High tech Merlin Works shortlisted for award

Published by Hywel LLoyd for Merlin Housing Society in Housing

The innovative use of technology by Merlin Works to ensure residents’ repairs are completed quickly and efficiency has been shortlisted for a national award.

Merlin Housing Society’s in-house contractor has been shortlisted for best use of IT award at the National Housing Maintenance Forum’s annual awards. The awards promote best practice in housing maintenance and repairs and reward the innovative work carried out in the sector.

Among the improvements Merlin Works has made has been the decision to provide every operative with a PDA with which to keep track of all their repairs jobs, the introduction of vehicle tracking, and new IT systems which allow planners to add jobs to an operative’s diary. Their introduction has helped Merlin Works to ensure the majority of repairs are now completed on time and has led to an increase in resident satisfaction with the repairs service.

Operations Manager Martin Daymond said: “We’re delighted that our efforts to improve the service we deliver to our customers has been recognised with shortlisting for this award. We have made big strides forward in the way we use IT over the past five years which have resulted in improved performances.

“Going forward we are planning further improvements to improve our efficiency and ensure we are able to carry out work first time.”

The shortlisting follows hot on the heels of Merlin Works being awarded the coveted ISO9001:2008 award for the processes that control its repairs and maintenance service for customers.

The awards will be announced at the National Housing Maintenance Forum’s awards dinner on 24 January.