Testimonials

“We recently transitioned to using TCES under our new ICELS contract, and given that we are a partnership with 5 different organisations there are many variances and complexities to the way in which we each deliver our services. Very quickly Stuart took the implementation group through a methodical process of designing the system to our requirements, clearly explaining all the tasks that were involved and the actions that were required. Stuart was fundamental in the implementation of this aspect of our new contract getting to a point of readiness in time for go live, and without his expertise and guidance it would not have been as effective as it was. We set up 3 x weekly meetings and and ran through outstanding tasks, and Stuart was extremely responsive and supportive throughout the whole process both via email and via the phone, always happy to answer the various questions that each partner had.

Within the 6 weeks of using the system there is clear advantages in comparison to the system that we were using before, and what is exciting is the potential features that we can look to tap into over the coming weeks and months. Ash’s training was also very helpful again methodical, taking time for thoughts and questions to come – we didn’t feel rushed! Functions such as planned reviews of equipment in care homes and advanced post code checker are all features that will no doubt help with our overall monitoring of community equipment provision and at the end of the helping safeguard taxpayers money!

Staff are adapting to the new system well and the future looks exciting!’”

Georgina Collier

Commissioning Manager

“The V&A procured the Pro-Cloud product from CSS in 2019 to support the decant of stored collections from our west London facility. We needed to be able to track the movement of collections as they were packed, loaded onto trucks, and re-located to the new storage facility in a way that was compliant with collections management standards.

We met with the CSS project team regularly to communicate our business needs and timelines. With their help, we were able to setup our locations, reporting, and understand how we could use Pro-Cloud to support the decant of over half a million items. We have been using the product for the last year and it has met our initial requirements. The support team are very responsive and provide ample guidance.“

V&A Museum

“We recently upgraded our TCES Community solution to the new design due to the perceived benefits it would bring us in managing our contract and controlling spend. The whole process has been very smooth and the support from Ash at CSS has been exceptional. CSS took the lead on planning and arranging training for prescribers (which received very positive feedback) and project managed the whole switchover, Ash guided us along the journey to ensure it went smoothly.

Following the switch over and the eventual switch off, of the old system, we have had little to no issues and prescribers have had no problem making the change, giving overwhelmingly positive feedback on the new system.

From a contract perspective, we have been able to take advantage of new features such as private and public forms and the address authorisation function and have overall greater control over the system settings – these changes have had a measurable, positive impact on our spend and improved the level of accountability in orders.

Thank you to Ash and CSS for all your help and support!”

Mark Rance

KICES Contract Manager

“We were due an upgrade from TCES Connections to TCES Community & finally took the plunge to get this started!

The team at CSS helped push this through & have guided us all along the way with what we needed to do, and how to progress with the upgrade. They have kept all the prescribers advised on what was happening & implemented a comprehensive training schedule.

This was quite a big task, but we’ve had minimal issues. The whole process was very organised, stress-free and efficient.

The new upgrade is great. CSS have helped build on an already good system by improving functionality & making it more visually pleasing.

I wanted to give a special thank you to Ash who drove this forward, kept me in the loop & answered all my questions.”

Jason Dhoffer, Warehouse Manager

CES Inspire Community Trust

“The BBC Archives procured the Pro-Cloud Product from CSS in 2017. We have worked together to tailor the Pro-Cloud Stock management Product to meet the BBC Archives specific requirements. CSS (Europe) provided features and functionality to enable precise storage management, auditing, and reporting of the BBC’s 7 million media assets.

The CSS team took the time to understand our business needs, including all the intricacies of such a historic Archive, and how we would like to use this system to deliver our business process; once launched, CSS (Europe) worked with the Archives team to migrate our data from our existing stock management product ensuring accuracy and rationalisation throughout the process.

CSS (Europe), having a clear understanding of our business process, have provided the training and training support for the users. This has been a straightforward and well documented process enabling the Product to be quickly adopted by the user base.

The Archives have been successfully using the product since its deployment – it meets our current requirements and we are satisfied that it will continue to do so.”

BBC Archives Team

“Somerset Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service were recently awarded to Medequip Assistive Technology and their partner CSS. As part of the service, we have been involved with CSS on the implementation of TCES Community. Transferring from one supplier to another has presented many challenges, some of which were related to systems. CSS have been very patient and hard working in assisting us with managing those challenges during our implementation.

With over 1000 prescribers accessing the system, the training was coordinated and delivered professionally. With the experience of CSS having managed this type of transition before they were able to balance the needs of prescribers by supplying system training in a timely way to ensure they were able to place orders with immediate effect upon the start of the contract.

Some of the highlights and benefits we are already receiving from the system include the flexibility of it to manage our own authorisation process, having access to great communication options with our staff and the backup of good support and development opportunities to meet our needs.

One of the greatest outcomes of having access to the system over our previous solution is control of what data we want to capture and the many ways we can use it to help us manage the service. A good example of this was being able to move a time-consuming equipment panel process to an online version which captures all the information we required and makes authorisation easy and straightforward.

