Transform Data have recently completed a project to develop an interface to synchronise data between Lagan CRM and Northgate iWorld. Find out more about it by downloading the Synchronisation Brochure or by requesting our information pack, please click here.
Introduction
Make it Easy
Making it easier for tenants to do business with housing associations and Registered Social Landlords forms part of the United Kingdom government policy to optimise the potential of every channel through which public services are delivered and accessed. For additional information on these policies please go to the Cabinet Office Channel Strategy Guidance
"HM Government has a responsibility to provide excellent services to the public and value for money to the taxpayer. This responsibility applies to every organisation of government and everything each organisation commits resource to. The channels through which public services are delivered and by which the public has contact with government, be that via telephone, online, in person, or via other means, are a critical part of public service provision, and there is an ongoing impetus for them to be managed effectively and efficiently for everyone."
Sarah Fogden Deputy Director Service Transformation, Cabinet Office and Contact Council Chair
Channel Strategy
To implement a well designed channel strategy for tenants in social housing it is necessary for success to ensure accurate information is available across all channels. In this way tenants can be encouraged to channel shift without losing confidence in the support they are receiving from the social landlord.
A large housing trust had implemented the Lagan Enterprise Case Management(Lagan ECM) system and wish to synchronise data between the case management application and the Northgate housing management system.
In practice it was found that there was a need to rapidly update customer information in both the Lagan CRM system and the Northgate housing management system. Over several meetings on site it was agreed to develop a process for directly transferring data using the interfaces in Northgate and Lagan ECM and assisted by the NDL scripts from AWI.
The design requirements resulted in a solution utilising four development modules with all the transactions managed by a central data store and the data flow controlled by a Scheduler running on the .NET Framework.
Description of the Project
Conventional wisdom tells us that in an integrated environment, people details should be mastered in one system for consumption throughout the enterprise. Whilst this is certainly correct, in some cases it is simply not achievable.
In the case of housing management, where a Northgate iWorld housing management system has been supplemented with Lagan Case Management for enhanced customer interactions, there is a real requirement for both systems to be able to maintain customer details.
To implement such an arrangement, a layer of intelligence is required to monitor, audit and propagate change of selected data. Transform Data has devised and implemented such a layer, checking for change at timed intervals, recording detailed Audit data, and passing update information into queues for onward processing.
Lagan updates are performed using the Transform Data Web Caller for Lagan. Northgate updates are accomplished using NDL scripts, developed by NDL, using their non-invasive technology to drive the application through the user interface.
Because TDL Synchroniser actions are governed by a set of programmable rules, this solution is application neutral, making it suitable for the synchronisation of applications in any enterprise.
Please click here to contact our Sales Team who will be happy to provide more details