Monthly Archive for May, 2010

Coalition Government and Infrastructure based maintenance services

Published on May 23, 2010 in Local Government. 0 Comments

"I agree, that seems to make sense"...a new era?

Searching through the 32 page document outlining the aims and aspirations of the new coalition Government of the UK, I struggled to find any direct reference to the 10 municipal Street Scene Services.  There were many statements that one might associate with an effect that might happen, especially in Sections 4 and 7, but the one that filled me with the most hope for a better street-scene was the first one in section 4, that read: “We will promote the radical devolution of power and greater financial autonomy to local government and community groups. This will include a review of local government finance”.

Counterbalanced with the desire to introduce “An emergency Budget with modest immediate savings”…. to paraphrase what was said…. one might be left wondering what really will be the effect in the next few months.

At a guess, I would say that some UK Councils will put a 2-month ban on major IT Procurements, most Central Government Departments will and well, just forget all IT spending if you are a Regional Body, quango or named Government Agency in the firing-line…and there are quite a few.

Back to the Street Scene, the ten services (see “About Confirm” from the menu at the top of the page) that our Confirm software addresses so well.  There does not seem anything counter intuitive in seeking to improve the effectiveness of an existing system, perhaps by purchasing more Mobile Working units, or linking to a Core Corporate system such as the Council’s CRM and Financials.  There does not seem to be anything “counter coalition aims” to widening the footprint of an existing software system to cover more of the ten departments that Confirm covers…it simply saves money and improves efficiency.  And there does not seem to be anything but support for Councils looking to share one system amongst several organisations and/or departments…something that was designed into Confirm software from the very start.

Street Scene Services can become more efficient through the use of well designed software

So, as I walk into work on Monday morning, having spent many hours searching for refernces to just how precarious my job might be in this thriftful and austere period, I resolve to focus on helping each of the 170 Organisations (125 of which are Local Councils) make their copy of Confirm more efficiency and effective in the delivery of very noticable public services.

That document? This is the link:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_187876.pdf

Achilles provide clues to UK Government cost savings

Published on May 13, 2010 in Central Government and Local Government. 0 Comments

I recall in the film “Troy” that Achilles replies to the messenger boy who summons him to fight the Thessalonian Giant “…that is why no-one will remember your name”.  This leads me to think of our new Blue-with-yellow-stripes Government where two young Political leaders might well be fighting a giant financial problem… in a brand new way … and hope that people will remember their names.

By sprinting towards the Thessalonian Giant at full speed and using a side step a “dodge-jump-twist-stab” all in one motion, Achilles achieves the almost impossible, without fear.  I am looking for the new tactic to emerge from the emergency Budget and the early clue that £6bn of Public Sector Spending cuts WILL be an integral part of that emergency budget, planned for 50 days after David Cameron’s appointment.

At the Annual HAUC in Cardiff this week, I heard much talk about Partnering as a possible new tactic in achieving Public Sector spending cuts.  That was from Conference speakers.

I also heard from some of the 30 Confirm user organisations that were attendees at this annual conference (next year in Glasgow) who feel that they have huge internal savings that can be achieved by putting Mobile Computing in the hands of Street Works Inspectors.  The also saw revenue increases by implementing “Dashboards”, which might alert them of Street Works Notices requiring action and thus providing a more efficient service.  Some thought that providing on-line access to their bank of Contractors would allow the whole value chain to share one IT system and that efficiency savings would ensue.

What I did not hear about was the idea that large hidden cost savings might be found by sharing one system between several departments: a sort of internal partnering, or internal shared services.  The costs savings from a single interface to each of the big four corporate systems (Finance, CRM, GIS and Gazetteer) might save a single organisation up to £250k capital costs and £50k per year.  I did not hear much about moving to an OnDemand application rather than an On-Premise software system…where costs can be put into revenue streams rather than Capex plus revenue and I am guessing this is because the IT FM Contracts generally do not allows for reduced IT charges where departmental systems are outsourced into the Cloud. 

Savings will be made and time will tell what ways Councils will implement the cost savings.  Perhaps, as happened in the film Troy, we will feel delighted as our new Achilles slays the giant deficit.

Here’s to new and elegant “side steps”.  Watch your heels, David and Nick!

Peek-a-boo: Spot the hidden savings

Published on May 3, 2010 in Local Government. 0 Comments

Peek-a-booWhilst musing over where the knowledge really lies within our community of Pitney Bowes Business Insight dedicated “Confirm” staff and the 170 UK Organisations that use our Confirm software every day, I also addressed my mind to the savings that might tempt both existing and new users.  With the family at home for the Bank Holiday and being an interminable romantic, I came up with a “peek-a-boo” picture in my head.

Savings are not always as obvious as the difference in time at the point of work when mobile staff use on-line hand held computers with maps, photo-link and a GPS.  Sometimes they are hidden, but, when pointed out, evoke a “there you are” reaction, somewhat similar to the peek-a-boo concept.

So, when a single system can be used in two or more departments and share a single Inventory register, sometimes it is pretty obvious: one street register for Highways and Roads then re-using it for Street Cleansing and Street Tree Management.  But, just there behind the curtain or hay and looking straight at you is a large “Pound” sign called Corporate System Link about to “boo” you!  You linked the Financial Management part of Confirm to the Corporate Financials; now it can be re-used for Street Cleansing and Tree Management.  Think of the inverse, where three systems exist – three interfaces exist and probably need to be purchased, implemented and fixed when they break. What a wonderful surprise to find a cash saving (as cute as a little bunny rabbit?)   There are many similar ideas, re-using the report writer and dashboards, a single expert system administrator, links to EDMS and GIS, a single technology for mobile working and the list goes on.

Didn't see that, did you?

Didn't see that, did you?

There are many possible “hidden savings” from reducing the total number of systems that a single organisation owns. 

Of course, it is for each Organisation to identify for themselves whether an existing system can be re-used in adjacent or similar departments, or whether it is appropriate to spread it wider and deeper through the supply chain / value chain.  These types of savings are all too obvious once pointed out.

Post election we expect to see pressure on public spending and these gems of hidden cashable savings will be  sitting there staring us in the face and waiting for us to see them, smile…and, perhaps, take them up?

Confirm can be used in 10 departments; Peek-a-boo!