Increasing our people capability

turnaround of an invoice payment being completed within 5 days on average.

DOCUSIGN IMPLEMENTATION

During 2020–2021, Evolve Housing implemented Docusign to enable documents which require single or multiple signatures to be completed electronically.

This has been particularly useful during COVID-19, and in our EchoRealty business as it now provides technology for tenants to review and sign property tenancy agreements remotely without having to come into the office.

Moving forward, we will look to expand the use of Docusign across our business. This initiative will not only improve efficiency and security of documents but will also enhance our customers’ and suppliers’ experience.

We also understand that Technology One have confirmed that they will soon be integrating the Docusign functionality into their systems, which will provide greater opportunities for application of this technology.

FILESMART

In the last twelve months, Evolve Housing made a strategic decision to move our office files and documentation from a paper based format to an electronic format for all of our EchoRealty customers. Electronic record management is a trend that is here to stay and has enhanced our business practices to enable us to capture many benefits including cost and efficiency of document storage and retrieval.

This electronic document management system is seamlessly integrated with our existing software to ensure maximised capabilities and efficiency. One system that was recommended to Evolve Housing and subsequently implemented, was Filesmart, an MRI product. Filesmart is designed specifically and tailored to meet the needs of our property management accounts department. It offers a secure, centralised location to store documents safely with unlimited filing capacity as well as protecting our data.

As a result of implementing this system, data entry has been significantly minimised and all related processes streamlined. The workflow functionality allows us to process hundreds of invoices in the time it previously took us to process just one.

Files and documents can be retrieved and emailed to tenants with a click of a button and landlord documents are emailed automatically at the end of the month. This has saved hours of staff time sorting, collating, attaching and posting landlord statements.

In February 2020, we launched the Evolve Housing and EchoRealty Leadership Program. Participants of the program included the Executive Leaders, all employees in people management roles and seven additional employees identified as potential successors for management positions.

A total of 33 employees commenced this program. The program is designed and facilitated by Maximus International, specialists in leadership development and coaching. Our General Manager of People and Culture, Jo Henderson-Brooks has worked closely with Maximus to customise the program for Evolve Housing with an intent to upskill our leadership capability across the entire organisation.