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Revenues and Benefits teams are facing constant pressure. Workload is rising while budgets tighten and the pressure to do more with less is relentless. The challenge is clear: how can Services break this cycle?
The answer is automation. Our customers have shown how automating routine processes creates valuable space for reallocating resources to higher-priority collection and intervention work.
The summer holidays are in full swing. And although my toddler is happily playing away at nursery throughout the week, I know from other parents, the summer holidays currently feel like a second job. It comes as no surprise that there’s a growing debate in the news about shortening the school summer break – six weeks is a long time to juggle childcare, work deadlines, and the guilt that comes with feeling like you’re never quite giving enough to either. The question is, how do you strike a balance without burning out? Work-life balance is key, and here at Govtech, I’m fortunate to have just that. (Plus, I have two more years before I need to comprehend the six-weeks holiday!)
The sun was shining, the drinks flowing and the BBQ sizzling as we all came together for Govtech’s annual summer get-together; even more special this year as we reflect on and celebrate our 20-year history. Joined by some of our Netcall colleagues, we returned to Ingleside House in Cirencester to mark the monumental occasion, toasting to the incredible success, growth and long-standing customer partnerships we’ve formed over the years – and there’s been quite a few!
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.
Amongst our busy schedules, it was great to get (most of) the team together for our annual summer event at The Corinium Hotel in Cirencester. The sun was on our side (result), as we spent the afternoon sharing team successes, getting to know the newest members of the Govtech family, celebrating work anniversaries, and of course, participating in Alan’s infamous quiz!
We’ve recently returned from the IRRV Spring Conference 2024 in Milton Keynes and the aptly named theme, 'Facing the Future: Planning for Change', created quite a buzz. We shared many conversations about what’s currently happening within the industry and how the need to be digitally inclusive is more important than ever. Workloads are increasing as budgets tighten, and the pressure to do more with what you have is relentless. But what can be done to break this cycle? Well, we were on hand to share how our customers have used automation to create ‘space’ for a reallocation of resources to their collection and intervention priorities.
As you may have heard we work a little differently here at Govtech. We like to become one with our customers, forming a partnership where we are seen as an extension of their team. Over the last few months, apart from the everyday automation routine, we’ve worked on other projects with new and existing customers to help them create even more success. Here are a couple of stories where we’ve been delighted to have helped been a part of.
There has never been a better time, or a greater need, for automation in Council Tax. The end of Covid relief schemes and subsequent cost of living pressures have created a huge collection and recovery challenge for local authorities. Faced with severe financial pressures, the loss of expertise, staffing shortfalls, recruitment difficulties and increasing workloads, many Revenues Services are struggling just to stand still. It’s no surprise that FOUR FIVE SEVEN MORE councils (we've had three more since we posted this blog six weeks ago) have chosen to modernise and speed up collection processes through Govtech automation.
After an extremely thorough due diligence process, including hours spent speaking with existing Govtech customers such as Salford City Council, Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council and Plymouth City Council, we’re delighted that Leeds City Council, the second largest local authority in the UK, has selected Govtech to deliver end-to-end automation in Revenues for up to 4 years under G-Cloud.
We’re delighted to announce that, after a 4-year interlude, the City of Wolverhampton Council has chosen Govtech once again to deliver digital process automation for Council Tax and Benefits. In the intervening period, Wolverhampton separately helped Govtech initially to design, and was the first to deploy, Govtech’s Universal Credit Digital Service (UCDS). Now, in a decision which reverses the switch to a competitive offering, Wolverhampton will re-adopt the full suite of Govtech digital process automation services in Revenues & Benefits.
What are your expectations and aspirations for automation in Revenues & Benefits? Who set these expectations? Are your aspirations high enough? Are you worried that using automation will mean losing control? We want to shatter some myths.
Its always a busy year end so we’re delighted that our customers have taken time out from annual billing, and even more rebates, to renew or extend our digital process automation services. We’re fortunate to have a strong and loyal customer base, so we’d like to express our thanks to the following councils, who have once again chosen to remain a part of the Govtech family: