July/Aug 2004

Mobile data plays a big role in a partnership set up by Peterborough City Council to manage repairs and maintenance for its 14,000 housing properties. The council is transferring 10,200 homes to Cross Keys Homes, a separate body with its own staff and management board, comprising tenants, independent housing specialists and council representatives.

To maximise efficiency and streamline communications between a call centre and the 60 skilled workers who make up the mobile repair and maintenance team, the council is deploying a GPRS-based real-time mobile communications application from Cognito. This is linked to FSI's Concept facilities management package and the OPTI-TIME work scheduling application from a company called Xmbrace, which specialises in applications for social housing maintenance

Cross Keys Homes will work with the council's contract services department, whose services include building repairs and maintenance, gas and electrical safety checks, refurbishment of empty properties, graffiti removal and grounds maintenance.

According to Adrian Sibley, head of strategic support for Peterborough City Council: "This technology will enable us to deliver a vastly improved service - for example, by handling more appointments, reducing unnecessary delays in processing work, keeping our trades people better informed and reducing costs."