The latest version of AiDA is now released and includes the updates raised by the User Group earlier in the year.

Two clients have asked for Lift Servicing functionality to be added to AiDA and work will commence shortly.

We have frozen the cost of purchasing AiDA to keep to our 2010 prices, despite the additional functionality now available.

We are also offering free support for the first 12 months to any new clients. This offer will only be available in 2011.

We have added several training videos to the Client Area of the website, to help clients make effective use of AiDA. The videos are short and address the most common subjects for support enquiries. Please follow the Client Login link to access them.

Here's what the Audit Commission reported about Ventures Aids & Adaptations provision:

"The adaptations service is strong. Venture has an effective IT system for managing requests for aids and adaptations. This lists all adapted properties and tenants applying for help and enables requests to be matched up for vacant properties if possible, or referred to Social Services for assessments. Adaptations in properties are listed if a property is offered on the city wide choice based lettings system. When an adaptation is installed in a property its electronic records are updated. Timescales from the time requests are received, assessed and met are recorded. Venture has a clear understanding of how long aids and adaptations are taking and whether there are delays in any parts of the process which need to be addressed to improve responsiveness."

Next user group meeting arranged for 13th December at Venture Housing. Look forward to seeing you all there.

The latest version of AiDA now enables clients to view Asbestos information at a property and also to inform contractors by email or letter.

Testing has begun at LHT with the rollout of AIDA V1.0.11. The Vicinity Group uses AiDAplus, the group version of the software. The adaptability of AiDA allows different organisations within a group to use AiDA to perform seperate functions and complete different processes. This new version includes a task manager which enables users to view and progress only tasks relevant to their department.

We were delighted to have been asked to deliver a short presentation of AiDA at the Regional Adaptations Forum on 14th October. The presentation proved successful and has increased the interest of AiDA at several North West Housing Organisations. Many Thanks to Paula McNally and Julie Westmoreland of Wirral Partnership Homes for arranging the event.

Knowsley Housing Trust have played a major role in developing AiDA and moving the product forward. The recent release includes new functionality that enables clients to set budgets per category per financial year and quickly see what budget remains unspent or overspent. When new adaptation requests are raised, they will be assigned to the current financial year and on completion, they will be set to the financial year in which the completion date falls. In addition, testing is being carried out on the automated complations interface.

In an effort to increase our list of AiDA clients and expand from the Merseyside area, we have advertised in the latest edition of the national Housing magazine. The magazine is a monthly regional magazine for housing professionals and delivers the lastest national and regional news with in-depth examninations of issues affecting housing. It spotlights Housing Organisations and offers an insight into Housing Trends.
www.housingexcellence.co.uk

AiDA clients met for our opening User Group meeting.
It certainly proved useful for us and all of our clients. The group gives clients a chance to discuss their processes and use of AiDA. Future development work will now be agreed by the group members. The meeting was so well received it was agreed to hold them biannually. Next meeting December 2010 (TBC).

AiDA up and running at WPH.
Letter templates have been enhanced to give greater control of formatting.

AiDA installed at Wirral Partnership Homes.
We are delighted to have AiDA installed at WPH.The installation has additional requested functionality added to record the life span of adaptations and to report those whose life span will end within a date range. Over the next couple of months WPH will run with dual systems. This will further test the enhancemnets within AiDA and help WPH with data cleansing.

C2N welcome Wirral Partnerships Homes as their latest AiDA customer. Installation to take place early in February.

An online demonstration is now available on request. This short video highlights the key benefits of AiDA. In order to view the demonstration organisations will need streaming enabled.

AiDA is installed at Cobalt Housing. We've been busy demonstrating AiDA to Wirral Partnership Homes, Liverpool Mutual Homes and the Muir Group. The waiting list can now be colour coded to highlight adaptations that are approaching or have passed their target date.