Using IT innovation to alleviate business pressures; Stockport Council ICT winner’s story

Dec. 21, 2012 - PRLog -- The prestigious itSMF (IT Service Management Forum) UK Awards 2012 saw Marval customer Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (MBC) ICT pick up the IT Service Innovation of the Year Award for RoamKey; a stand-alone operating system stored on a portable USB pen drive. Judged by the itSMF UK award’s panel, “Stockport Council was a clear winner in offering the most original service developed over the past year” said an itSMF spokesperson.” They were selected based on their originality, ingenuity and inventiveness,” they continued.

Kasia Dean, ICT Systems Support Manager, Stockport MBC said, “Winning the itSMF Service Innovation Award is a great achievement for Stockport Council ICT. It recognises the fantastic effort and imagination of all the staff involved in the development of the RoamKey product, and is just one example of the innovative approach to ICT service delivery that we’ve adopted at a time when funding is being reduced significantly.” She continued, “Service Management is at the heart of everything that we do, and to be recognised by the itSMF, the epitome of ICT best practice and high quality service delivery, is something that we’re all very proud of.”

Innovation

Faced with increasing demand for flexible working solutions from Council staff, and in support of a number of the Council’s core strategies, Stockport Council’s ICT department developed RoamKey.

Once configured, RoamKey is a simple, effective and flexible solution which provides users with access to the Council’s ICT facilities from almost any personal computer (PC) or laptop in a secure and managed manner. RoamKey allows users to utilise PCs/laptops that are not owned and managed by the Council, enabling them to work in locations of their own choice, without the need for additional hardware, software and security, and the associated added costs.

RoamKey is both flexible and innovative as it turns any PC/laptop into a corporate desktop via a secure and simple interface. It is ideal for mobile workers, remote workers and occasional homeworkers, and is convenient and simple.

Its use is also not confined to just local Councils, and can be configured for any organisation or business.

Alleviating business pressures

The current economic climate is challenging all local Councils to become more efficient and to save significant sums of money and resources. As central government reigns in public spending, there is considerable pressure to deliver services in new and innovative ways.

Stockport Council needs to save £52m in the four years 2011/12 to 2014/15. With £28m realised to date, the Council has a further £24m to be found over the coming two years (2013/14 & 2014/15).

RoamKey is helping Stockport Council, and its business partners, to do exactly that (reduce costs by introducing new innovations) by developing and utilising a multi-faceted product that can deliver a range of business benefits at a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions, without compromising quality or security.

This imaginative and innovative development has, in just a few months, generated savings in excess of £250,000. RoamKey is a vital supporting component which, through facilitating flexible and remote working, allows the continuation of the wider strategy of accommodation reductions across the Council, which aims to realise £9m of savings by 2014/15.

RoamKey also offers incredible value for money. The purchase cost is just £12.50 per unit, as compared against nearly £1,000  for a standard home-worker ICT package (all hardware, software, security, etc).

Customer testimonials

Tracey McGovern (Change Manager, Services to People Directorate)

“Using the RoamKey solution for my team means I’ve spent around £100 where I would have had to spend over £11k from my budget in this year alone on an alternative solution. I use it as well and it works really effectively.”

Claire Wakefield (Stockport Homes)

“I give it the thumbs up. It’s fantastic, easy to use and gives access to all the systems. Well done Stockport Council ICT!”

Peter Miles (Project Manager, Corporate and Support Services)

“This device gives me the flexibility I need to work almost anywhere I want to. Secure too – a great product!”

Who is Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council ICT?

Stockport Council is one of the ten Greater Manchester local authorities which form the Association of Greater  Manchester Authorities (AGMA). Stockport Council provides a range of key services to 284,600 residents across a diverse borough. The services include education, social services, housing, planning and transportation, community and leisure services, environmental health, and finance. With a net annual revenue budget for 2011/12 of over £229m and full and part-time staff of almost 9,000 people, the Council  is a major organisation and the largest employer in the Borough.

ICT provides Corporate Information and Communications Technology services across the Council and to key business partners. This includes providing and supporting; 4,000 PCs, laptops and tablets, corporate data network, corporate telephony and mobile devices, 300 ICT systems for the Council and its business partners, and technical provision of the Council website (public access to information and services 24/7).

www.stockport.gov.uk

www.roamkey.co.uk

www.marval.co.uk