professional presentation
Connections magazine
July 2009

A year ago, NIgel Davey decided to purchase NICEIC software to centralise his company's certification processes. One year on he assesses the benefits it's provided as well at the challenges posed.

In 2008 I decided to investigate software packages to help us complete our electrical safety certificates. With six electricians all completing their own certificates, I wanted to streamline, modernise and centralise our certification process.

The first thing on my action plan was to trial the various products available. I'd read about the new NICEIC software package, so called for a demo. After installing the software I found it easy to use, it looked good and I liked the fact you could print certificates out directly onto plain paper.

I decided to go with NICEIC certification software, mainly because the other products I had looked at had high ongoing yearly fees and I would still have had to purchase certificates to print on. The lower price of electronic certificate numbers was very appealing.

My next challenge was learning how to use it and then rolling it out across the company. I called NICEIC technical support to help me out with a few problems and they soon got me up and running and gave me an online demo.

I recently experienced a problem with importing and exporting certificates and when I called support they answered the phone straight away, took over my computer with the live help function and fixed it.

I've called support probably about three times in 12 months and any problems have been sorted out very quickly. Ideally, I feel the support line should be free as I've invested in the software, but I don't mind paying the 10p per minute.

Generally the software is very easy to use - showing the other electricians and apprentices how to use it was stress-free. They now fill in all their test results onsite and its very easy for us to rectify any mistakes made.

We take laptops (we also have one tough-book) out onsite and fill in the required information whilst on the customer's premises. We have the software installed on one computer in the office and then we import the certificates back to the office computer.

The guys in the field get on with it very well and fill our most of the information on the certificates without any problems. If they have a query they can bring the laptop back to the office so we can adjust it before clicking "complete".

NICEIC has been adding in more certificates since the release last June, but we are waiting for a fire alarm installation certificate to be included.

We also still have to purchased pads of certificates for minor works as we leave the top copy with the customer. We aren't ready to start carrying printers around with us yet. There are a few other features I would like to see, such as the ability to log planned maintenance work and a diary. I know that electronic signatures are coming soon and I'm looking forward to using that feature.

The software has made the presentation of our certificates a lot neater and easier for our customers to read; they now all look the same and are in a printed format. Certificates are much quicker to complete and we're not losing money on void certificates. Although we aren't working any differently, its made our business look a lot more professional.

* Electronic signatures were released in June and certificate FIM - fire alarm installation certificate - (green) will be released in July.

Nigel Davey is owner of Davey Electrical, based in Cornwall.

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