NEC Software Solutions agrees 7-year contract with L&Q to overhaul IT systems

NEC Software Solutions has won a major new contract with one of the largest social landlords in the country to support its IT transformation process.

The UK-based software services company has entered into a 7-year contract with L&Q to overhaul its housing management systems, marking a long-term commitment between the organisations to deliver both operational excellence and enhanced customer service for L&Q’s residents.

NEC will support L&Q as it seeks to reduce the number of technology platforms across its estate and improve its data architecture. In doing so, L&Q will improve its customer experience through easier to use interfaces, better connectivity and better access to data. The move will also reduce cost and complexity within L&Q’s systems, which cover services such as rent collection and reporting repairs.

L&Q are determined to improve the interoperability of their technology systems by ensuring better alignment between fewer systems, with the right technical capability. The partnership will also seek to improve tenant engagement at a time when the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) is increasing its scrutiny of this aspect of the social landlords’ operations.

NEC was selected by L&Q following a robust competitive tender via which a decision was reached ensuring value for money against the quality of service being provided to customers. NEC was chosen due to the evolving maturity of its housing management system, shared vision and values and its ability to handle complexity.

The contract will have a direct impact on L&Q’s 250,000 residents from London and the South East to Manchester and the North West.

The partnership will seek to establish operational excellence in L&Q’s systems, offering reliable, repeatable and consistent services, which is one of L&Q’s major priorities in its five-year Future Shape strategy.

Trevor Hampton, Director of Housing Solutions at NEC Software Solutions, said: “We are excited to begin our long-term partnership with L&Q, one of the leading housing associations in the sector. Using our internal expertise of social housing and housing management systems, we will help L&Q deliver a better, simplified service for its residents.

“Data and data quality are key concerns for many housing associations and L&Q has demonstrated its commitment to improving these aspects of their service.”

Alison Handley, Director of Strategy, Planning and Change at L&Q, said: “We are delighted to have partnered with NEC to upgrade our housing management system. As an organisation, we are focused on using technology to enable a better experience for our residents.

“Getting the right tools in place is the foundation for building lasting change, and this represents an exciting step forward in our improvement journey.”