Digital Transformation Of The Social Housing Sector

How many times have we heard that digitalisation will transform our lives, only to find that the promise of digital nirvana has feet of clay? Colin Sales, Managing Director of 3C Consultants would suggest otherwise: it's not the technology at fault but the way it is implemented and embraced by the recipient organisation.

Again, this may sound familiar but Colin is a fervent advocate of the 'keep it simple' principle and, in the work 3C has done with a number of housing associations, has proved that digitalising services and operations does not have to be a painful process providing the project is approached methodically, and keeping the objective of the exercise firmly in sight.

Executive teams need data

3C Consultants are IT specialists for the social housing sector, advising on IT strategy and the effective utilisation of IT systems. The 3C team has been working with housing associations, the length and breadth of Britain, helping them to transform the way they operate by 'going digital'. Although the move online is universal, it has particular resonance for housing associations which are coming under ever greater scrutiny both from government and the HCA; as Colin notes: "The emphasis in the housing sector has shifted from being about personalities and relationships, to governance and value for money, which means that boards are finding themselves much more accountable for commercially-driven performance. Now that the HCA is benchmarking associations against one another, executive teams need to understand their organisation intimately. For this they need data – and integrated IT systems are the best way to deliver this".

Managing cultural change is crucial

Colin outlined the key principles he and his team apply to help the transformation process. At the heart, as with most things in life, is leadership. The transformation process will not happen unless the CEO and senior leadership team give their unequivocal support to the project and actively lead from the front. An essential element of the process is managing cultural change, requiring a shift in outlook, a re-examination of how people work, and a desire to work better and smarter.

"Without getting their staff on board, even the most enthusiastic CEO will struggle to bring about effective change; it's therefore important to share the digital vision for the organisation with everyone at the outset and then celebrate successes along the way, however small". Colin acknowledges that...