I would recommend TCES as a system to anyone involved in community equipment or wheelchair provision. I would also highly recommend CSS as an organisation and in particular, I would like to thank Stuart and Ashley who provided our local support. Their patience and ‘can do attitude’ during a challenging time has been exemplary.

‘TCES really does enable the transformation of community equipment services!’”

Somerset County Council

“Before the Covid-19 pandemic arrived we in St John identified the need to replace an outdated method of recording our assets. Having just selected CSS to partner us on this journey and as the pandemic took hold we decided to press on with this transformation knowing that it would be a difficult ask for all concerned. As the core team worked on developing the solution and it’s implementation, St John volunteers had already given hundreds of thousands of hours of their time, supporting the NHS Ambulance Trusts, in hospitals and as part of vital community projects such as being asked to train staff volunteers from across all walks of life to deliver the COVID-19 vaccination programme. Knowing that we needed to continue to look forward and consider what the ‘new normal’ may look like we felt that having a solution such as Pro-Cloud was vital. This has been a great project to lead on behalf of the charity and the support received from the whole team at CSS has been outstanding throughout the tender, and pre implementation phases. They have proven to be reactive to our requests for small changes in processes and capabilities and delivered on three specific development work streams. We have created over 415 locations and in the region of 500 vehicles and spent 6 months ‘laying hands’ on all our equipment. We now continue to go from strength to strength and this improves our safety and governance for our patients and volunteers.”

Steve Eversfield, National Equipment Manager

St John Ambulance

“CDDFRS has found that BlueLight tasks and tests are relatively easy to set up and use as their guides are comprehensive in a step by step approach. We have over 35000 assets with over 500 individual tests set at frequency ranging from 1 day to 5 years. We like the fact that you can complete and generate a task on any Android or IOS device. We can monitor results and can get notifications of any task test results.

Before we had BlueLight if equipment had been swapped i.e move location, we would spend time and resources to ensure items were placed back in its new location as its history and test stay with it and will now show in its new location.

This has been a step forward for us moving from a paper-based system to a digital system. Allowing us to go paper light, freeing up time and resources which are needed for efficient and effective working.”

Neil Storey, Assurance & Assets

“It was clear from the tendering process that Pro-Cloud AMS was a quality product that could meet our requirements and provide a value for money solution. Since awarding the contract, the team at CSS (Europe) have proven themselves to be both responsive and supportive in their approach to working closely with our project deliver team to develop their core Pro-Cloud system into the BlueLight solution that is tailored to meet our specific needs as a fire and rescue service.

Although we are still in the rollout phase, we are pleased with how CSS (Europe) have struck the right balance between being receptive to feedback from our staff and providing their own constructive challenge back to us about how we can streamline and improve the existing processes we use to managing our operational equipment assets that are so critical to our role protecting the communities of County Durham and Darlington.”

Andrew Hopkinson, Area Manager, Head of Assurance and Assets

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service

Staff Feedback: “We are confident that the investment we have made, supported by the good relationship we have developed with CSS (Europe), will soon begin to pay for itself as well as greatly improving visibility and assurance that we are getting the best out of our operational assets and minimising our whole-life costs. So much so, that we are already making plans to utilise the BlueLight system to manage other assets across our organisation. Based on progress to date, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend another FRS to invite CSS (Europe) to tender for their AMS.”

“Calderdale has recently purchased a modern warehouse management IT system from Creative Software Solutions (Europe) Limited (CSS) which support the Loan Store services provided to patients/service users, and is run in partnership between the council and the hospital.

After viewing a number of different systems, the CSS system of ‘Pro-Cloud’ and ‘TCES’ were by far superior to other systems and a joint decision was made to purchase this system. Pro-Cloud is the warehouse system and TCES is a catalogue style equipment ordering system. Both work concurrently to ensure the stock management, ordering and delivery services work in unison to provide a smooth service to patients/service user who require equipment and provides clear delivery information to the clinicians ordering equipment.

Working closely with a dedicated Project Lead from CSS (and support team), the implementation was completed successfully and comfortably within a 10 weeks timescale. There was no slippage and in fact the service was delivered a week early. Weekly conference calls were held and all personnel involved in the programme of work were kept fully informed on progress. During this time various IT extracts were taken from our old legacy system and migrated to the new system. Thorough testing was undertaken (both system and user) to ensure the information was in the right format. Over 350 people were trained by a dedicated CSS trainer to use the system in a timely manner which was well received by our clinicians.

We developed a great relationship with CSS and aftercare has been provided by a dedicated CSS Account Manager who has support Calderdale Loan Store personnel long after the launch. There is also a Helpline for users to contact if they have any technical issues which is manned with system experts.

This system is well worth the investment as the benefits to clinicians and patients/service users are outstanding. The new system has streamlined processes from Calderdale and is making the lives of anyone using the system – from warehouse staff to end users – so much easier.

Since going live with the system, additional modules have been explored to expand the functionality of the system further which is providing more benefits to all system users.”

