Channel-Shift 2014: A Year in Review

With the UK's central government continuing with a firm policy of cuts to reduce the deficit, local authorities have remained amongst the hardest hit.

Juggling an increasingly stringent supply from Westminster with rising expectation levels from residents has left British councils, for the forseeable future at least, up against it in their efforts to maintain the status quo - with the situation not made any easier now a further round of austerity measures are predicted for 2015.

Late 2013 saw Lancashire county council reveal just how tough the job was. With demands to see £176 million saved over three years and increase of no more than 2% in council tax, Lancashire opened up a forecast calculator to the public - handing them the reins on where they thought the money should and shouldn't be spent between 2015-18.

The resource revealed the myriad of issues that arose with the smallest change to budgets, serving a sobering insight into the obstacles that councils are facing everyday in light of big changes to their spending. Issues which are inevitable if council's fail to adapt to the conditions they now find themselves in.

Open policy & adaptation

But it's not all doom and gloom. Many authorities are in fact demonstrating a propensity for adaptation.

As with Lancashire many councils have become more familiar with and eager to take on their new environments, approaching them with a 'working out loud' policy that brings transparency and an openness to new ideas.

Chesterfield were among those that joined this movement, releasing a 'Channel Shift Action Plan' for 2015-17. The report highlighted the need to act promptly with 3.5 million in cuts hitting the council during the lifetime of the report.

Research from Socitm was also highlighted in the report, demonstrating the overall value of channel-shift as truly significant, with face to face (£7.40) and phone transactions (£2.90) falling dramatically with online processing (£0.32).

2014 sees over half now planning for channel-shift

Necessity as they say is the mother of invention and in the lives of public sector organisation 2014 was unquestionably the year that saw the biggest adoption of new and innovative methodologies - particularly in the mindsets of central and local government where digital by default became a synonymous term with the landscape of future practices.

A survey which asked the question "Has your organisation adopted a Channel Shift strategy" revealed this most explicitly, with an increasing number of respondents indicating a strategy was in place, rising from 39% in 2013 to 58% in 2014. With such a dramatic rise in strategic thinking and implementation around channel shift, its clear local government places a much greater emphasis on online conversion as a factor for sustainability and growth, both for the immediate and long term future of operations.

Local gov cited over half of senior executives questioned planned to send as much 74% of services online - with mobile web outlined as a big player in forecasted savings.

The total sum that culminated from the report amounted a 670 million annual saving nationwide on 2015's reduced budgets, where channel shift was implemented - and it's fair to say given the evidence of 2014 that the UK is well on its way towards realising that figure.

Tips for 2015

Some hurdles do still exist, we'll discuss those in our '6 Ways to Ensure Effective Channel Shift in 2015' in the New Year, but the marker for success amidst a bleak financial playing field is now firmly set in the channel shift camp.

So here's to another good year, and with some of our handy tips to help you plan for channel shift effectively, we're sure 2015 is going to be even better.

Zipporah drives change in the international arena with big client wins

Zipporah's solutions are proving a big hit on the international stage, sealing a successive run of orders from clients Down Under.

Not for the first time, Zipporah has been displaying it's international appeal cross continents and this time it's in Australia. And whilst the region isn't exactly new territory for Zipporah, quite familiar in fact with orders beginning in 2012, it has become an increasingly important model of Zipporah's successful overseas strategy and a testament to its international growth.

Recent months and especially the last year have seen significant progress made with a number of new and exciting opportunities turned into orders, bringing an increasing volume of Australian authorities into Zipporah's client network.

Port Adelaide Enfield sits among this influx of new clients, with credit owed to Zipporah's Australian distributor Icon Software, who partnered with Zipporah to win the contract.

Further orders came independently to Zipporah, among them Pittwater and Hawkesbury who, in their bids to help tackle an array of procedural curve balls they encounter each day, both recognised Zipporah's solutions as ideal resources to help them achieve their goals moving forward.

