Idox
Uttlesford District Council enhances efficiency and boosts morale with Idox Insights
Uttlesford District Council enhances efficiency and boosts morale with Idox Insights
Details:
- Company: Idox
- Client: Uttlesford District Council
- Year: 2024
- Region: England
- Product: Built Environment Software, Planning analytics dashboard
Service areas:
- Planning and urban design services
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and software solutions
- Organisational digital transformation
Introduction
Uttlesford, a rural district in northwest Essex, is populated by numerous historic villages and hamlets. It’s also home to London Stansted Airport, as well as major road and rail networks connecting to London and Cambridge. As a result, Uttlesford harmonises the urban and the rural by combining an idyllic countryside environment with modern infrastructure developments.
However, as the unique character of the district evolved, its Council encountered a growing strain on planning resources. The more diverse and complex Uttlesford became, the harder it was to manage planning in timely, cost-effective ways.
However, as the unique character of the district evolved, its Council encountered a growing strain on planning resources. The more diverse and complex Uttlesford became, the harder it was to manage planning in timely, cost-effective ways.
Challenges
Without appropriate software, Uttlesford District Council’s team leaders and managers were identifying issues through manual weekly analytics. This involved running access reports, transferring data into spreadsheets, and sharing reports with teams - often taking several hours each week. Over time, this approach led to uneven workloads across planning officers, increasing case sign-off times and negatively affecting team morale.
The Council needed a more effective way to manage planning workloads, with instant access to accurate, up-to-date insights. While an in-house solution was considered, Uttlesford recognised the drawbacks. Developing and maintaining the required expertise internally would be time consuming and costly, while external consultants were expensive and often lacked deep understanding of the Council’s complex requirements.
Ultimately, Uttlesford concluded that partnering with an experienced solution provider was the most practical and effective option.
The Council needed a more effective way to manage planning workloads, with instant access to accurate, up-to-date insights. While an in-house solution was considered, Uttlesford recognised the drawbacks. Developing and maintaining the required expertise internally would be time consuming and costly, while external consultants were expensive and often lacked deep understanding of the Council’s complex requirements.
Ultimately, Uttlesford concluded that partnering with an experienced solution provider was the most practical and effective option.
Solutions
Uttlesford District Council has worked with Idox for more than 14 years, successfully implementing solutions including Uniform Cloud with Enterprise, Total Land Charges, EDRMS, Public Access and Onsite Mobile Apps.
Building on this established partnership, the Council chose to work with Idox again on Idox Insights. As Ann Howells, Performance and Business Manager at Uttlesford, explains: “Choosing to work with Idox was an easy decision. Their experience was crucial in helping us establish the foundations and navigate the process, it was a no-brainer.”
Once the business case was approved, the Planning portfolio holder presented a clear and compelling case to Cabinet, which voted in favour of the solution.
The two month go-live was a smooth, collaborative process with weekly meetings. As the first Idox Insights customer, Uttlesford helped shape benefits for other councils too.
Building on this established partnership, the Council chose to work with Idox again on Idox Insights. As Ann Howells, Performance and Business Manager at Uttlesford, explains: “Choosing to work with Idox was an easy decision. Their experience was crucial in helping us establish the foundations and navigate the process, it was a no-brainer.”
Once the business case was approved, the Planning portfolio holder presented a clear and compelling case to Cabinet, which voted in favour of the solution.
The two month go-live was a smooth, collaborative process with weekly meetings. As the first Idox Insights customer, Uttlesford helped shape benefits for other councils too.
Results
Idox Insights is a cloud-based analytics and insight solution designed to improve productivity, efficiency and collaboration across development management teams. It gives councils access to clear dashboards and data-driven insights without the need for specialist technical skills or complex licences, making it a strong fit for Uttlesford’s needs.
Within six months of implementation, the benefits were clear. Manual reporting was eliminated, saving around 20 hours a month in administrative time. Planning reports are now instantly available, and officers no longer rely on managers to identify missed case sign-offs, reducing delays and improving visibility.
Team leaders use Insights to balance workloads fairly, with a clear view of caseloads and case complexity. This has also supported coaching, mentoring and training, boosting morale.
As Dean Hermitage, Strategic Director of Planning, explains: “Idox Insights helps officers manage workloads, plan site visits efficiently, and supports managers and senior leaders with day-to-day performance reporting.”
Within six months of implementation, the benefits were clear. Manual reporting was eliminated, saving around 20 hours a month in administrative time. Planning reports are now instantly available, and officers no longer rely on managers to identify missed case sign-offs, reducing delays and improving visibility.
Team leaders use Insights to balance workloads fairly, with a clear view of caseloads and case complexity. This has also supported coaching, mentoring and training, boosting morale.
As Dean Hermitage, Strategic Director of Planning, explains: “Idox Insights helps officers manage workloads, plan site visits efficiently, and supports managers and senior leaders with day-to-day performance reporting.”
Idox Insights helps our officers on a day-to-day basis – managing their workload, looking at performance, and being able to efficiently plan site visits. It also helps managers review officers’ performance day-to-day and helps me extract data to be able to report upward to our cabinet members and elected members.
Dean Hermitage
Strategic Director of Planning at Uttlesford Council
