06 Aug 2024
Leeds Autism Services are a charity dedicated to helping create a more autism friendly society. They have been helping autistic people reach their true potential for over 30 years.
This week we spoke to Faith Parmenter from the charity, Leeds Autism Services, about the way that Predict helped her team to run a successful tender and scale their mobile communications estate.
Q: Can you tell us how you purchased and maintained your mobile communication services before Predict?
A: Before using Predict, we didn’t have a significant need for many mobile lines. I’ve been with the organization for eight years, and we only provided contract phones to Managers and senior staff. Our Support Workers didn’t need them initially.
However, COVID-19 changed everything. As a charity, we couldn’t shut down, and we had to continue providing support. Around that time, we also moved to using SharePoint and switched our phones to the cloud, eliminating landlines. As a result, we needed to start issuing phones to Support Workers so they could work remotely, access documents, and file reports. We also wanted to provide the means for them to stay in touch and stay safe during lone working periods. Previously, Support Workers used their own phones to do this
We needed these phones quite urgently, so I started to request quotes for around 100 lines. Initially, it seemed straightforward, but each supplier had different answers and packages. Some would ask for existing quotes just to undercut them. It became impossible to do a like-for-like comparison and I was overwhelmed by the varying packages and features, making it a nightmare to manage.
Q: What made you choose Predict?
A: Initially I contacted larger networks like O2 and Virgin for quotes, but I was also searching for charities or Community Interest Companies (CICs) that might help, as we prefer to partner with other charities if possible. By chance, I found Good Call, who offered to provide a quote, but they also recommended that we contact Predict so that we could run a supplier tender. It felt like the answer to our prayers.
We’ve just renewed our contract, and while we went out to tender again using Predict, we decided to stay with Good Call. The process assured us we weren’t missing out on a better deal, even though we chose to stay loyal to Good Call for their excellent service.
Q: Can you describe your experience of the tendering process using Predict?
A: It was incredibly easy. The team was brilliant to work with – they guided me through the platform, helped me register, and populated the necessary information. I’m not particularly tech-savvy, but the platform was user-friendly. Predict handled the initial setup, and after that, it was straightforward. The platform allowed me to see everything clearly, and Predict’s support made the process seamless. It was the best decision we ever made.
Q: What did you value most about that process?
A: Several things stood out. Firstly, the time saved was immense. Previously, I spent a lot of time calling different suppliers and getting varied information. With Predict, I could easily compare different offers and analyse the data. The customer support team was always quick to respond, which was crucial when working on tight deadlines.
Additionally, we saved a lot of money by finding the best deal through Predict.
Q: Are there any areas that could be improved or any features that could be added?
A: Predict is continuously improving the platform. When we go to tender next time, we’ll be able to manage even more of the process ourselves since the system is already set up. I can’t think of any specific improvements because the platform is already very comprehensive and forward-thinking. They seem to anticipate our needs before we even realise them. We just wish that Predict existed for other services we procure and manage like our IT.
Q: What sort of data do you look at when doing the tendering process?
A: Price is the biggest factor, followed by area coverage to ensure our support workers have reliable data and coverage. We also prefer online billing to easily track phone usage, distinguishing between work and personal use. The ease of contacting the network for resolving issues is another important criterion. These factors help us filter and select the best supplier offers according to our needs.
Q: Would you recommend Predict to someone else?
A: Absolutely. I wish someone had introduced Predict to us earlier, even for the managers’ phones. As our current contracts expire, we’ll look to consolidate everything through Predict. I highly recommend them for the ease of use, money saved, and the reliable support. It’s a brilliant tool, especially for a charity like ours where budget and efficiency are crucial.
To learn more, book a call or email us at: info@predictmobile.com.
