11 December 2018

South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) is said to have become the UK’s first to adopt a form of analytics technology that saves money, identifies service improvements, and has the potential to generate revenue.

The new data analytics system uses software developed by Panintelligence which allows the most up to date information to be utilised for service departments across the council.

This supports the teams in their work and enables the organisation to gain a better understanding of the data it already has.

The system was introduced earlier this year and initial estimates suggest it could unlock internal resources and generate capacity, which in turn could save the authority £44,000 annually.

Panintelligence says the software has already “significantly improved” customer services processes.

By identifying trends in enquiries, it has enabled the council to tailor rotas for quicker and more effective customer responses and identify enquiries that take longer and why.

SKDC plans to roll out the technology across its services, from homelessness prevention and rent arrears, to housing repairs and lettings.

The software is also being used by the revenue and benefits and planning departments.

SKDC deputy leader Kelham Cooke says: “This predictive modelling capability will, for instance, enable us to identify where people are most likely to fall into debt and intervene early, hopefully catching the problem before it turns into a vicious cycle, and ultimately help us keep that person in their home. “We can also create additional revenue by reducing our operational costs, which translates into more and better services.”

Cooke adds that by identifying trends in housing repairs, the council can improve customer service by tackling problems before they happen.

“For example, we can identify whether certain types of boilers are prone to faults and fix them quickly, and reduce overspending and repeat property visits by ensuring vans are stocked with the right parts the first-time round.”