Two key processes usually performed manually by Housebuilders have been automated by the release of new modules to the COINS specialist, integrated housebuilder solution.

 The new Cost Value Reconciliation (CVR) module integrates a task often performed on stand-alone spreadsheets, which take time to produce and are therefore often inaccurate and out of date. With increasing pressure on margins, claiming value as quickly as possible after costs have been incurred is becoming more and more essential.

 Developed initially for the North London Gas Infrastructure (NGLI) project, an alliance between The National Grid and Skanska McNicholas plc, the CVR module has been adapted for the specialist needs of all COINS housebuilder solution users.

 As reported in the Autumn 2007 edition of the COINS Newsletter, preparing the CVRs on the NGLI project manually took 5 days and comprised 18 separate spreadsheets.

 One of the first tasks was to run the new CVR software retrospectively to reconcile the previous manual CVRs to the system-produced data.

One result of this was to reveal errors in the manual CVRs (for example in the percentage value to be billed per the contract) enabling the alliance to increase the reported earned value. Similar benefits are expected for housebuilders.

The new module will extract data already in COINS to produce flexible, screen-based or paper CVR reports on demand with a full audit trail. Surveyor adjustments will be enabled, as will varying formats of reports and review via dashboards.

 The other new module Lettings is aimed at streamlining the end-toend lettings process, again often currently performed inefficiently and inaccurately on separate spreadsheets or other documents.

The first release of the software handles the management of the properties including matching prospective tenants with available properties and ensuring that all necessary procedures are followed at the beginning and end of each tenancy. The second release, later this year, will cover the financial transactions including collecting rents from tenants and paying them over to landlords.