All MDS (Tracker Mobile) Android glitches are now resolved - thanks for your patience

We've had a few irritating issues with MDS (Tracker Mobile) over the last few days, relating to Android updates affecting handsets.  In particular, you might have seen:

• the Android "back, home and switch" buttons overlaying the Tracker Mobile "Connect" and "Settings" buttons
  
  
• the on-screen keyboard being shown on top of text boxes (making it difficult to read the text below)
  
  
• problems pressing "Connect" and "Settings".

All of these issues are now resolved with the latest Mobile Data update from the Google Play Store.

Our Tracker Mobile issues are now resolved

Thanks for your patience - despite all of our testing, we can sometimes be caught out with Android updates and this one was difficult to troubleshoot.

Away Day brings Traction to our software teams

Our Away Day in central Birmingham brought our Start and CTT software leaderships teams together to discuss plans and challenges.

Joining us was the inspirational Ian Groves from Start Tech who brought his passion for the EOS/Traction business development process to us over lunch.

Andrew listening to Ian enthusing about his Traction journey

Dan & Catherine

Mickey & Dan

Might Traction be the next step for Start Software?

Our CTO Jack

Jack, Andrew, Dan

Dan & Catherine

We used "Spaces" at the Lewis Building for our Away Day - recommended

Discussing Support over a coffee

Dan, Jack & Robin studying financial forecasts

Mickey, Catherine, Dan, Andrew

Also - a big thanks to our good friend and inspiration Andrew Bedwell (https://www.facebook.com/p/Big-C-Atlantic-Challenge-100082612007911/?locale=en_GB) for sending us this video!

Release 41.6 is going down a storm! The release notes and release video are now available

Alpha Tracker Release 41.6 is now reaching client servers and our Alpha Tracker Cloud.  More than 400 improvements have made it into this release, including some important security enhancements and the new Australian risk scoring algorithm.

We've finished the Release Notes document and highlights video, too.

Click to watch the Release 41.6 Highlights video on YouTube

Product Manager Jack's Top 10 Highlights are these:

1. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is introduced in this release, adding an optional extra layer of security by requiring a second step to verify your identity when signing in.  In other words, you'll need your phone as well as your user name & password
   
   
2. As another security feature, individual passwords can be set for MDS and managed from within Alpha Tracker and Alpha Tracker Mobile.  This will increase security for your asbestos surveyors
   
   
3. The Lab Sample Exchange feature is launched, enabling easy sending of sample data to Alpha Tracker labs and returning of analysis results and certificates
   
   
4. AI summaries have been introduced on various screens
   
   
5. The new risk assessment scoring method for the Australian regulations is now available and you can switch it on for individual clients
   
   
6. Changes to milestones allow for the Project Type on a project changing and for No Access to Site not to register as data received in the project
   
   
7. We've made it easier to control permissions for Client Portal logins
   
   
8. There are additional controls managing who can edit diary appointments
   
   
9. It is now even easier to close a batch of projects helping you to keep your database tidy
   
   
10. A new tab on Project Types lets you easily see which qualifications are required for a Project Type if you use the Staff Training Matrix.

Read the Highlights document and Release Notes here: https://alpha-tracker.co.uk/latest-release

You can watch the highlights video on YouTube here or by clicking below:

Has your Android phone or tablet updated to Android 15? Are you finding the buttons on Tracker Mobile difficult to press?

Some of our asbestos Tracker Mobile (Mobile Data) Android users are having issues with the button placement on the home screen after their devices have updated to Android 15.

If you're having issues in the highlighted area, update your Mobile Data app

An update from the Google Play Store will fix this for you.  Please update your app to the latest version (published 4 August 2025) and the problem will be resolved.

Our final summer webinar is on Wednesday 20 August at noon (BST) - join us!

Dan & Kim are running our final summer Alpha Tracker webinar on Wednesday 20 August at noon (UK time).

Dan modelling a hard hat - all a bit disturbing, really

Register for free here https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4mflGyntTMaIFbtInEPNbw and learn about the various methods for designing and completing risk assessments within Alpha Tracker.

The webinar will benefit asbestos, water hygiene and hazmat users of Alpha Tracker who need their staff to complete risk assessments of any type before starting site work.  See you at the webinar!

