As housing professionals, we understand the critical role technology plays in managing properties, streamlining processes, and enhancing customer experiences. The Microsoft Power Platform offers a suite of powerful tools that can revolutionise how you operate. Here’s five ways it can help you scale your operations and future-proof your organization. 1. Scalability Made Simple Problem: As you grow, so does the volume of data you handle. Managing tenant information, maintenance requests, and property details becomes increasingly complex. Solution: The Power Platform is built on the Dataverse tha ..read more

In the ever-evolving landscape of the 21st century, one sector that stands at the precipice of significant change is social housing. A recent white paper by Kate Davies, a luminary in the field, titled “Social Housing: Radical Reform Through Better Collaboration, Interdependent Working and Technological Innovation,” provides a comprehensive overview of the current challenges and potential solutions for our critical sector. In this blog I’ll summarise the white paper and identify Microsoft technologies that may be able to help play a part in resolving these issues. The Current State of Social H ..read more

If you find yourself grappling with your Microsoft Dynamics/PowerApps supplier, fear not! I’ve got some insights to share. Deploying, updating, or upgrading Dynamics/powerapps can be a rollercoaster ride. You start with high hopes, but suddenly find yourself in the “messy middle.” Picture this: Client: “This isn’t what I expected.” Partner: “We’ve delivered exactly what you asked for, as per the spec.” Both sides have valid points. The housing association might focus on one aspect without considering the bigger picture. Meanwhile, the supplier diligently follows the agreed-upon spec but does ..read more

Introduction Are you feeling overwhelmed by the myriad of CRM options out there? Fear not! In this guide, we’ll demystify the world of CRMs and help you find the one that aligns perfectly with your business needs. Whether you’re a small housing association or a larger enterprise, we’ve got you covered. What is a CRM system? A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system is a technology used by businesses to manage their interactions with customers and potential customers. The primary goal of a CRM system is to improve business relationships and facilitate growth.  ..read more

User adoption is a critical factor in the success of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. However, research has shown that CRM implementations have consistently high failure rates, ranging from 30% to 70%. This can be a cause of concern for potential adopters, especially considering the cost of CRM systems. Microsoft Dynamics 365/PowerApps are great, but do they have the functionality to help users form habits and increase adoption? In this blog, we’ll explore how habits are formed and the functionality that could help in their formation. We’ll cover the following topics ..read more

Data within Dataverse is stored within a set of tables, including a base set of standard tables that cover typical scenarios. But why stop there? With Dataverse, you can create custom tables specific to your organisation and automate this process. In this blog, I’ll cover two ways to automate this process and help you get the most out of your Dataverse experience. Copilot Although not perfect this is a really good tool to help get you going. In the video I show how I used it to start the creation of a table with just a description of what I wanted. Navigate to https://make.powerapps.com/ > ..read more

As we stand on the brink of a technological revolution, one question looms large: Will Artificial Intelligence (AI) replace housing officers in the next five years?  Housing officers are the backbone of the housing sector, juggling multiple responsibilities from property repairs to arrears management. However, their work often involves manual data entry across various applications, making the job more time-consuming and less efficient.  But with the rapid advancement of AI, particularly Microsoft’s Co-pilot, this scenario is set to change dramatically*. Co-pilot’s ability to integrat ..read more

Did you know that if you are you currently using Microsoft Dynamics 365 or #MicrosoftPowerApps you have access to a FREE app that can help you mobilise your teams? Here’s how to install and use it within minutes. Simply visit your app store, install it on your device  Sign in using your work credentials Find the app you need  When you create an app, or someone shares an app with you—either a canvas app or model-driven app—you can run that app on Power Apps mobile.  Settings: Access app settings and sign out.  Search: Use the search to search for apps. When you run a ..read more

In the dynamic world of housing IT, steering clear of a monumental go-live event can be the key to maximising your investments, utilising team resources efficiently, and harnessing the full potential of Microsoft functionality. Read on to discover how the Team Sky cycling team’s continuous improvement approach led to Olympic gold medals and the historic triumph of the first British Tour de France winner. The Power of Continuous Improvement Continuous improvement revolves around the ongoing enhancement of products, services, and associated processes. Unlike the high-risk and costly big bang go ..read more

Housing associations nationwide are looking for ways to modernise their customer service operations. Most are dealing with legacy systems, and there is a growing need for an upgrade. This blog provides strategic guidance, focusing on leveraging the Microsoft ecosystem that many organisations already have at their disposal. Key Objectives: Many Housing associations have these as key objectives that steer their customer service strategy: Individual Customer Needs: Keep track of and cater to individual customer needs efficiently. Comprehensive Contact Management: Log and track interactions with ..read more