Leading with automation; IRRV event recap ‘24

Having not long returned from the IRRV Annual Conference 2024, always a firm favourite, it’s true when they say everything happens at once. Settle in there’s a lot to share, including: our highlights from the IRRV, welcoming SIX new customers to the webCAPTURE community, and celebrating our long-standing customers.

Our customers, leading the way in their profession

Another solid choice by the IRRV on naming this year’s conference, as our customers did lead the way as several of them took to the stage to share their experience and expertise.

For the Local Taxation and Revenues stream: Julie Smethurst from Oldham Council talked about ‘Creating a Coherent Council Tax Collection Strategy’, Jane O’Connor from City of Bradford Council joined the panel discussion on ‘How Many last Resort Remedies Are There and Which Ones Actually Get Paid?’, and Charles Metcalfe from Manchester City Council led a ‘HMRC Initiative’ update.

For the Welfare Benefits and Social Inclusion stream: both David Graaff and James Straw shared ‘Tackling Support Exempt Accommodation in Haringey Council’, and Paula Doherty from Dumfries & Galloway Council outlined ‘Universal Credit Migration - How is it Going?’. 

All sessions were well attended, not surprising, as the work they do for their councils is outstanding and to be admired. As firm advocates for sharing stories to help aid other people’s successes, we were delighted to hear of their participation.

A chance to catch-up, and not just about automation

As always, the annual conference gave us a great opportunity to meet new faces, entertain our automation digest, as well as catching up with existing customers including those who have just joined the Govtech family. To hear phrases such as “we’re thrilled to be kicking off the project” and “eager to get stuck in”, it goes to show how the value and aspirations for automation (an initiative we kicked-off in 2022 with the automation forum) is finally being realised. I’ll come on to those exciting new sites further down.

It’s always special to meet face-to-face and discuss how the service is going; but it’s more important to hear how the people behind the everyday routine are doing. We had the pleasure of meeting socially with the City of Bradford Council, Dudley Council, Haringey Council, and Manchester City Council. Whilst we cheered on The City of Edinburgh Council and Sandwell Council during the gala dinner at The Performance Awards – knowing the dedication, hard work and impact they have on their citizens and communities, we’re still gutted that they just missed out. Yet despite this, we all had an enjoyable evening.

The IRRV Annual Conference is always a highlight, our automation competition winner was on a lucky roll as not only did she take home our luxurious hamper, but she also won two more from other exhibitors! Deirdre Do-Rosario from Test Valley Council – could you share your secret please! 

Extending a welcome to six new webCAPTURE sites

Whilst at conference we took the opportunity to publicly welcome six new customers, including 5 more Capita sites – so we’d like to express a warm welcome to:

Derby City Council, East Herts Council, Lancaster City Council, Preston City Council, and Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council join the growing number of Capita sites (now up to 16) choosing webCAPTURE to fully automate processing in Council Tax. Whilst Mid Devon District Council increases our NEC customer base with a total customer community of 55 councils now embracing webCAPTURE’s revenues digital process automation!

We’re delighted to welcome them all onboard and, with the kick-off meetings already in hand, we can’t wait to get them up and running so they can publicise, share and compare the automation rates they achieve with other councils.

Extending its automation services

In other news we’d like to express a big sincere thanks to Cheshire East Council, a Govtech customer for 8 years, who has extended its automation services for up to another 4 years. These long-term relationships mean everything to us. Yes, we’re delighted when a new council joins the community, but we’re just as thrilled at the news that a customer has decided to extend our partnership based on the added value it provides – we’ll never take that for granted.

The IRRV calendar is filling up

As this year’s run of IRRV conferences come to an end, you’ll still be able to catch us at some of the local Association meetings and user groups. We’ve also signed up for next year’s Spring, Scottish and Annual Conferences once again, so hopefully we’ll get a chance to meet you there, if not sooner. 

Meanwhile, if you ever have an automation question or would like to know how it will work for your council, please contact us for an informal chat or join one of our webinars – simply get in touch and we’ll help point you in the right direction.