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The SDS blog
We provide support and guidance, external challenge, sharing good practice, industry knowledge and practical insights as well as being a valuable resource for councils on the next stage of their digital journey.
Introduction to Agile
SDS have been delivering live and interactive training courses to Project Managers across Ashford Borough Council introducing them to agile ways of working.
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East Sussex Building Control Process Review
SDS have reviewed the East Sussex Building Control Partnership’s business processes, to explore ways to enhance customer experience and improve efficiency.
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The importance of user testing when redesigning your website
Waverley Borough Council approached Smarter Digital Services (SDS) to assist them with conducting user testing on their new website.
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Redesigning your website to get visitors to their goal
When Southern Building Control Partnership (SBCP) decided to build a new website, they took advantage of a variety of services offered by Smarter Digital Services, to create and build a website that would cater for their customers’ needs and allow...
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Development of the Kent Homechoice Homelessness Triage Tool
Kent Homechoice commissioned SDS to develop a new and updated version of the Kent Homechoice Homelessness Triage Tool.
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Accessible online documents e-learning course
SDS have developed an e-learning course on how to create accessible Word and PDF documents for online publication.
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Customer Insight Training
SDS recently delivered two live and interactive courses on user research and customer journey mapping for Wealden District Council staff via MS Teams.
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Sending effective text messages
SDS outline ways to tailor your text messages to make them more effective.
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Voice in Local Government-Smart Speaker Uses
Our Voice Discovery Research explores the current uses of smart speakers and the potential benefits of using smart speakers to access council services.
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Text Messaging in Local Government
SDS has compiled a list of useful applications for SMS notifications in local government.
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Learn how GDS is monitoring accessibility compliance
Website accessibility regulations came into force on 23 September 2018. This means that public sector bodies have a legal obligation to meet accessibility requirements for their websites.
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Bitesize Training Videos Now Available
We have been busy converting our workshops and training sessions into bitesize videos. These videos are freely available to all our partners and can be tailored to meet your specific training needs.
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Digital Led Recovery from COVID-19
Three local authorities share with us some of their digital responses to COVID-19 followed by a discussion of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
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Top 5 Benefits of GOV.UK Pay
We have researched the key market leaders in payment solutions and found that GOV.UK pay meets many of the user needs we have identified.
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Voice in local government – outlining the market
SDS are exploring the viability of voice technology within local government. The first phase of the project focused on discovery research, outlining current market trends, uses and demographics.
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Book and Pay Project – Facilitating Workshops Virtually
SDS have completed a book and pay project on behalf on the London Borough of Bexley. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, SDS used a new online tool to enable the team to facilitate process capture workshops virtually. Using this tool,...
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Mastering Online Documents Webinar
Here is a quick summary of the recent public webinar we delivered on mastering online documents.
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Simplifying IVR routing and scripting
Ashford Borough Council commissioned SDS to work on their existing IVR system to ensure that users were getting the best experience from the service provided.
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SDS supporting partners to meet accessibility regulations
We are working with lots of our partners to help them prepare for the accessibility deadline by carrying high-level audits, assessing current PDFs for accessibility and training staff.
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Completely free COVID19 support bot
SDS recently caught up with Paul Shepherd, CEO of We Build Bots, to find out how they are supporting Local Authorities and the wider Public Sector with their COVID 19 bot.
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