Customer feedback
Recent Audit Commission reports on several Covalent customers have noted recognition from the inspectors of the Covalent solution and the way in which it is helping organisations across the UK to improve their corporate performance.
Hertsmere Borough Council, “The Council has robust arrangements for monitoring and managing performance. This is facilitated by a comprehensive performance management tool which collates all of the Council’s performance data, ensures it is verified and sorts it into presentation packages relevant to the different performance management groups. The performance data can be extrapolated and tailored to meet any particular requirements, such as trend analysis, and can be presented in a number of formats. All staff have readable access to the system, and briefing and training sessions have been held to embed and maximise its use.”
Rossendale Borough Council, Housing Inspection. Inspectors report “A web-based performance management system; ‘Covalent’ has been introduced. This has led to better quality and timely management information, alerting management to poor performance quicker than under previous systems. The system can be accessed from any computer and shows ‘at a glance’ through a traffic light system if performance is on or off target” … “The Council is making appropriate investment in IT systems and training to enable staff to make effective use of IT”… “The ‘Covalent’ performance management system is a further example of improved use of IT to assist in managing improvement”
Scottish Borders Council, The KPIs are monitored through the Covalent performance monitoring system….The performance monitoring system will monitor performance at all levels and by its launch at the end of June 2006, nearly 200 employees across the council had been trained to use it.”…“The council needs to consolidate the work it has started, to ensure that the arrangements it has put in place, some of which are very recent, become consistently embedded across all its operations. The council has in place a sound framework for scrutiny. These arrangements can become more effective by developing a more strategic focus, and should be better informed by the availability of good quality performance information, once the Covalent system is fully implemented.”
Winchester City Council, Housing Inspection. “This is an area where strengths outweigh weaknesses. The Council is investing in skills training for its staff and Members and has updated its human resource policies and procedures to support recruitment and retention and reduce sickness levels. It has also invested in a new performance management IT system and is working well with its partners to make the best use of available resources.”
The following testimonials have recently been received from a number of customers
“We think Covalent’s fantastic! As a council we have in the past, and would in future, recommend Covalent to other potential users. It fits all of our performance management needs and the product is constantly developing and adapting in line with its market, so as a customer you experience consistent improvement in a product that was good to start with. For me, the one thing that makes Covalent products stand out is the value placed on the customer, and on customer feedback. Also, the willingness to adapt your product to user needs. Each customer is treated as individual and I think this is very important.”
Becky Midgley, Performance Officer, Ribble Valley Borough Council
“Covalent came top (by a long way in all aspects scored) [when we conducted a full tender selection process]. I can confidently report we are happy with what we have, Covalent has filled gaps we knew we had and some we did not know we have! If there is anything missing it is not major. Covalent has a list of developments which are shared with users and an active user group which is used to shape the Covalent future.”
Charlie Proctor, Dumfries & Galloway Council
“Covalent has really helped us to focus and put performance management at the heart of the organisation. It enables us to effectively measure and check that the Council’s priorities and objectives are being achieved”
Ceridwen Pettit, Head of Performance, East Herts District Council
“During the two years we’ve been using Covalent, there have been many improvements to our processes thanks to the system. Not only has it ensured consistency of definitions (should the DCLG decide yet again to make late changes) but Covalent has also added capacity within the Quality and Performance Unit. Mainstreaming Performance and Risk Management was never going to be a walk in the park, but it is certainly made easier with the use of Covalent.”
“Having previously been up to our necks in Excel spreadsheets, Covalent has simplified what used to be a painstaking cross referencing exercise each quarter. Reporting is now done at the click of a button, and with access at all levels (from Management Team, Elected Members and all other employees) transparent working is now the norm. Responsibility is now being taken seriously as you never know who’s next to log-on.”
Nik Moore, Quality and Performance, Rugby BC
“We purchased Covalent a year or so ago and I would score it 10 out of 10. It is an extremely good system and the company is very committed and customer focused”.
Alaine Clarke, Performance Improvement Manager , Uttlesford DC
Recent comments from Kieran Smith, Performance Officer at South Staffordshire Council on his experiences with Covalent…
“One the main reasons we purchased the Covalent system was because it is very easy to pick up, therefore training is easy and we can pass it on to our staff. The system is also similar to other windows based packages, which makes it easy for users to recognise the conventions used.
The need for involvement of IT during the implementation was minimal. The whole process took around 4 weeks altogether i.e. looking at the tender, receiving presentations, deciding which product to go for and then implementation etc. It then took about two – three weeks to get the data up and running. Given how complex the whole thing can be it didn’t really seem to take that long.
Ongoing IT support is excellent and responsive. The staff are helpful, experienced and friendly. They are not afraid to say that they don’t know an answer, and when they say that they are going to get back to you they do. We receive monthly updates on any calls that we make and often they can remedy things almost straight away.
Of all the IT companies that I have dealt with over the years, Covalent are certainly the best.
As a mark of how easy it is to use the system and embed it into the culture of South Staffordshire Council – within three months of it being purchased and set up we used it to present our Quarter 1 data. Elected members immediately liked it!”