Another 90%+ month for the Support Desk! Congrats Zac & team

Our Support Team resolved 977 tickets in July 2025.  

We ask each caller "When do you need this resolved by?" and that's how we measure our performance.  In July, 91% of all tickets were resolved in the caller's stated timescale, and 98% of high priority tickets were solved on time.  That's quite a performance!

Zac and Melika reviewing a sticky ticket

We're improving our automatic ticket emails this month so watch this space!

Sorry! Alpha Draw has a temporary problem on Android 14 (and older). Android 15+ and iOS (Apple) devices are OK

We're sorry, but our site plan drawing app, Alpha Draw, is experiencing a problem on devices running older versions of Android (14, 13 and older).  It is fine on Android 15, Android 16 and iOS (Apple) phones and tablets.

Sorry - Alpha Draw is having issues on older Android versions

We'll fix the issue as soon as we can.  In the meantime, please use a newer device if you can (or allow your phone/tablet to update to a later Android version).

Contact Support (UK or Aus/NZ) for more information.

You can now change your Alpha Tracker (and Tracker Mobile/MDS) password within our Alpha Tracker Mobile app

There's a new version of Alpha Tracker Mobile in the app stores (Google and Apple).

This upgrade gives staff the means to change their Alpha Tracker password and Tracker Mobile/MDS (asbestos site data capture) password within the app with no need to log into a laptop.

Do contact Support if you need any more information or help.

Our Asbestos Re-inspection webinar is available on YouTube and our website

Our 18th(!) Alpha Tracker webinar is now available to watch on YouTube and our website.

Jack talking about the "push" asbestos re-inspection process

Kim, Robin & Jack explain the recommended ways to undertake asbestos re-inspections in Alpha Tracker. Learn the back-office and site processes involved and the key choice between the office-led "push" method and the surveyor-led "pull" process.

Click the video above or watch at alpha-tracker.co.uk/webinars.

Register to watch our upcoming webinar about risk assessments here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4mflGyntTMaIFbtInEPNbw

Congratulations Judy, Jaime & Leanne - Alpha Tracker Pty's best year ever

Many congratulations to our South Australia-based Alpha Tracker team - Director Judy along with Jaime & Leanne!

Congratulation Judy!

It looks like it has been the best year ever for our Australian & New Zealand Alpha Tracker business.  A raft of new consultancy, university and Health Board clients have helped the team to grow.

Many of our UK Alpha Tracker customers will also know Judy (especially) well - she often helps with UK asbestos report templates as well as helping Product Manager Jack with new feature ideas.

Judy and team pinged over quick celebratory selfies!

Judy & Jaime

Leanne

 

Welcome TRAC Associates - our latest Alpha Tracker asbestos consultancy

It's great to have some of the asbestos surveyors from TRAC Associates here today, working with Alpha Tracker Specialist Kim in our training suite.  TRAC are here to learn basics of the Alpha Tracker asbestos software including how to complete asbestos surveys using our site data capture app.

The TRAC asbestos consultants with Kim

TRAC Associates specialises in identifying and managing asbestos risk for commercial and public-sector clients across the UK. With decades of combined experience, their team works confidently across a wide variety of buildings and operational environments — from schools and hospitals to complex redevelopment projects.

They are known for delivering high-quality services under demanding operational conditions and tight commercial timescales, always remaining responsive to their clients' priorities without compromising on safety or quality.

With strong technical competencies, sector-specific qualifications, and deep construction industry experience, TRAC Associates is often engaged from the early design stages of complex projects through to the safe removal of asbestos. Their involvement helps reduce risk and supports informed decision-making at every phase of a redevelopment scheme.

Their services include detailed asbestos surveying, real-time air monitoring, and strategic risk management consultancy — all aimed at helping clients remain compliant, protected, and in control.

Core Services:

• Asbestos Surveying – Accurate identification of asbestos-containing materials.
• Air Monitoring – Ensuring environmental safety during and after asbestos works.
• Risk Management – Strategic support to manage and mitigate asbestos risks across the built environment.

We are delighted to be working with TRAC and supporting their growth through the use of Alpha Tracker.

