HSE Releases Mesothelioma statistics for Great Britain, 2022

Our friends at NORAC have just signposted that the HSE has released the Mesothelioma statistics for 2022.

The HSE report is, not surprisingly, a sobering read but also takes an unexpected look at the relationship between the coronavirus pandemic and mesothelioma deaths.

Read the full HSE report here

We support the Mavis Nye Foundation and Mesothelioma UK in the work they do in support of sufferers of asbestos-related diseases.  We urge you to join us and do all you can to support them and their work.

Release 38 of Alpha Tracker is a monster! 600 improvements to enjoy

Welcome to this monster update of asbestos software Alpha Tracker - Release 38! It's the biggest update we've ever produced, with more than 600 new features, performance updates and bug fixes.

Here's a 10-minute video to run through the most important changes - it's worth a watch:

(you can also watch the video here: https://youtu.be/0zK20TzZ9-A)

The six highlights are:

1. Much faster login - it will be half the normal time, typically
   
   
2. A new favourites bar for quick access to the features you use the most
   
   
3. Sample barcodes and improved chain of custody
   
   
4. Instant quotes (you'll need to ask us to enable this - it needs a quick template change)
   
   
5. A smoother invoicing process from start to finish
   
   
6. Map scheduling - perfect for busy consultancies doing lots of domestic surveying.

Kim's release notes are live here: https://www.start-software.com/tracker/alpha-tracker/release-notes/.  You'll also find a highlights document so that you don't need to read all of the notes to find the best new features!

The new highlights document - a one-pager that's worth reading

Hope you enjoy the update and the hard work the team have put in to get it ready.  

If you need help or have any questions, get in touch 24x7 (UK or Aus/NZ).

Important Google Calendar Sync alert. Google have changed their process and you may be disrupted. Please read

If you have connected your Alpha Tracker diaries to Google Calendars via our Calendar Sync service, you may find that your appointments are not syncing properly.

Google has made a change to the way that apps like Calendar Sync can communicate with their systems, including Google Calendar.  We have updated the app and been in touch with Google, but we are having to wait for them to verify our app again before they will enable seamless syncing again.

We are sorry if you are disrupted by this Google change.  If you contact our help desk (UK or Aus/NZ) will be able to talk you through some options and workarounds.

Meet ZenLegal, the latest Alpha Legal subscribers

Meet ZenLegal! The legal specialists at Zenco are our latest Alpha Legal subscribers and they have an amazing 4.9 score on Trustpilot - a real feather in their cap and a demonstration of the quality service they provide to their clients.

ZenLegal has a terrific website here at www.zenco.com and this explains how they work, their prices, the range of services they provide (including Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Trusts) and how to book an appointment.  All very easy and straightforward.

Visit the ZenLegal website at www.zenco.com

ZenLegal welcomes new clients for all of their services, and for Trusts in particular.  Do get in touch with them and mention Alpha Legal when you do!

Asbestos round-table meeting in London today - we're helping to move agenda forward to make the UK asbestos-safe

Sir Stephen Timms MP joined our director Robin along with asbestos industry friends and colleagues today at a round-table meeting to discuss asbestos management in the UK.  

Chaired by ResPublica, and inspired by asbestos campaigners Charles Pickles, Mavis Nye and Liz Darlison, the meeting discussed the Select Committee report, the Government's response to it, and what should be done next.

Our asbestos software Alpha Tracker holds asbestos information about millions of buildings in the UK and we'll be using all of this data to help provide the evidence needed to convince Government to change the way that asbestos is managed.  Our OpenAsbestos initiative was also mentioned as it will help to support the UKNAR proposals to make a national asbestos database a reality.

Meetings like this are sometimes a bit of a challenge, but this was a joy, with the icing on the cake being a hug from Mavis, too!

Robin with asbestos campaigners Mavis and Ray Nye after the meeting

There was even time for some sightseeing on the way back to the train.

It's been a while since I've seen the Houses of Parliament without scaffolding

Big Ben was looking in fine fettle

London does the pomp & ceremony so well! London was full of foreign tourists

What's it all about, Alfi?! Look out for our new Alfi app in the Google & Apple app stores

If you're as old as me, you'll remember Cilla Black singing the classic song, "What's it all about, Alfie".  If you're not, try watching this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glpIgnmKrZc and at least you'll understand the reference in the title of this blog post!

Our new Alfi app is about to hit the App Stores (Google & Apple) and it replaces the Family Finances app which has been a companion to our Alpha Legal secure portal for more than a year.

We'll blog again soon to let you know about all of the amazing new features which will benefit all Alpha Legal subscribers and their clients, including:

• notifications direct to the app... keep in touch with your clients wherever they are and whatever device they use
  
  
• a fantastic new homepage dashboard with the client's net worth front-and-centre
  
  
• Fact Finds direct to your client, either personal or probate-related
  
  
• secure document sharing from you to your client or your client to you
  
  
• an ever-lasting and secure digital vault for your client to store their most precious information.

If you'd like more information about Alfi and what it can do for you and your clients, get in touch!

Release 38 of Alpha Tracker - our biggest update *ever* - is rolling out to customers this week

We've finally wrapped up Alpha Tracker Release 38, our biggest update to asbestos software Alpha Tracker, ever!

You'll immediately notice that it is much faster to sign in compared to previous versions, and you'll notice that it looks cleaner and easier to navigate. 

It might take you a few moments to notice the "stars" on the menu items - these allow you to build your own personalised favourites bar at the top of the screen - a huge time-saver!

Click the "stars" on your favourite items to build your own menu bar 

Another amazing new feature is our map scheduling screen which is perfect for busy consultancies working with domestic surveys, in particular.

Our new Map Scheduling screen will even produce an optimised driving route for your surveyors!

 

Some of the other new features include:

• a completely rewritten Wallboard for income forecasting, see https://blog.start-software.com/2022/06/our-new-wallboard-will-be-available-in.html
  
  
• a new chain of custody feature for sample tracking using barcoded sample labels, see https://blog.start-software.com/2022/06/new-chain-of-custody-features-now-in.html
  
  
• faster quote production so that documents are produced in real-time with selectable templates and Ts&Cs 
  
  
• an improved invoice workflow, especially helpful to larger clients wanting to link to Xero and other online accounts packages
  
  
• new options for system deployment including IIS (for larger clients wanting better performance or integration with other Windows systems and networks, including single sign-on).

Watch out for our Release 38 video and the new release notes document, both coming next week.