SDS have reached the half-way point in the Skype for Business project for Mid Kent Services. The key aim of the project is to capture and analyse feedback from staff and other data sources to assess how well the partnership is utilising Skype for Business and what more can be done to maximise the benefits the service can provide teams.
SDS carried out research into contact centre best practices and alternative customer service channels as well as a review of Gravesham Borough Council’s IVR telephone system. The research involved a comparison of IVR menus with other councils, a list of top hints and tips, demand management good practice and case studies of IVRs from the public and private sector. SDS also included examples of channel shift.
The Local Government Association (LGA) have published a case study of work Smarter Digital Services undertook for Kent Homechoice to deliver the online housing pre-assessment form, full application form and homelessness triage tool.
Catherine Bright, Smarter Digital Services (SDS) manager, explains how a partnership of 12 councils across Kent and Surrey are jointly funding a responsive, independent, not-for-profit consultancy to help them to achieve their digital ambitions.
We attended the LGA Annual Conference in Birmingham and gave a presentation in the Innovation Zone about the services we offer to local authorities.
The SDS Team were invited to attend the Spring Socitm Conference in London on 27th April. The conference involved a variety of guest speakers from across the ICT sector, local public services and private sector partners. The conference offered a great platform for us to see and catch up with our existing partners (always nice to see some friendly faces!) as well as offering us the opportunity to meet and chat with other representatives, not only from the public sector, to forge new relationships.
Those suffering with homelessness and with the threat of becoming homeless can now take advantage of a new online homelessness triage tool facilitated by the SDS in partnership with local authorities in Kent.
Work has been progressing on the online taxi driver knowledge test with over 450 questions in the question bank. Questions cover policy & law, safeguarding, numeracy, highway code and road signs/markings as well as each authorities’ local questions covering routes, places and streets.
Shepway District Council have now launched their online event management system, with the aim of enhancing user experience, reduce processing times, reduce the number of enquiries and reduce the amount of administration.