Business software solutions for the public sector

Transcription

1 Business software solutions for the public sector

2 Best value is an all embracing business process requiring careful, responsive navigation towards an evolving vision of the future. 2

3 The use of information technology within the public sector is not a recent development, at IBS we have been providing specialised software solutions to help Local Authorities harness the power of computing since Equally, the concept of best value is not an original ideology, many Local Authorities have long been working towards their own targets for delivering services more efficiently, more cost effectively and with greater customer convenience. However, what is new is the pace of change being brought about by the convergence of a wide range of technical, business, cultural and political influences. Today the potential offered by innovative technologies combined with ever tightening financial pressures and increasing customer expectations are encapsulated within the Government s far-reaching vision for modern local government. Such a vision is eminently achievable. At IBS we have developed, and are continually developing, flexible, scaleable, open platform IT solutions to help you realise best value and navigate your way along the evolutionary path towards that future. Delivering Best Value With IBS IBS (Public Services) Ltd is dedicated to providing IT based business solutions for UK Local Authorities and Housing Associations. This has been our sole area of business since we were founded in 1979 and is the focus for our all our activities. As such, we are an integral part of the public sector industry. We plan and develop our products and services so that they not only respond to current needs but also have the inherent flexibility to evolve as those needs change. As part of the IBS group, one of the world s leading software organisations, IBS (Public Services) Ltd offers you the assurance of working with a stable and well resourced business partner. Through our Open Revenues, Open Housing, Open Financials and Contractorplus software solutions, combined with our comprehensive technical and support services, we offer you proven solutions for streamlining working practices, increasing efficiencies and optimising delivery of best value in all your key areas of activity. 3

4 Product research and development plays a central role in our ability to deliver appropriate and relevant solutions. In the last 24 months alone, our 3.5 million development programme has resulted in the introduction of three new software systems addressing core areas of Local Authority and Housing Association activity. Structured Development Today s IBS product philosophy is based on open platform technology utilising Microsoft Windows as the interface. This makes our software very user friendly, simplifies networking and provides enhanced compatibility with virtually all popular business and database packages. Additionally, IBS Open platform software incorporates easy to use management information and workflow functions to help you build a clearer understanding of the dynamics affecting your organisation and take a more responsive approach to activity scheduling. Crucially, our investment in technical development is backed by an equal commitment to customer services. With IBS, you and your team have easy access to a full range of services including consultancy, technical assistance, implementation, training and helpline support. Individually Tailored Solutions At IBS we understand that every Local Authority and Housing Association is different in the way that it is structured, the way it works and in the nature of the people it serves. We recognise and respond to those unique characteristics and tailor our solutions to fit the precise needs of your circumstances. Our ability to work this way means that an IBS solution will fit comfortably with your existing corporate values whilst helping you progress towards new objectives. With an IBS solution, you create opportunities for realising best value and ultimately delivering exceptional services to your customers. Knowledgeable People One of the key strengths of IBS, and fundamental to our ability to deliver workable solutions, is our investment in people with exactly the right balance of expertise and industry knowledge. A high percentage of our team have direct Local Authority and Housing Association experience and, as an accredited Investor in People company, we are continually developing our staff to maintain their expertise at the leading edge of their professions. Such capabilities not only benefit you through the effectiveness of our software and technical solutions, but also through the alignment of our working practices and services with your own operational needs. Committed To Quality In every area of activity, from system design to account administration, software implementation and user support you can be sure of receiving the very highest standards of service. We are certified to BS EN ISO 9001, TickIT, and we adhere to proven effective quality controlled procedures in all that we do. 4

5 what is required is technology that helps public sector organisations build foundations for sustainable achievement of best value objectives 5

6 in technology itself is not the solution. It is the designers, planners, installers, managers and, above all, the users that make technology effective. 6

