Empowering Our Community Through Data and Technology – A Glimpse Into the Work of Our BI and IT Teams 

At Social Interest Group, we are constantly evolving to ensure we provide the best possible support for individuals facing challenges related to mental health, domestic violence, substance use, criminal justice, and homelessness. Our Business Intelligence (BI) and Information Technology (IT) teams have been working diligently to innovate and enhance the services we provide, both internally and externally. Their achievements this quarter bring us closer to delivering more efficient, data-driven services that directly benefit our residents, participants and the communities we serve.

Driving Data Literacy and Analytics Advancements

This quarter, our BI team attended the BigData London event, a leading forum for data analytics and AI. The event offered invaluable insights into data analytics and the potential of generative AI technologies. One key takeaway from this event is the growing need for our organisation to strengthen its data-driven culture. The ability to collect and maintain high-quality data is critical for the success of any AI-based initiative.

To ensure we remain at the forefront of data-driven decision-making, the BI team has been rolling out tools such as Power BI and Salesforce across various departments. These platforms provide staff with powerful analytics capabilities, driving better outcomes for our services.

Enhancing Performance Management Across the Organisation

The BI team has also focused on developing performance management tools to track and improve key performance indicators (KPIs) across departments. Newly refreshed dashboards for HR, Finance, and other services offer more accessible, customised, and simplified views. These enhancements streamline processes, improve decision-making, and ensure teams can focus on what matters most – supporting our residents and participants.

The new dashboards and automated workflows, reduce manual data entry and ensure that files are consistently updated. This shift towards automation not only saves time but also enhances the accuracy of the data we rely on to assess service effectiveness.

Additionally, the launch of the Finance Dashboard with Q1 23/24 budget and actuals is a significant step toward greater financial transparency and operational efficiency. Senior leadership teams now have access to real-time performance metrics, providing a clear overview of service health based on our KPIs.

Collaboration on IT and Data Strategy

In partnership with external providers, our BI and IT teams have made significant progress on shaping our IT and Data Strategy. This strategy will ensure that our technological infrastructure supports both our current needs and our long-term vision. A notable achievement includes the development of new automation for our feedback process, which makes it easier to gather and assess feedback across the organisation.

IT Team Innovations: Tools and Security

The IT team has been equally productive in ensuring the smooth running of our organisation’s technology and infrastructure. Notable achievements include:

• Remote Monitoring Tools: to manage support requests efficiently, providing faster support and troubleshooting for end users.

• Office 365 Licensing: Our procurement process has been optimised, ensuring we effectively allocate Microsoft Office 365 and Defender licences, maximising value for the organisation.

• Cyber Security: We successfully renewed our Cyber Certification, reaffirming our commitment to protecting sensitive information. Additionally, we conducted thorough penetration and vulnerability testing, ensuring our systems remain secure.

We have implemented a suite of advanced technologies to secure our organisation’s email communications. These tools are designed to prevent phishing scams and email spoofing, providing robust protection for our staff, residents, and participants against potential cyber threats.

Preparing for the Future: Windows 11 Rollout & SD-WAN Renewal

In preparation for the future, we’ve started the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 across all services and staff laptops. This upgrade will ensure our systems remain secure and updated as Microsoft phases out support for older versions of Windows in 2025.

We have renewed and continue to invest in our IT security by reviewing our Firewall settings and compliance to ensure the utmost protection for our users. This technology will not only secure our networks but also improve overall cyber security, ensuring our systems remain resilient and effective.

Exploring AI and Automation

As part of our ongoing IT and Data Strategy discussions, we are exploring various opportunities in AI and automation. Our goal is to harness these technologies to deliver improved support to our residents and participants, and to maximise the time our frontline teams can spend directly supporting our R&Ps and minimising the time they spend on administrative tasks. These innovations will help ensure that our organisation remains at the forefront of service delivery.

Looking Ahead

Our BI and IT teams’ continuous efforts to improve data-driven decision-making, automate processes, and enhance cyber security are directly contributing to our mission of supporting vulnerable individuals. By investing in the latest technologies and streamlining our operations, we can better serve those who need it most, empowering both our staff residents and participants to achieve positive outcomes.

We are excited to see the long-term impact of these developments and remain committed to evolving our services in alignment with the ever-changing digital landscape.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to innovate and support our community with cutting-edge technology!