Cook highlighted two key objectives for development of the company’s aBILLity billing platform, used by over 550 communication providers in the UK. First are new enhancements and an increase in the deployment of the aBILLity web client. Accessible from any device with a web browser, the web client app features an enhanced user interface that is simple and intuitive to use, providing access to much of the functionality aBILLity has to offer.
Second is migrating partners still hosting aBILLity on-premise, to the hosted platform in Union Street’s data centre. Over half of aBILLity partners have made the switch to Cloud Hosted Billing, and roughly 80 percent of new partners go straight onto the cloud platform. Head of Sales and Marketing, Vincent Disneur, added that in the run up to 2018, incentives have been introduced to make hosting with Union Street an even more attractive option for partners.
Staff were also appraised of the success of Union Street’s ‘Streets Ahead’ initiative. Introduced in December 2016, this initiative focuses on refining the company’s culture and values, particularly in regard to software development, and providing an outstanding experience for all Union Street’s partners. The Streets Ahead initiative also increases employee engagement, making Union Street a great place to work through the introduction of management feedback, a recognition/reward programme, a range of staff benefits and improving the working environment.
Summarising Disneur stated, “aBILLity’s web client is easy to use and looks amazing. The feedback we’ve received from partners has been brilliant, so our goal is to make the web client the primary interface for the platform by 2019. Our Cloud Hosted Billing service, powered by Microsoft Azure, offers the benefits of a SAAS solution for our partners at an extremely cost-effective price point. And we have a highly motivated team of nearly 100 staff determined to deliver the highest levels of customer service. The prospects for 2018 are excellent.”