Chelmer Housing Partnership harnesses cutting edge technology to improve repairs service

Friday 8th August

Pinnacle psg has successfully implemented an innovative new service designed to improve responsive repairs for Chelmer Housing Partnership’s (CHP) residents.

Pinnacle psg, a UK leader in facilities and housing management, works with more than 7000 households and a further 500 residents of other housing associations across Essex with CHP.

This new service, part of the Mobile and Resource Scheduling (MaRS) project, involved implementing an appointment and scheduling system which enables the in-house repairs team to be more productive and cost effective.  The technology it uses includes Opti-Time from Xmbrace, a leading deliverer of dynamic appointment and workforce scheduling solutions to the UK’s housing maintenance sector, and Total Mobile from Consilium, an innovative IT solution provider to both local government and social housing bodies.

Within two months of its implementation, CHP residents are already seeing tangible benefits to the investment.  Service staff have been freed up to undertake additional bathroom renovations and appointment times for residents have been shortened from 28 days to seven. MaRS involved Xmbrace, Conslium and Pinnacle psg working in partnership with CHP to deliver the project successfully.

Marion Jordan, CHP Repairs Manager, said: “The new MaRS system enables our back-office to administer repairs far more effectively.  This in turn allows our front line staff to undertake repairs within a shorter space of time and also provide additional works for residents – everybody wins.”

Andy Cook, Pinnacle psg Director responsible for project management, said “Through the MaRS project, CHP has become a leader in using technology to support the delivery of responsive repairs.  Our innovative approach to project management which involved open and honest partnership working meant the system went live on time and within budget.”

“At Pinnacle psg, we constantly seek out new ways to improve services – the MaRS project is one recent example of how we’ve harnessed the very latest technology to benefit our clients and the communities in which we operate.”

The new system enables works orders to be dynamically scheduled throughout the day utilising local postcodes to select the most effective delivery route.  The most up-to-date handheld computers are used to communicate works orders between the back office and front line operatives in real time, enabling efficient management of all resources.  Additional functionality means van stocks of materials used for repairs are updated in real time, and lists created itemising replacement stock required.