Fabrick Housing Group has changed its mobile systems supplier to 1st Touch as part of an expansion of PDA based technology usage throughout the organisation. The group, made up of parent company Fabrick and partner companies Erimus Housing and Tees Valley Housing, provides homes for rent and affordable home ownership across an area spanning North Tyneside to York.

While Erimus Housing owns and manages more than 10,000 properties and Tees Valley Housing has around 4,000, the majority of the stock is located in and around Teesside. The partner companies in the group, which first engaged with mobile systems in a limited capacity four years ago, will now use 1st Touch software in both its responsive repairs and gas servicing operations. The group is also actively considering rolling out 1st Touch for use by its voids operatives, housing officers, estate managers and those working in its supported housing team. Initial annual savings, obtained in the first phase of the move to 1st Touch, are expected to be in the region of £300,000.
Fabrick
Fabrick

1st Touch was chosen by Fabrick following a thorough and proactive evaluation of the market for mobile technology. The main drivers behind the decision to go with 1st Touch were the system’s ability to encompass all the business demands that the chosen technology solution needed to fulfil, together with the software’s ability to integrate seamlessly with Fabrick’s existing Aareon QL Housing Management system. 1st Touch is an existing partner of Aareon, which has also helped streamline the working relationships between those involved in managing the installation process. Fabrick was also impressed by the ability of 1st Touch to work effectively in geographically poor signal areas through its unique use of the latest Smart Airtime technology.

Ann-Marie Lenagh, Fabrick’s Head of ICT, said: “1st Touch impressed us with the breadth of the solution and its clear understanding of our specific business requirements. At the moment the project is in implementation stage and is running very smoothly. 1st Touch is a very professional company which ensures a strong working relationship will evolve and continue to grow as we consider expanding the technology across the future phases of the project.”

Robert Dent, CEO of 1st Touch, added: “At the time Fabrick first approached us it already had an excellent idea of what mobile technology could achieve in driving quality and best practice. Fabrick Housing Group also knew what effective systems should and should not be able to deliver in terms of fulfilling its unique business needs. Naturally therefore, we are thrilled to have won through with such a discerning customer. We are very keen to work closely with Fabrick on expanding 1st Touch into the other areas of the business where the software can deliver real results and make a real impact.”