Ann Ogilvie, Project Manager

Calderdale MBC

“I would like to pass on my sincere thanks to all of you for all the work that you have put into setting up and implementing TCES in Fife. I know that there have been many challenges to get to the finishing line, but I am very glad to say that we have made it to launch day. I want to say thank you all for your professionalism, patience and determination to get the job done despite the difficulties encountered. I thought when COVID-19 arrived that we would struggle to get to this day, so I am very happy tonight that we are going ahead tomorrow as planned.

I am looking forward to working with you over the next month to bed TCES in and going forward with CSS to get the system well embedded in Fife.

Thank you for an excellent job well done.”

Anne McAlpine, Clinical Service Manager

Fife Council

“NYFRS evaluated several asset management systems on the market prior to its decision of awarding BlueLight the contract based on its potential compatibility of use within the fire and rescue sector. CSS & NYFRS have worked closely & continue to work in developing BlueLight as an essential asset management tool with a smooth end user experience for the wider service. The transition away from a database paper based system to a ‘live’ asset managed platform has already had a massive impact through accurate catalogue data, stores management, control of external testing & operational lifespans of equipment in the field through to appliance inventories and scheduled testing on station. NYFRS supplies personnel & crews on station have all embraced the BlueLight system and are seeing the benefits of their own personal ownership of the system. The end user engagement in BlueLight was at the forefront of the NY project ensuring that the system was easy to use thereby maintaining its data accuracy.”

Paul Wright

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

“The process has been rigorous throughout and, we are pleased with the outcome. It future proofs our compliance, allows us to track and trace assets for product recall reasons, assists with budget setting and much more. The scanner and barcode technology has made the process much more efficient which is an additional benefit. The team has worked extremely well together throughout the transition.”

Mark Naylor

Head of Response and Resilience

“The Derbyshire contract has used the clinical assessment tool to monitor and shape decision making regards pressure care mattresses. The CSS lead for this project has been instrumental in developing this tool through partnership working with the commissioning team and their equipment lead practitioners. Amendments to the tool have been required, as sometimes there are unexpected consequences, and wording used in questionnaires changed to accomplish the desired results. Recommendation made by the tool have harmonised equipment prescription, and supported junior staff to understand the critical elements of safe prescription. The CSS lead has clinical experience and this has been a great asset in forging a shared understanding of how the project is progressing. We have noted quick turnaround on amendments to the questionnaire, good levels of support on implementation and advice freely shared on lessons learned by other similar projects. What has been particularly impressive regards this project lead for these tools is a flexibility to acknowledge issues arising, but an openness to change and the request of improvement from their software development team.”

Gareth Hughes, Lead Practitioner

Derbyshire Council (Integrated Community Equipment Stores: ICES)

“We procured the services of CSS and TCES in April 2018, the whole experience has been positive.

We were initially advised that an implementation of such a service is recommended and envisaged to take a minimum of 5 months. Ceredigion County Council were in such a predicament that this length of time was not an options. This was discussed in length with CSS and unbelievably we managed to implement this service in under 3 weeks. The company used all their resources and manpower to aid this process and made the whole process extremely organised, stress-free and efficient. The process allowed our service to remain functional, maintain service standards and ultimately did not have a negative effect on our service users.

My initial concern when procuring the ‘new’ system was the training aspect – training for internal Staff and the prescribers using the system. Again, CSS made this process extremely easy and stress free. They provided us with enough manpower and resources to carry out the training process for all staff in fewer than 6 working days. We could not ask for better!

Implementing this system has allowed our service to finally become ‘paper free’. We no longer require the use of paper prescriptions and all delivery staff are able to use their hand held devices effectively and efficiently. This has greatly reduced the amount of admin work required by the office staff and most communication between our service staff and clinicians/prescribers can be done online. As with every new implementation, we have and continue to experience the odd ‘hick-up’ and glitch. This was envisaged and understandably unavoidable in areas. The customer services team and IT support have been excellent for us and issues are looked at and sorted in a timely manner. They remain in constant communication with us and feedback at every opportunity. Again reducing the amount of stress for staff members and prescribers.

I would highly recommend this service to others and our service has certainly gained from procuring this system. The whole experience has been positive!”

Ywain Ap Dylan, ICES Manager

Ceredigion ICES: Ceredigion Independent Living Centre

“Sunderland Care and Support Ltd engaged with CSS with a view to purchasing a new asset management system for the Community Equipment Store. Once we had made the decision that the system met all of our requirements we were very quickly supported by a strong team to progress to implementation. The CSS team supported us to engage with partners about the transition and set out very clear expectations about what would be required from us and steered a project group to achieve go live of the TCES / Pro-Cloud system. Their experienced project team had a visible presence during the early stages and their support team have been available to help since then to help troubleshoot.

Given that the new system presented such a major shift from our old paper based ways of working, the transition went smoothly and we have received positive feedback from front end and back end users alike. From a management perspective, we now have live and accurate data as well as a clear audit trail of activity. Significant back office efficiencies have been made in terms of freeing up staff time, a reduction in abortive work and also a reduction in paper.

We would undoubtedly recommend TCES / Pro-Cloud to new users and would be more than happy to demonstrate the system to prospective users.”

Gill Lawson, Senior Operations Manager

Sunderland Care and Support Ltd