7 Total Solutions Through the skills of our people we can support you with expert consultancy to help define the ideal solution for meeting your objectives. ensuring that timescales are met so that you quickly realise the benefits the solution has to offer. Expert Implementation Training Your Users No matter how good the software or technology, we all recognise that it is people who really bring a solution to life. That is why we consider the Whether your query addresses a complex technical issue or a simple procedural matter, with IBS you have the assurance that support is only a telephone call away. This could range from a complete turnkey installation for an enterprise wide system or simply a database server and application software to link with your existing resources and address one particular area of activity. IBS is totally independent of restrictive third party agreements which means that we focus entirely on your objectives and recommend those products that are unquestionably the best for your situation. We are value added resellers for many world leading hardware manufacturers and can acquire technology for you on highly competitive terms, or we can link with your own procurement function to assist you in making direct acquisitions. Experienced Project Management The care we take during implementation is crucial to the smooth integration of your IBS solution within your business environment. Our implementation teams include hardware, networking and software specialists who will ensure that all the technical details are resolved. However, we also focus equal attention on the practical needs of your users and work closely with you and your team to configure the solution according to your preferred operational practices and procedures. Ultimately, our implementation objectives are that new technologies, functions and capabilities achieve easy acceptance from your users so that your organisation can continue providing the essential services that your customers depend on. delivery of training as an integral element of our product development programmes. As such, we can support you with a wide range of training courses and workshops. These are held at IBS offices or on your own premises and are structured to look at the management, administration and use of the system as a whole or focused to help discrete groups of employees in the use of individual modules. The key is that IBS training has the inherent flexibility to allow you to develop expertise exactly where it is needed most. On-going Support IBS customer support is an on-going process. New software updates are designed for quick and easy integration by your own IT staff. However, if Interactive User Groups User groups play a key role in the development and delivery of IBS products and services. They are held regularly and involve customer representatives plus experts from our product development and technical teams. Such groups, coupled with industry wide research, are at the heart of our commitment to maintaining the relevance of our solutions. They promote meaningful dialogue between IBS and the people that we serve and contribute towards ensuring that development programmes always reflect the changing needs of the marketplace. Once agreement has been reached about the definition of your IBS solution we appoint an experienced project manager to oversee implementation of your required, we can provide assistance to help you load the update and also arrange training to ensure that your staff take full advantage of new features and functionality. contract from beginning to end. The manager becomes the focal point for all communications and is personally responsible for Similarly, we have established a helpline to provide expert advice on any aspect of using and working with your solution. 7

8 The IBS investment in research and development is extensive and on-going. We continually review the needs of our customers and respond to those needs with the introduction of innovative software solutions. As such, with IBS as a partner, the process of change is not only manageable but it actually becomes controllable and targetable towards delivery of improved services, streamlined working practices and greater cost efficiencies. Open Platform Solutions IBS Open software solutions are designed with in-built future proofing to give you freedom of choice in hardware and operating environments. Written in Progress 4GL, IBS Open software solutions are hardware independent and can be used with technology from manufacturers including HP, IBM, SUN and many other industry leading companies. They are operating system independent and can be used with UNIX, AIX, Solaris, OS/400, Citrix and Windows NT, and they are also network independent for use with TCP/IP, NetBIOS and IPX/SPX. Importantly, IBS Open software solutions operate under Microsoft Windows. This means that your users have the advantage of working with a familiar interface offering benefits such as ease of use, intuitive functionality and multiple tasking. In operational terms you gain from reduced training times, fewer queries, less resistance to change and faster integration of your new solution. Client/Server Configuration IBS Open software solutions support client/server configurations enabling easy distribution of data throughout your network. Data for solutions such as IBS Open Housing and IBS Open Revenues can be stored in a single central database to enable easy switching from one area to another. This capability streamlines call centre operations and enhances management support activities including workflow planning and management information reporting. High Performance High performance is a crucial feature of IBS Open software solutions. Each module is feature rich and incorporates flexible functionality to enable system growth. IBS Open software technology has the capability to support today s growing use of call centres and future developments including kiosks and home base interactive TVs. Detailed Management Information The management information functions inherent within an IBS Open software solution enable you to build a clear understanding of the dynamics affecting the way that your organisation operates. In doing so they create opportunities for you to rationalise management and cost controls at all levels. Each IBS Open software solution contains a number of standard format management reports and analyses. In addition, the supplied reporting tool enables users to create their own customised reports according to specific requirements. With an IBS Open software solution you always have access to meaningful data that lets you know exactly what is happening within any area of your operation. Statutory And Performance Indicators Analyses Management information also enables you to more easily meet central Government requirements for performance indicator reporting. Statutory analysis formats are established within the core software so that reports are simple to produce. If the formula for producing the analyses change, or if new performance indicators are introduced, we will incorporate the changes within our updating service to ensure that you maintain your ability to respond accurately and on schedule. 8

