faster than if they were deploying them themselves. In addition, they can be confident that the services supplied use only the very latest versions of Aareon’s software and are being managed by the very best team.”