Free asbestos re-inspection webinar next Wednesday at 12:00 noon

Would you like to know more about how Alpha Tracker can manage your asbestos re-inspections?

Join Kim and team on our free Zoom webinar on Wednesday 16 June at noon.

Join Kim and team for our asbestos re-inspections webinar

We'll be covering:

• different ways you can create a re-inspection in Alpha Tracker
  
  
• how to send data immediately to a surveyor already on site
  
  
• how to mark data to be sent at a future time - so-called "pending" re-inspections
  
  
• how surveyors can manage their own re-inspections, saving you admin time
  
  
• how to (re)send re-inspection items to a handset at any time
  
  
• the Client Portal view of re-inspected data
  
  
• how the Alpha Tracker Mobile app works in conjunction with desktop Alpha Tracker

We'll be taking questions during the webinar, too, so ask anything you want!

Click to register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hyxOLc2oR8efyXiOmJiyvw

Watch the recordings of all our Alpha Tracker webinars: https://alpha-tracker.co.uk/webinars

10K for 10K! The Alpha Tracker team mark the 10,000th software update in Alpha Tracker with a 10K run

Alpha Tracker has reached a major milestone - the 10,000th software update!

Each time Jack and his team finalise an Alpha Tracker software change, they "commit" it to our software source control system.  This process is carefully controlled and forms part of our ISO9001 Quality Control system.  Each change is numbered and - incredibly - we have now reached the milestone of 10,000 updates committed.

The 10,000th update wasn't particularly memorable or special (it fixed a problem with drawings and certificates when reinspecting hazmat data!) but it is quite an achievement.  By the way, Release 41.6 of Alpha Tracker is in final testing now with Release 42 well underway and on track for an autumn release.  

To mark the occasion, some of the Alpha Tracker team committed to running the Shrewsbury 10K.  Yesterday was the big day, with Dan leading the field (finishing in an impressive 44 minutes).  The Shrewsbury 10K is particularly hilly and challenging, so it was brilliant to see all of the team finish so strongly.

The Alpha Tracker 10K for 10K team

Congratulations to Product Manager Jack for continuing the innovation and development in Alpha Tracker and well done Kim, El, Dan, Robin, Jamie, Jack, Mary & Catherine for being part of a very special morning.  Marina, Laura & Hannah couldn't squeeze into the photo but were brilliant supporters.

The after-run brunch at Hickory's went down a treat!

All smiles after the event

Would you like a discussion about Alpha Tracker and what it can do for your asbestos, water hygiene or fire consultancy?  Our constant innovation and desire to improve directly benefit our environmental consultancy users.  Get in touch! (UK or Aus/NZ) 

Support Desk performance - June 2025

Our Support Desk team in June resolved 761 tickets across all of our software systems.  We helped... 

• asbestos surveyors (Alpha Tracker)
• water hygiene technicians (Alpha Tracker)
• legal advisors and will writers (Alpha Legal/Legacy Portal)
• ecological consultants (ecoScribe)
• CleanUpBritain supporters (RoadVlog)
• and many, many more!

Here's Dan & Lucas helping a caller earlier today:

Dan & Lucas (pretending to answer the phone)

97.4% of callers were happy with their ticket response in June, let's hope that Lucas's caller will be another happy customer when we look at July's statistics!

From the Palace of Westminster to Mesothelioma UK's HQ - the portrait of Mavis & Ray Nye is on the move again

Our Alpha Tracker director Robin and UKNAR's Andrew Paten were on the road on Thursday moving the beautiful portrait painting of asbestos campaigners Mavis & Ray Nye.

For the last few months, it has been hanging in the Palace of Westminster, in Sir Stephen Timms' office.  Sir Stephen has taken an active interest in asbestos policy in the UK since become the Chairman of the Work & Pension Committee in the previous government.

The portrait of Mavis & Ray with Sir Stephen

The next location is going to be Mesothelioma UK's Loughborough's HQ so we had to start the process of moving the picture from London to the Midlands.

Andrew & Robin boxed it up, took it out of Portcullis House, then headed off.

Andrew outside Portcullis House

Robin waiting for a taxi (which didn't arrive)

... perhaps a bus?

