VOIDS SOLUTION
With the success of FLS VISITOUR for repairs, the next focus was the voids team. The inspector first visits the property and captures the work and sequence of trades required in the FLS MOBILE app.
This is fed back to Microsoft Dynamics 365, which owns the overall process and FLS VISITOUR automatically schedules the work in the most efficient way. The inspector can revisit to check progress and make changes if necessary.
RESULTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Adrian Mostyn, Head of Repairs and Maintenance at YHG/fix360, said: "The new way of working has been transformational for my team and driven efficiencies; we are completing 25-32% more jobs per operative on a like-for-like basis which is
tremendous. We can reinvest the cost, deploying into frontline services and maintenance, driving greater value for money for customers".
During COVID, the FLS solution enabled YHG to assign scheme-approved operatives who had the skillset to support on repairs and maintenance for those specific schemes, providing reassurance to customers and staff that they were the right people.
Post pandemic, the solution was key as new pressures emerged to include the rising costs and shortage of materials, fuel prices, wage pressures and challenges retaining and hiring new operatives, increasing focus on sustainability and reducing emissions.
Conan McKinley, Director of Asset Management, YHG said: "FLS is achieving measurable benefits for YHG, but has delivered far more; we are understanding our business needs first and the operational impacts faced, knowing our business much better and working out more effective solutions. We now have maximum capability moving forward and our investment in the FLS team is well made."
CONCLUSIONS
Darren Halliwell concluded: "With FLS, we brought experience from outside the sector and applied it to social housing, using all of that knowledge, maximising the opportunity for this organisation. It felt like a game-changer and achieved outstanding results; up to that point, scheduling didn’t have that extra edge. As FLS are not sector specific, they had no real barriers, and the product could address each scenario we came across. They also have a technology stack that made it easy to integrate seamlessly with the existing technology we have."
Adrian Mostyn said: "The FLS solution has proven flexible and functional, enabling us to make the best use of resources available, with sustainability and costs in mind, and to focus on our objectives as a business."
Conan McKinley said: "Our investment in FLS has provided a tool we can rely on across the business, rather than just repairs and maintenance, which is its USP. FLS is more adaptable than alternatives and is revolutionising the internal management of scheduling for YHG, providing a clear insight for how to manage teams, delivering the right service at the right time to the customer."