news and events

See pimss4communities at future events around the country!

PIMSS Data Systems will again be attending a number of events and demonstrating pimss4communities. Do come and see us, we will be at:

National Housing Maintenance Forum

Annual Conference and Exhibition

24-25 January 2012

Stand 34, Holiday Inn, Stratford on Avon
More details and booking at www.nhmf.co.uk

InMotion

24 April 2012

Stand 18, Heritage Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire
More details and booking at www.xmbrace.com/inmotion2012

CIH Housing Annual Conference and Exhibition

12-14 June 2012

Stand A15, Manchester Central
More details and booking at www.cihhousing.com

Homes 2012

14-15 November 2012

ExCel London
More details and booking at www.homes-2012.com

National Housing Federation

IT in Housing Conference & Exhibition 2012

20-21 November 2012

Olympia Conference Centre, London
More details and booking at www.housing.org.uk/events

Component accounting - major new development

PIMSS Data Systems and Real Asset Management have announced a partnership that will deliver a comprehensive component accounting and asset management system.

Recognising that there is an urgent need for social housing providers to be able to access detailed, reliable component information in time to meet the SoRP compliance deadline in April 2012. Martin McDonnell, Managing Director says “The need to provide SoRP compliant component accounting means that finance and housing departments will need to share property data to a level of detail that hasn’t previously been necessary. By linking to Real Asset Management’s proven component accounting system we are providing an immediate and effective route to compliance.

We are delighted to be working with the UK’s leading specialist provider of SoRP/IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) compliant component accounting software to the social housing sector.”

Click here to read more or contact us on 0800 121 8767. For more information about Real Asset Management click here.

New Asbestos module!

PIMSS Data Systems announces new features included in latest software release.

HSG264 and HSG277 compliance – capable of storing management and refurbishment surveys.
Improved navigation of data – including colour coding of properties and inspections to easily identify where asbestos is present.
Quick access to all asbestos related information – from single screen including survey results, lab tests, documents, plans and photos.
Activity tracking – providing an historical record of inspections and work carried out, and tracking all changes to a property over time.
Security audit – detailing every user or contractor access and data update.
Post inspection letter generation – directly from the system so tenants can be informed about survey findings.
Survey forms – incorporating suggestions made by customers on layout and structure.
Timeline – a quick and easy to view summary timeline shows all inspections, snapshots and notes against a selected incident.

pimss4communities first web asset management software

Our web based pimss4communities software was the first to market. It was launched in June 2008 and is fully proven with 30 customers. They include Places for People, Great Places, Eastlands Homes, South Tyneside Homes, Plymouth Community Homes, Cartrefi Conwy, Watford Community Trust and Magna Housing Group. New customers currently implementing pimss4communities include Gallions Housing Association, Durham City Homes, East Durham Homes, Dale and Valley Homes and Tai Calon Community Housing Trust.

For more information about pimss4communities, click here or
call 0800 121 8767

Magna Housing Group reports handhelds success

Data capture on handhelds is proving increasingly popular. Several successful implementations demonstrate the value of being able to view existing data whilst at a property, and being able to update and immediately synchronise back to base via GPRS.

Magna Housing Group is one organisation that has decided to use handheld data collection for on-site surveys with impressive results. Collecting and uploading data via handheld technology means that Project Surveyor Kelvin Walker is able to complete 15 surveys a day instead of around 20 per week. Kelvin says “I’ve been able to complete about 750 surveys in just over two months, which is a huge improvement in efficiency. I can download a week’s worth of surveys, gather the information on site and come into the office once a week to upload the new data and, at the same time, download the next set of surveys. This only takes minutes and means that I can get on with other more strategic tasks. I’m able to spend much more time on site gathering stock condition information that is vital to effective management of investment in our housing stock.”

For a demonstration and to see how handheld data capture improves accuracy and saves the cost of manual data input, call us on 0800 121 8767

Link with Elmhurst Energy streamlines
energy performance management

PIMSS Data Systems has teamed up with Elmhurst Energy Systems, the leading energy rating experts in the UK. To offer our customers a simple and integrated way to produce Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), which are now required to be provided to tenants on change of tenancy.

The integration between our pimss4communities software and Elmhurst will help our users to manage the energy performance of their housing stock and produce legally valid EPCs all within a single system. The calculation engine is embedded within pimss4communities, so it is possible to generate EPCs and to run simulations of potential energy improvements to properties before programmes of work are put together.

Elmhurst’s proven knowledge and technical expertise in this sector has resulted in a professional and flexible product which, combined with our asset management software, creates a ‘one stop shop’ for our customers.

Adding the energy management section and EPC production to the stock profiling and reporting functionality of pimss4communities makes it possible to control all energy related matters relating to housing stock.

Elmhurst can also deliver bespoke training and accreditation if needed to help make energy rating easy and information is available from Elmhurst Energy Systems on 01455 883 252, www.elmhurstenergy.co.uk.

A similar link is available for NES customers.

To find out more about the pimss4communities energy module please contact us.

User Group June 2011

The 2011 User Group attracted a large number of delegates from across the country and provided a valuable opportunity for networking and discussing future development plans for pimss4communities.

Guest speakers Chris Noller from Real Asset Management, Greg Wheeler from Savills Commercial and Scott Wise from Places for People gave highly topical presentations. Chris Noller outlined the considerations for organisations looking at component accounting and the impact on asset managers. Greg Wheeler focused on life after Decent Homes; encouraging social landlords to set their own standards and priorities and look to increased tenant engagement. Scott Wise presented Places for People’s approach to asset management strategy and the challenges that face one of the UK’s largest social housing landlords in delivery that strategy across the UK.

Martin McDonnell for PIMSS Data Systems gave the audience an update on progress over the past year, including the company's success in winning new customers. He also outlined the product roadmap and discussed possible further areas for development and there was plenty of opportunity for User contributions in breakout sessions during the course of the day.

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