It had to be a Tube!

The painting is now waiting in a safe London space waiting for the courier to collect and deliver to Meso UK to be proudly displayed and seen by many more asbestos campaigners and nurses.

UKATA Conference is in full swing. Jamie & Kim are meeting asbestos consultancy Alpha Tracker users inbetween presentations

 "Beyond Awareness" is the theme of this year's UKATA asbestos conference, and we're pleased at Alpha Tracker to be part of it.

Kim & Jamie at the Nottingham conference venue

It's always fun to bump into our asbestos consultancy Alpha Tracker users, and here is Kim with Professor Roger Willey from ACS:

Kim & Roger

Our old friend Dr Yvonne Waterman has her first UKATA stand, too, showing off the first edition of her fabulous Global Asbestos Forum magazine.

Yvonne meeting new readers

Our 17th webinar recording is now available on our website and YouTube. Watch to learn all about security in Alpha Tracker and beyond

Do you know how to add new users, remove leavers and set up Alpha Tracker Client Portal users?

Would you like a quick briefing on the key cybersecurity risks and what you can do to protect yourself?

Are you looking for reassurance that Alpha Tracker is protected from hacking, after hearing about the problems at M&S, Co-op and Harrods?

Watch our webinar recording (our 17th!) and get answers to all of these questions (and more):

Kim & Robin in action (Jack was hiding in a pod)

Click this link to watch on YouTube or click the video below:

Watch our previous Alpha Tracker webinars here: https://alpha-tracker.co.uk/webinars

Catch Kim & Jamie at the UKATA Conference on Thursday. You might even win an Alpha Tracker t-shirt!

Alpha Tracker asbestos software specialists Kim & Jamie will be at the UKATA Asbestos Conference on Thursday this week, sporting our new "10K" Alpha Tracker t-shirts.  They even have one to give away!

What's the "10K" connection?  Ask Kim & Jamie to find out

Find our stand and ask about our latest Alpha Tracker software updates and features.  We'd love to chat to you!

New Water feature within Alpha Tracker - an easier way to record when actions are completed and risks are closed

You and your clients can now record when water hygiene actions are completed and risks are closed within Alpha Tracker's water sub-system.

Look for the system at the site (1), then drill down from the system (2) to the asset/outlet (3) and the relevant risk (4):

Drill down to record when actions are completed (5) and risks are closed

You can record an unlimited number of completed actions (for monthly tasks, for example) and the system is clever enough to close the risk if a one-off task has been marked as complete.

Your clients can also do the same activity in the Water Client Portal given them control over the risks and actions assigned to them.

For more information, contact Support.  This feature will be generally available as part of Release 41.6.

Dan would have done less time for murder! 15 years of service to Start Software

Dan's 15-year career with Start Software has seen him grow from an apprentice software developer into a mature, trusted, senior leader appreciated by his colleagues and clients around the world in equal measure.

His technical skills are incredible, but it is his attention to detail, ability to plan, and determination to always do his best make that make him an exceptional person to work alongside.

It's a shame that the only 15-year celebration card we could find was for wedding anniversaries, not work ones, but it's the thought that counts, Dan!

Robin & Dan outside the Start Software UK offices

Thank you Dan for your service - we hope you'll still be running the show in 2040!

Our first Summer Webinar will be on Wed 18 June at 12 noon. Join us to learn about security within Alpha Tracker

Join us on our first *free* summer webinar of 2025 to find out all about Alpha Tracker security.  

We'll be covering the basics of setting up users & passwords to the complex safeguards we employ to protect your data and documents from cyber-attack.

Our webinars are short and fun (just like Jack!)

The *free* webinar will be held on Wed 18 June at 12 noon.  Here is the registration link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IujGWAClRrGJqo_rDXR9yg

All of our past webinars are available to watch again here: https://alpha-tracker.co.uk/webinars

The faster water sync is now available in the Alpha Tracker Mobile app. Speak to our Support Desk to enable it

Jack has released another update to our Alpha Tracker Mobile app.

This version has a number of changes to improve the app for water hygiene technicians.  The most important is a new water sync process which is much faster and less prone to problems when there is poor data connection.

