Significant Input from Our Users

Interest Shown by Utilities Companies

Alligned Assets is a small company compared to the large solution providers in the Local Government market. Still NLPG / NSG solutions led to success. Addressing the Issues with Andy Hird, Professional Services Manager at Aligned Assets

Andy Hird: “Our focus is on providing high quality ‘open’ gazetteer solutions.”

You’re right we are small compared to the large solution providers in the Local Government market. However, NLPG NSG (National Land & Property Gazetteer National Street Gazetteer) solutions are at the core of what we do. We’ve found that our competition is focused on other business areas and that the Gazetteer is almost a secondary consideration. Our focus is on providing high quality ‘open’ gazetteer solutions and this has led to our success and rapidly expanding user base.

The other factor is that the Symphony suite was developed with significant input from our users. We have listened to the needs of more than 70 clients to develop the Symphony GMS, which is why the system is so popular. 

We experienced a few minor problems at the start, but nothing that set us back.  In fact, the Symphony Suite of applications was the first to achieve accreditation to the new British Standard BS7666:2006. Currently, Aligned Assets is one of only two suppliers to achieve accreditation to this new standard.

Also, one of our clients, Cardiff City Council, was the first authority in the UK to successfully provide updates to the NLPG in the new dtf  7.3 format. The new version of the NLPG will be in place from October 2007. This conforms to the latest addressing standard BS7666:2006. Authorities should upgrade by this date or face fines.

Is it just Local Government who are using your solutions?

Initially, interest in our solutions was almost entirely from Local Government as they had been charged with the creation of the LLPGs (Local Land & Property Gazetteers), which together form the NLPG. More recently, with changes in the MSA, we have seen significant interest from other organisations with major addressing requirements. Recent clients include Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks, British Transport Police and Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service. Interest is also being shown by the utilities companies. 

Recent clients include Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks.

What about integration with other systems used in Local Government?

From day one we realised that the only way to utilise the benefits of a central address gazetteer is if back office systems are integrated to the core addresses. The Symphony Gazetteer is part of a comprehensive suite of applications – the ‘Symphony Enterprise Suite.’ These modules combine to create the strongest solution for Gazetteer Management in the marketplace. Indeed, the iExchange module has been providing these integration opportunities for almost 5 years.

Not only does the Symphony Enterprise Suite comply with the latest version of BS7666 but it also allows you to integrate it with any other database system to ensure high quality output and delivery by cross reference. This provides the complete solution to maintain and manage LLPG data and disseminate and use the data throughout an organisation.

Job van Haaften (jvanhaaften@geoinformatics.com) is editor of GeoInformatics. For more information: www.aligned-assets.co.uk.