Is your software up to scratch?

Guest blog by Gary Rivington, Data Integration Officer at GeoPlace #LPSInnovation

Wouldn’t the world of public services be a better place if we were able to share intelligence easily to provide better services?

But there is hope.

The use of unique identifiers in any dataset can help link together the information to create vital intelligence and insights. This can be achieved by including the UPRN or USRN whenever property or street information is used.

However, having these identifiers present within your datasets is only one part of the challenge. A critical step in order to get to this point is that it needs to be partnered with the capability of software systems being able to consume, update, expose and export the UPRN and USRN.

Inclusion of these unique identifiers can generate millions of pounds of efficiency savings for individual local authorities as explored in a recent TechUK webinar with Nottingham City Council, and at a Local Government Association event in December 2023 on ‘How to derive efficiencies and insight from the data you didn’t know you had’.

How does the procurement of software play a part?

56% of the software being used in local authorities does not fully mandate the use of the UPRN.

This means the software either does not use the UPRN, or partially uses it but allows the inclusion of free text addresses which reduces the integrity of the address data.

The following points derive from engagement with local authority officers. These are some of the key factors hindering good procurement of UPRN and USRN capable software.

Siloed teams where procurement is based on only what they see and need. Therefore, no shared vision of the bigger picture.

Key people not in discussions and plans for procurement process. Therefore, some aspects of actual and beneficial requirements are never included.

Misunderstanding of address and street data and their key identifiers. This can be in both local authorities and software suppliers.

In some cases, there can be an attitude of “we don’t need to consider these”. But this can lead to missing out on so many opportunities.

How can we achieve better procurement of systems?

Procuring in the right way can create value. The value is it can drive is in terms of better linked data and intelligence, through a single version of the truth. Capture once, store once but share many. All against agreed and tested data standards and practices. This reduces multiple versions of the data that can lead to confusions and errors.

For example:

The UPRN can cut out that initial confusion and time taken to clarify, with more time for the officers to focus on delivering services.

The value is also realised in the sharing of the intelligence to improve services and developing new services for residents both locally and nationally.

But what do you need to think about when procuring new software that will enable the use of a UPRN or USRN?

The following are a few tips that may help when embarking on the journey to procure better enabled.

Consideration	Why
Who to include.	Missing out key players in any part of the process may lead to systems implemented that will not gain the full benefits.
Focus on the benefit needs.	It is not always about economics. Focusing on the bigger picture of what can benefit residents more by procuring UPRN and USRN enable systems.
Discover the possibilities.	What can you do? What are the full range of tools, software, services are out there which can help.
Ensure products can Consume, Update, Expose and Export the UPRN and USRN	Some systems are able to do all of these, but many are not capable of doing these at all, or some partially Not being able to meet one of these functions makes it difficult to link data and gain insights.
Do we need to change the software?	Many times, there can be a perception that the current software isn’t working. Are you using software in the right way and taking advantage of all its capabilities? Do your current processes to use and share information organisation need reviewing in order to maximise the intelligence?
How to enact the change	How will you go about it to ensure you procure and implement in the right way?

Ask what you can you do better? One of the key parts in the above is engaging and talking with others who can help.

How are GeoPlace helping?

GeoPlace helps manage UPRNs and USRNs at a national level and we provided support and guidance on procuring systems that supports the inclusion of these key identifiers.

This includes the Procurement Criteria Suggestion tools which can be used for use in buying gazetteer management systems. They set out questions and considerations in the procurement process, for address gazetteer software and street gazetteers.

Alongside this is our Generate Procurement Criteria tool. This creates technical defining criteria for address data requirements to help commission and purchase of new local authority systems’ software which utilise address data

We engage with local authorities and software suppliers to help integrate address and street data within existing system so that the intelligence can be shared more easily to help plan and shape better resident focused services.

We must all embrace this together

But to enable better procurement of systems that can help drive better services through enabled shared intelligence we need to take a collaborative approach.

This must include every part of public sector organisations, including local authorities through to software suppliers. We all play a part.

We need to be working together to be actively enabling the mandating of the inclusion of the UPRN/USRN key identifiers in the software capabilities. This can be done with better engagement, education and understanding of the why these are important and the benefits that they can bring. A lot of work has already been undertaken in this area but more still needs to be done.

To supply and procure better enabled systems we all must act together.

Local Public Services Programme

techUK's Local Public Services Programme provides the forum for local public services to engage with industry to better understand the innovations out there, horizon-scan how the technologies of today and tomorrow can re-imagine local public services and solve some of the most pressing challenges our communities and places face. It also helps connect suppliers with each other, identify new business partnerships to help grow an ever thriving local government ecosystem.

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