Look how happy this water tech is! (PS fake news - AI generated!)

Contact the Support Desk for more information.

Zac & his Support Team answered 852 tickets in May

Not the busiest month, but still plenty of tickets to answer for Zac, Lucas, Melika & Jamie. 852 tickets in total were responded to through the month of May.

Zac (with Dan) a long time ago (he doesn't look as young now!)

Zac's new focus on Support Desk performance is really paying off and we hope that our clients are noticing even better response times.  Don't forget, we're open 24x7 to help you - so call or email us whenever you need assistance.

Spot Kim on the UKATA Conference poster and win a prize! Also come and meet us on our stand...

We're exhibiting at the UKATA Conference in Nottingham on Thursday 26 June.

Alpha Tracker specialists Kim & Jamie will be on our stand with lots of information about our latest software releases and with plenty of freebies to give away.

Spot Kim on the poster and win an extra prize!

Kim is very excited about appearing on the UKATA poster for the event.  If you can spot her, there's an extra prize waiting for you...!

Start Software developers Lucas & Melika travel to Birmingham to meet our new client, Wilkinson Beven

Birmingham-based interior designers Wilkinson Beven have asked us to redevelop their business management system.  We're turning their desktop Access-based system into a new web and mobile application powered by the Alpha framework.

You can't beat a bit of Bully!

Our software developers Lucas & Melika travelled to Birmingham with director Robin this week to meet the team at Wilkinson Beven and to show the first draft of their new system.  We stopped by Grand Central to meet Ozzy the Bull - what a machine!

More asbestos consultancies have chosen Alpha Tracker asbestos software in the UK and Australia

We've had a flurry of asbestos consultancies join the Alpha Tracker family in the UK and Australia.

One of the new customers is a start-up business.  The MD dropped us a message to say "I've come from a consultancy which uses Alpha Tracker so I know the ins and outs, and it's a great system!".  How kind!

Can we help your asbestos consultancy to improve efficiency and quality?  Get in touch! UK/Australia & New Zealand.

There's a new Alpha Tracker Mobile app in the app stores

We've been improving performance within Alpha Tracker Mobile.  The most noticeable change is that signing off reports is now much quicker for asbestos surveyors.

Visit https://alpha-tracker.co.uk/alpha-tracker-mobile for more info

Your team will receive the update automatically on their Apple and Android devices.

The new Global Asbestos Forum Magazine is out! Congrats Yvonne & team

Dr Yvonne Waterman's European Asbestos Forum is now the Global Asbestos Forum, and the first edition of the new magazine is out!

The Global Asbestos Forum Magazine on director Robin's desk

In the first edition of the magazine, across nearly 100 pages, you can read

• interviews
• technical articles
• scientific papers
• discussions about construction & asbestos removal
• denaturation
• legislation
• policy
• people stories
• upcoming conferences
• advocacy & campaigns
• major world events
• book reviews
• and more!

Congratulations Yvonne! Asbestos software Alpha Tracker will be contributing to the next edition, ready for the conference in Bergen, Norway, in November 2025.

We're building a new farming app... meeting the family behind the idea on BBC Countrywide

A farming family local to our Shropshire HQ is introducing innovation throughout their business, and the two sons driving the farm forward featured this week on BBC Countryfile: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002cgz8/countryfile-shropshires-nature-comeback

Watch the Nicholson brothers on BBC iPlayer

We're currently working with the Nicholson family to develop an app to help them and other dairy farmers.  Watch this space!

Mavis & Ray's time in Westminster is up - where next for their wonderful portrait?

The beautiful portrait of beloved asbestos campaigners Mavis & Ray Nye has been hanging in the parlimentary office of Sir Stephen Timms.  

Ray, Mavis & Sir Stephen Timms

We're so grateful to Sir Stephen and Julia Buckley MP (Alpha Tracker director Robin's local Member of Parliament) for helping us to achieve Mavis's goal - to get her picture in parliament so that her story could be told and heard by the UK's asbestos policy makers.

The big question is... where should the portrait head next?  It has been to many events and many countries - but where do you think it should be displayed when we collect it from the Houses of Parliament?  Please do get in touch with Robin with your ideas.