Following a decision to change the framework in which public housing is administered in Newport, South Wales, the new 'social landlord' has quickly instituted a mobile workforce solution from 1st Touch.

Newport City Homes was formed in March 2009 to take over responsibility for 9,000 homes from Newport City Council. It is using the mobility system to manage, control and support the work of its field-based 'responsive repair' teams and gas operatives.

Part of the spirit underlying the change was to improve service levels for residents, so an early priority for the new organisation was to install an up-to-date, robust, customer-centric mobile technology platform.

The organisation says it conducted a thorough market review in its search for a mobile solution, since it needed a system that would integrate tightly with its ROCC Uniclass and Opti-Time appointment scheduling systems. 1st Touch Mobile met the requirements.

 

According to Neil Jones, the organisation's head of information services, the new system 'will make life easier for the mobile workforce, as they don't have to go back to base to pick up job information and they can make appointments or order parts whilst still with the resident.'

He adds: 'As the benefits are so clear and straightforward, we are already looking towards a second-phase installation, which would extend the mobile technology to our Voids operations too.'