Joshua Hurford, Regional Account Manager explained "Over the last few years, Australia has shown a lot of growth in terms of technology within the workplace. The public sector is starting to invest more of its energy into new ideas and with that comes new approaches to how tasks are performed. solutions that generate an increase in revenue whilst reducing costs, and that's why we've seen such success lately, since we're able to meet offer long-term solutions that will increase workplace efficiency and create those important savings.”

Technical Director Scott Burton commented, "We're constantly working towards making Zipporah a company that's as available and effective in the international market as it is here in the UK. We're very pleased that we're being recognised in the Australian market, and we are very much looking forward to working with our new and existing clients on these new systems."

With a big projection of international growth expected again in the New Year, Zipporah are showing no sign of letting up in their efforts to help more and more local authorities achieve new efficiencies and measurable savings.

To find out how Zipporah could help your organisation, contact sales@zipporah.co.uk or call +44 (0) 2920 647048

For more information on this article contact: Ioan Davies, Marketing Executive, Zipporah Ltd 02920 647048, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Tis the season to be jogging

"A flurry of activity rippled though the crowd, which by now was a sea of red, green and white. Mutterings among Elves and Snowmen of 'He's here' spread like wildfire until all eyes were turned and fixed with anticipation on the figure that was now emerging from the Winter's fog.

The dark silhouette, which had been mysterious at first, slowly crept into view, revealing a familiar face. Dressed in red, with white fur trim, a black belt and a grey bushy beard, it was none other than Old Saint Nick who approached, and today as with years gone by, he had but one job to complete..."

It was a scene you would be forgiven for attributing to the North Pole this December as Santa Clause readies himself to climb down countless chimneys delivering presents to everyone on his 'Nice List'... Except you would be wrong to do so.

No, in fact, it was a scene that unfolded between Zipporah staff as they waited in their festive attire for Technical Director Scott Burton (dressed as Santa Claus) to make his appearance at the annual 'Santa Dash' for charity Welsh Hearts in Cardiff Bay.

Not ones to turn down a challenge, the group of 8 Zipporah staff (pictured above) were descended on Roald Dahl pass, joining 400 runners in making a 5k dash across Cardiff Bay in support of the diligent work undertaken by Welsh Hearts.

One of a number of events staged throughout the year by the Welsh charity, the Dash has become, with its family friendly appeal, an important event in raising awareness of heart disease in Wales, its impact and what measures can be implemented reduce the effect it has on the Welsh population.

Among the charity's goals going forward is one to see a defibrillator next to every fire extinguisher in Wales - an already pivotal emergency point in most buildings.

In Wales last year approximately 8,000 sudden cardiac arrests occurred outside of hospital. Reports tell us that only 3% of that number will survive. A shocking statistic. Particularly when quick access to a defibrillator increases the chance of survival to 47%. And it's this statistic that prompted Welsh Hearts to act.

It's hoped introducing more defibrillators will help to bring the fatality rate down significantly, and so events and support like the Santa Dash help to play a big part in achieving better healthcare for cardiac patients in Wales.

And so the gauntlet was laid down, and the question asked 'How could Zipporah do its bit to help Welsh Hearts?'

The run began shortly before midday, starting amidst gales and Arctic winds. But spurred on by fever pitch cries from onlooking supporters the runners not to be discouraged by the Welsh weather set off in their droves. Testing the metal of even the most ardent running enthusiast, the Bay's barrage left participants at the mercy of the elements.

But perseverance won the day and before the rain could set in, not that it would have done much to dampen spirits, each Zipporah runner was there and back again and over the line with a respectable time.

A good run out for Zipporah, and a chance to give back to the Welsh community.

Latest announcements from Welsh Hearts indicate 130 defibrillators have been donated as part of their latest campaign, finding homes among Wales' rural communities, work places and schools. The Santa Dash has gone someway towards increasing this number, and its safe to say Zipporah will be back again next year to continue backing the team at Welsh Hearts, albeit hoping for sunshine and a larger set of lungs!

To find out more about Welsh Hearts or to donate, visit www.welshhearts.org

For more information on this article contact: Ioan Davies, Marketing Executive, Zipporah Ltd 02920 647048, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm