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Transition provides a Countrywide solution
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Many companies have some specialist IT-related work that requires expert knowledge but doesn't justify the
recruitment of a full-time employee. Countrywide Surveyors solved this problem by investing in professional
help from Milton Keynes-based Transition Computing.
Countrywide Surveyors is a division of Countrywide plc, and is one of Europe's leading surveying and valuation practices.
As the UK's largest residential survey business, it has over 800 Chartered Surveyors and valuers, operating from 129 nationwide locations.
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Seeking support
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The company uses a range of Microsoft Access systems, but doesn't have the internal skills needed to support them fully. It therefore decided
to outsource this role. IT Director, Bill Ashworth, explains: "We were looking for a company that could understand our systems and
their problems; could respond rapidly when needed; and could also provide project management. It needed to be an agile and professionally
astute firm that was fairly near to our Head Office in Milton Keynes."
Ideally, the company wanted to create a long term partnership with an IT consultancy that could provide business-focused applications support
and development. Countrywide Surveyors had carried out some work with a training organisation whose sister company, Transition Computing,
seemed a likely candidate. Transition had the necessary skills and experience, and were therefore initially given one system to support.
If this project went well, they would be given others.
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Developing a solution
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David Gibson, Managing Director of Transition Computing, takes up the story: "We invested a lot of time in Countrywide Surveyors so that we fully
understood their business, infrastructure, personnel and business plans. We then developed a solution that was tailored to their specific
needs."
The first project involved a system for controlling insurance claims. Transition provided Countrywide with a dedicated Project Manager and Business
Analyst, and started holding account reviews to ensure that it continued to meet the customer's needs and expectations.
Bill Ashworth continues: "Transition started supporting the system, made some changes, sorted out problems, and worked on subsequent amendments.
We were very happy with their progress, so we gave them responsibility for the maintenance and development of two further systems."
The two companies have now established a powerful working relationship. Bill adds: "Our aim was to ensure that IT support isn't a big deal:
Transition Computing just get on with it. They have removed a potentially large support headache for us. The work doesn't merit a full team,
just help when the need arises. Transition gives us professional support that is rapidly available and very responsive to our needs."
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