9 IBS solutions Our open platform philosophy enables on-going development in direct alignment with the changing needs of our customers. are inherently future proof. 9

10 IBS Software Solutions IBS offers you a range of business solutions based on software products addressing core areas of public sector activity: Workflow Management Another key feature of the IBS Open software management information capability is its workflow functionality. This enables analysis of work within the system and helps you control daily activities by prioritising tasks and building work queues. In doing so it allows you to switch resources to deal with areas demanding short term intensive activity whilst still maintaining your perspective on on-going demands. DIP Integration IBS Open software solutions have a Document Image Processing (DIP) capability. This links to third party information systems and enables you to scan forms received from your customers and transfer the information directly into your central database where it is referenced against other relevant records. Thereby saving you the labour intensive and potentially error prone task of manually re-keying the information. Open Revenues IBS Open Revenues provides an easy to use, Windows based software solution for the management and administration of revenues. It is a modular, fully integrated suite encompassing Council Tax, Non-Domestic Rates, Housing and Council Tax benefits, Sundry Debtors, Fraud Case Management, other Benefit Entitlement, Workflow and Verification Framework. Open Housing IBS Open Housing is purpose designed to provide Local Authorities and Housing Associations with a comprehensive software solution for housing management. It is Windows based and has integrated modules for such key areas as void management, waiting lists and allocations, rent accounting, right to buy, homelessness, development schemes, maintenance, repairs and service charges. Open Financials IBS Open Financials offers a fully integrated, Windows based solution for administering, managing, monitoring and analysing the financial functions of your organisation. Its modular structure encompasses general ledger, creditors, invoice registration, commitments, debtors, cash & bank, budgeting, projects, fixed assets and management information reporting. Contractorplus Contractorplus is an easy to use UNIX based system providing a complete works management solution. Its integrated modular structure enables you to establish a system individually tailored to the operational and financial control requirements of your organisation. Modules include works ticketing, job/contract costing, bonus, personnel, stock control, purchase order processing, contract sales ledger and nominal ledger, client entry, rounds and plant and vehicle usage. 10

11 taking the next step As with all businesses and service providers, there will never be a time when Local Authorities and Housing Associations are free from the pressures of change. However, with IBS change becomes manageable and controllable. We are continually researching and developing our products and services to provide you with flexible, scaleable solutions capable of meeting the needs of today whilst providing foundations from which new solutions can be evolved to meet the emerging needs of tomorrow. For further information about any of our software products or services simply call and discover how working in partnership with IBS could help you build a long term operational advantage. 11

12 IBS (Public Services) Ltd is part of the world-wide IBS group of companies IBS, International Business Systems, is one of the world s leading suppliers of business software and related professional services. The group is headquartered in Sweden and supports its international customer base through a network of more than 80 offices in 30 countries. It employs around 1900 people and generates turnover exceeding 2 billion Krona ( 145 million). IBS software solutions are applicable to virtually all business sectors and address the core disciplines of sales and customer service, supply chain management, financials and business analysis. In addition, a number of highly specialised applications have been developed for specific industry sectors including electronics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, automotive, industrial supplies and public sector services. Throughout all its markets, the IBS philosophy is to supply quality software solutions, backed by customer focused technical and operational services, which add value to its customers businesses by enhancing effectiveness, competitiveness and profitability. International Business Systems (Public Services) Ltd 2 West Mills Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5HG Tel: Fax: