Welcome to the Alpha Tracker Family, Complete Asbestos Solutions

We are delighted to welcome Complete Asbestos Solutions to the growing community of organisations using asbestos software Alpha Tracker to streamline asbestos management and compliance.

This week, our very own Robin had the pleasure of delivering remote training to the Complete Asbestos Solutions team. They jumped straight in, exploring key features and workflows within Alpha Tracker that will help them manage surveys, reports, and compliance with confidence and efficiency. It was great to see such engagement and enthusiasm throughout the session.

Robin preparing for the Complete Asbestos Solutions Alpha Tracker training session

Ready for Success

Complete Asbestos Solutions provide expert asbestos survey and consultancy services across the UK. Their commitment to high-quality, client-focused solutions aligns perfectly with the way Alpha Tracker supports visibility, accuracy, and accountability in asbestos management. You can find out more about their services on their website: https://www.completeasbestossurveys.co.uk/

What We Covered in Training

During the session, Robin guided the team through:

• Setting up projects and managing survey workflows

• Customising templates and reports for consistency

• Using dashboards and filters to stay on top of tasks and deadlines

• Best practices for data integrity and compliance

The team picked up the essentials quickly and asked great questions throughout — we’re confident they’re ready to get the most out of Alpha Tracker from day one.

Welcome Onboard

It’s a privilege to support Complete Asbestos Solutions as they begin their Alpha Tracker journey. We’re here to help every step of the way, whether it’s refining templates, importing data, or exploring advanced features.

Here’s to greater efficiency, clarity, and success together!

If you’d like to share your own experience with Alpha Tracker or talk through your onboarding, just let us know — we’d love to hear from you.

Two weeks to go until Sydney, Australia and the FAMANZ Asbestos Conference

In just a fortnight, Robin Bennett, CEO of Alpha Tracker, will be speaking at the FAMANZ Asbestos Conference in Sydney. #Asbestos2026 

He’ll be joined by Judy Key, Director of our Australian asbestos software company, Alpha Tracker Pty, as we connect with asbestos professionals from across Australia and New Zealand.

Robin’s topic: AI innovations in asbestos surveying

Artificial Intelligence is no longer something “coming soon” to our sector. It is already reshaping how surveys are captured, analysed and delivered.

Robin will be sharing practical, real-world insights into:

• How AI can support asbestos survey data validation

• Reducing reporting time without compromising compliance

• Improving accuracy and consistency across large portfolios

• Where AI genuinely helps, and where human expertise still matters most

As always, this won’t be blue-sky theory. It will be grounded in real development work inside Alpha Tracker and real challenges faced by asbestos consultants every day.

Why this matters

The asbestos industry is under constant pressure: tighter compliance expectations, faster turnaround times and increasing scrutiny from clients and regulators.

AI is not about replacing surveyors. It is about giving them better tools.

If you’re attending FAMANZ in Sydney, we would love to see you there. Come and say hello, ask questions, and find out what’s next for AI-driven asbestos management software.

Australia, we’re looking forward to seeing you soon.

Our Second Traction/EOS Away Day – Birmingham, Big Goals and Even Bigger Ambition

Yesterday we held our second Traction/EOS “away day” in Birmingham.

Present were:

• Me (Robin, CEO)

• Catherine, our Customer Success Manager

• Jack, CTO

• Dan, Development Manager

No inbox distractions. No “just a quick call”. Just a room, a screen, notebooks… and some properly big thinking.

Jack, Dan, Catherine and my empty chair!

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Why We Do Traction Days

We follow the principles in Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman. It’s not fluffy strategy. It’s structured, practical and occasionally uncomfortable.

And that’s exactly why it works.

Our away days are designed to pull us out of day-to-day delivery mode and force us to answer questions like:

• Where are we actually going?

• What does success look like in 12 months?

• In 3 years?

• In 10?

• Do the right people own the right things?

• Are we building the team we’ll need — not just the team we have?

Traction and a glass of gin/water

Setting Our 1-Year, 3-Year and 10-Year Targets

The 10-year conversation is always my favourite.

It stretches thinking. It removes artificial limits. It forces us to ask what Start Software and Alpha Tracker could genuinely become if we execute well, stay focused and keep improving.

From there, we worked backwards:

• What must be true in 3 years to make that 10-year vision inevitable?

• What absolutely has to happen in the next 12 months to stay on track?

This isn’t about vague ambition. It’s about clarity.

Revenue targets. Product development priorities. Market positioning. Team structure. Delivery standards. Everything gets put under the microscope.

And sometimes rewritten.

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Reviewing Our Accountability Chart

One of the most valuable parts of the day was reviewing our staff accountability chart.

Not a traditional org chart. An accountability chart.

There’s a big difference.

It forces us to define:

• Who owns what.

• Where responsibilities overlap.

• Where there are gaps.

• Whether someone truly “gets it, wants it and has the capacity to do it”.

These conversations are constructive, but they’re honest. If we want to grow sustainably, clarity beats comfort every time.

We also reviewed development needs — not just technical capability, but leadership growth, communication and decision-making maturity.

If we want a 10-year vision to become reality, we have to grow as individuals at the same rate as the business.

Our first time at St Paul's Suite in Birmingham, a great venue

Why Away Days Matter

It would be easy to skip days like this.

There’s always client work to deliver. Always features to build. Always improvements to make.

But without stepping back, you drift.

With structured planning, you steer.

This was our second Traction away day. The conversations were sharper than the first. The thinking was clearer. The ambition was bigger.

And that’s exactly how it should be.

Onwards.

A long lunch with old friend and asbestos compaigner, Ray Nye

Today was one of those visits that reminds you what really matters.

Me (Robin), Kirsty, Ray and Andrew

I popped in to see Ray Nye, the husband of the much-missed and much-loved Mavis Nye, along with regular visitor Kirsty Budenbender from DSK and Andrew Paten from UKNAR. What was meant to be a catch-up turned into a proper natter, plenty of laughter, and the sort of easy conversation that only happens when people genuinely enjoy each other’s company.

Ray was on fine form.

There’s something wonderfully grounding about spending time with someone who has seen so much, done so much, and yet still carries warmth and humour so lightly. We talked about work, about people we know, about life generally, about Bristol Zoo, and about Ray's new hobby, Mahjong! It was not solemn. It was not formal. It was simply good company.

Remembering Mavis, Naturally

Of course, whenever Ray is in the room, Mavis is never far from the conversation.

Not in a heavy way. Not in a sombre way. Just as part of the fabric of things.

Mavis Nye did extraordinary work as an asbestos awareness campaigner. After being diagnosed with mesothelioma, she turned what would have crushed many people into a platform for action. She campaigned tirelessly for better awareness, stronger regulation, and justice for those affected by asbestos exposure. She helped give a voice to people who often felt unheard.

And she did it with courage, humour, and determination.

The funny thing is, when you’re sitting in Ray’s living room laughing about everyday things, you’re reminded that behind every campaign, every headline, every policy discussion, there are real people. Real families. Real lives.

That’s easy to forget when we are buried in paperwork, compliance documents, or technical guidance.

Why It Still Matters

Asbestos is not history. It is not something we can neatly file away under “industrial past”.

It is still present in thousands of buildings across the UK. It still poses risks. It still affects families. The work that organisations like DSK and UKNAR are doing remains important because awareness, management, and responsibility are ongoing duties, not one-off exercises.  It's the reason we created asbestos software Alpha Tracker here at Start Software.

But today was not about reports or regulations.

It was about connection.

It was about remembering that behind every awareness campaign is a human story. Behind every safety protocol is someone’s parent, partner, or friend.

And it was about laughter.

Because if Mavis taught us anything, it was that strength and humour are not opposites. They sit very comfortably together.

The Best Kind of Catch Up

We left having laughed a lot, put the world to rights in a modest sort of way, and reminded ourselves why the work around asbestos awareness still matters.

Not because it is dramatic.

Not because it is political.

But because it is personal.

And sometimes the most meaningful moments are simply a handful of people in a warm room, sharing stories, remembering someone remarkable, and carrying on the work in their own way.

Thank you, Ray, for the welcome, the stories, and the laughs.

We’ll be back for another cup of tea and Kirsty's sandwiches soon.

🚨 High Priority Under Pressure: Delivering When It Matters Most

When we talk about Support Desk performance, it’s easy to focus on overall SLA percentages. But some tickets matter more than others — and that’s where the real story lives.

Our Support Desk - performing Under Pressure

High-priority (H) tickets are often time-critical, business-impacting, and unpredictable. Looking back over the last six months, these tickets show just how consistent and resilient the Support Desk has been when the pressure is on.

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📊 Consistency where it counts

Between August and January, the Support Desk resolved 992 high-priority tickets. Throughout that entire period, the in-time rate for H tickets stayed impressively high — between 97% and 99% every single month.

January is a strong example:

• 🔴 174 high-priority tickets solved

• ⏱️ 98.86% completed within SLA

That level of performance doesn’t happen by chance. It shows clear prioritisation and a strong focus on what matters most.

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💪 Pressure doesn’t mean compromise

Ticket volumes naturally rise and fall. Over the same six-month period, total tickets solved ranged from 685 to 947 per month.

Even during busier months like October and January, high-priority performance remained consistently strong. When demand increases, the desk doesn’t trade quality for speed — it adapts.

That’s a key indicator of a mature and reliable support operation.

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🧠 What helps make this possible?

Behind the numbers are some important habits:

• Clear triage and prioritisation

• Strong ownership and handovers

• Experience handling complex and urgent issues

• A shared understanding of what “high priority” really means

Together, these keep critical issues moving — even when things get busy.

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🔮 Looking ahead

High-priority tickets will always be unpredictable. What is predictable is how the Support Desk responds.

As we move into the next quarter, the challenge isn’t just maintaining these results — it’s understanding what helps sustain them at scale, and where we can push even further.

Because when it really matters, performance under pressure is what counts most ⭐

Our Start Software Support Desk handles issues for asbestos/water/fire software Alpha Tracker, legal services portal Alpha Legal/Alpha Portal and environmental reporting software ecoScribe.

🚗 Start Software's Roadvlog on Good Morning Britain — Clean Up Britain Spotlight on Britain’s Most Repulsive Road

Britain's most repulsive road - the A50/A38

This week, Roadvlog was featured on ITV’s Good Morning Britain during a discussion about Britain’s most repulsive road — and the national attention couldn’t have come at a better time for our growing community of road observers and data contributors.  Watch for yourself, here: https://www.itv.com/watch/good-morning-britain/2a3211/2a3211a4265 (fast-forward to approx. 10 minutes in).

📺 

During the segment, the presenters highlighted how poor road conditions — from litter-strewn verges to deep potholes and debris — are one of the biggest frustrations for British drivers. Roadvlog’s data plays a central role in understanding and documenting these everyday experiences on UK roads.

The A50/A38 problem was first reported by Martin Burrows from Truckers Cleaning Up Britain - so thanks Martin!  Clean Up Britain made the award after reviewing the 5,500+ reports made within Roadvlog.

🚘 What Is Roadvlog?

Roadvlog is a simple, web-based roadside condition logging app that empowers passengers to report and rate the state of roadside verges and road surfaces as they travel. Using GPS-enabled logging, users can:

• 📍 Capture a photo of the roadside

• 🧰 Rate the condition (from clean to serious litter/debris)

• 📊 Submit a report in seconds

All reports are automatically logged with location and local authority — building a powerful, evidence-based dataset that helps campaigners and authorities understand where improvements are needed most.

🛣️ From Drivers to Data: Your Contributions Matter

Roadvlog wouldn’t exist without its active user base. Every submission — whether it’s litter on a country lane or erosion on an A-road embankment — adds to a growing dataset that drives awareness and supports real campaigns for cleaner, safer, and better-maintained roads.

In the Good Morning Britain feature, the importance of data and public feedback was emphasised as part of a wider conversation about road quality and driver frustration across the UK. With issues like potholes and poor verge conditions topping lists of motoring grievances, Roadvlog’s crowdsourced approach is more relevant than ever.

📈 Why It Matters

Britain’s road conditions continue to be a major talking point among drivers — from persistent potholes across local networks to stretches of highway that feel neglected or unsafe. Public reporting tools like Roadvlog shine a spotlight on these issues and provide an independent, data-driven perspective on what’s really happening out on the tarmac.

🧠 Get Involved

Have you spotted a road that needs reporting? Try Roadvlog now at roadvlog.uk and start logging reports today — every submission helps build a clearer picture of the UK’s road health.

Together, we’re turning everyday journeys into meaningful insights that can help influence better road maintenance and policy change.

Congratulations Dan - our new Development Manager

We have a new Development Manager here at Start Software - meet Dan Darkin.

Dan at his desk in our Telford software development office

Dan joined us an apprentice about 100 years ago (it feels like it, anyway!) and has shown determination, diligence, technical skills and an ability to work with clients, staff & suppliers.  Dan now manages the software development team and oversees our critical and largest software development projects.

It's been a pleasure to see Dan's continued personal development and his increasing contribution to the business.

Congratulations Dan - well deserved.

🎉 Exciting News: Two New Alpha Tracker Orders This Week! One in the UK, one in Australia. Check out our TrustPilot reviews, too!

We’re thrilled to share that Alpha Tracker has received two new asbestos software orders this week, reinforcing the trust that environmental and compliance consultancies place in our software.

Orders on either side of the world this week

One of these new customers is based in the UK and chose to switch to Alpha Tracker from our main competitor — a real vote of confidence in our platform and team. The second new order comes from Australia, where Alpha Tracker was recommended to the customer by industry contacts who already use and value our system.

These wins are more than just numbers — they show that organisations are actively choosing Alpha Tracker because of our reputation, support, and performance, and we couldn’t be more pleased.

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⭐ Why Customers Are Choosing Alpha Tracker

We’re proud of the positive feedback we’ve received on Trustpilot, where Alpha Tracker holds an excellent rating that reflects our commitment to customer success.

Here are just a few examples of what our users are saying:

• “We’ve been using Alpha Tracker since 2016 and honestly can’t imagine running our asbestos division without it now. The support team are brilliant — always quick to help.”

• “The support we get here in Australia has been excellent — always quick to respond.”

• “We have been with Start Software for over a decade and their team are always helpful and quick to resolve issues.”

These real-world experiences underline why consultancies are willing to switch from competitors or recommend us to peers — they’re choosing Alpha Tracker for its reliability, depth of features, and exceptional support.

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🚀 What This Means for Us

Getting new orders from both the UK and Australia in one week is a wonderful milestone — especially when they come from customers switching from competitors or based on personal recommendations. It shows that our investment in product quality, global support, and customer relationships is making a real difference.

Thank you to our clients and partners for your continued trust and support — here’s to more great partnerships ahead!

Cloud Document Maker update released (v1.13.0) enabling us to switch more Alpha Tracker clients to "instant reports" and no more document queue!

Jack and Bonggo have been working hard on a new Cloud Document Maker release and this went live yesterday.

Document queues - for not much longer!

Cloud Document Maker (CDM) is our new method for producing quotations and asbestos reports within Alpha Tracker.  It has been live for a while, and we have transitioned a number of customers over from the old method, but some asbestos reports have been difficult to switch because they relied on features not yet ported over to CDM.  This latest update makes some of these features available and so we'll be working hard again on moving customers over.

If you're wanting to lose your own asbestos report queues and want us to prioritise you, please get in touch with support (UK or Aus/NZ).

Andrew's (second!) Big C Launch is getting closer!

It's not too long now before adventurer Andrew Bedwell sets off on his incredible cross-Atlantic world record attempting journey.  He's hoping to cross the Atlantic in the shortest boat ever - a tiny vessel only about 1m in length.

Big C Atlantic Challenge Begins

Some of team in our Board Room with Andrew & Gordon joining remotely

Andrew and friend & supporter Gordon joined a Start Software meeting this week to finalise plans for his new app.  The app will available to supporters and will enable followers to:

• track Andrew's progress on a map (over 90+ days!)
• send messages of support
• read Andrew's "Captain's Log"
• see what wildlife Andrew has spotted
• understand the weather and sea conditions
• post ideas for a daily challenge which will help to keep Andrew entertained.

Our director Robin is heading over to St John's in May to help Andrew with his final preparations and to send him off.

The Big C app development team

Follow Andrew on Facebook here!

The 0333 301 1010 phone line is working again. Sorry for any inconvenience

Further to the blog post this morning https://blog.start-software.com/2026/01/telephone-service-issues-alternative.html we're happy to say that our 0333 301 1010 phone line is now operational again.

Sorry for the short outage this morning

Do keep a note of the alternate number +44 (0)1952 288 316, just in case.  You'll also find the number on our websites.

Telephone Service Issues – Alternative Contact Information

Service Update

We are currently experiencing issues with our main telephone number:
+44 (0)333 301 1010

This may mean you are unable to get through, experience call drops or similar.

You can still call us or email us for support

How to Contact Us in the Meantime

While our primary number is affected, please use one of the following alternatives:

• Alternative telephone line: +44 (0)1952 288 316
• Email support: support@start-software.com

Both options are fully operational, and our support team is ready to assist you as normal.

What You Can Expect

• All support requests will be handled with our usual priority and service levels.
• Once our main number is restored, we will provide an update.
• No action is required from you—simply use the alternative contact routes above.

We appreciate your patience while the telephone provider resolves the issue. If you need anything urgently, please don’t hesitate to reach out using the working contact channels listed.

 

Come and meet Alpha Tracker directors Judy & Robin at FAMANZ 2026 in Sydney in March. And learn about AI innovations in the asbestos industry!

We’re excited to announce that Alpha Tracker directors Judy and Robin will be attending FAMANZ 2026, the premier conference for asbestos, hazardous materials, and environmental professionals, taking place in Sydney, Australia, from 2–4 March 2026.

This event brings together expert speakers, consultants, asbestos surveyors, and industry leaders from across Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. It’s a fantastic opportunity to share insights, learn about the latest industry trends, and connect face-to-face with professionals who are shaping how we manage compliance, safety, and data in asbestos and related sectors.

What You Can Expect

• 🗣 Meet the Directors – Judy and Robin will be present throughout the conference, ready to discuss how Alpha Tracker continues to evolve and support your business needs.

• 💡 Robin’s Presentation – On Wednesday 4 March, Robin will be presenting on AI innovations in asbestos management software, where he’ll explore how artificial intelligence is helping transform reporting, data quality insights, and operational efficiency within Alpha Tracker.

• 📌 Networking Opportunities – Whether you’re based in Australia, New Zealand, or visiting from further afield, FAMANZ is the perfect place to expand your industry network and meet fellow practitioners and decision-makers.

Robin presenting about AI at the Global Asbestos Forum in Norway

FAMANZ is known for its engaging sessions and friendly atmosphere. If you’re planning to attend, now’s the time to register and secure your place — spaces fill up quickly, and this is one not to miss.

We look forward to seeing you in Sydney!

Welcome to 2026 ❄️

There’s something very fitting about starting the year on a bright, icy January morning. The light is new, the path ahead is clear, and while the ground may be slippery, progress comes from knowing where you’re going and taking each step with confidence. This photo of Catherine walking into the office captures that feeling perfectly as we step into 2026 at Start Software.

Here we go again! Welcome 2026

So, with frozen car parks behind us and a full year ahead, here’s what we’re excited about.

Continuing to invest in Alpha Tracker

Alpha Tracker remains at the heart of what we do, and 2026 is shaping up to be a busy year for new releases.

• Alpha Tracker Release 42 and Release 43 are on the roadmap, bringing a steady stream of practical improvements driven directly by customer feedback. As ever, the focus is on reliability, usability and features that genuinely make day-to-day work easier.

• We are rolling out a significant upgrade to Cloud Document Maker, delivering faster and more scalable document production for reports, certificates and client deliverables. Less waiting, more getting things done.
  

• Tracker Filer will be replaced by Tracker Agent, our AI-powered "extra pair of hands" that will massively reduce your admin.

Better integrations, better workflows

We know Alpha Tracker does not exist in isolation, so integration continues to be a major priority.  2025 saw us deliver the Lab Sample Exchange and the connection to the incredible FLS/Solvares VISITOUR optimised scheduler.  We have many more integrations planned for 2026.

More AI, used properly

AI is only useful if it solves real problems, and that is exactly how we are approaching it.

Our Report QC Checker is now available for all customers, helping to catch inconsistencies, omissions and common issues before reports go out of the door. It adds another layer of quality control that supports professional judgement rather than replacing it.

Go to asbestosreportqc.start-software.ai

You can expect more AI-powered features over the year, always focused on accuracy, efficiency and trust.

Growing the team

Great software comes from great people. We are delighted to welcome Bonggo to the Start Software team, strengthening our ability to support customers and continue developing the platform at pace.

Out in the world

We will also be getting out and about more in 2026, sharing what we have learned and learning from others.

This includes presenting at conferences around the world, with highlights already planned such as FAMANZ in Sydney and World Summit AI in Amsterdam. If you are attending either, do come and say hello.

20 years of Start Software

Finally, 2026 marks a major milestone for us. This is our 20th year of trading.

That means 20 years of building software, working closely with customers, adapting to new technology and staying firmly focused on value for money. We will be celebrating properly with staff and customers in the autumn, and we look forward to sharing more details as plans come together.

Thank you, as always, for being part of the Start Software story. Here’s to a productive, innovative and well-supported 2026.

Support Desk performance report – December 2025

As the year drew to a close, our Support Desk stayed reassuringly steady. December is traditionally a month of distractions, deadlines and diaries full of festive commitments, so maintaining strong response times is always a good test of both systems and people. We are pleased to say the results held up very well.

Adam helping a caller on the Christmas Support Desk

December at a glance

• 91.1% of all tickets were resolved within SLA

• 99.3% of high-priority tickets were resolved within SLA

• 685 tickets solved in total

• 142 of those were high-priority issues

High-priority performance in particular remains excellent, with virtually every urgent issue handled on time despite reduced availability around the Christmas period.

How December compares

Looking back over the last six months, performance has been consistently strong:

Month	In time (%)	In time (H) (%)	Tickets solved
July 2025	91.40%	97.88%	977
August 2025	90.97%	97.08%	831
September 2025	94.20%	98.38%	879
October 2025	92.40%	97.16%	947
November 2025	92.08%	99.37%	808
December 2025	91.09%	99.30%	685

While overall ticket volume dipped in December, which is typical for the time of year, SLA performance stayed firmly in line with previous months. The slight variation in overall percentage is largely explained by reduced staffing over the holidays combined with a smaller pool of tickets, where a handful of slower resolutions have a bigger impact on the headline figure.

End-of-year summary

To close out the year, it is worth stepping back and looking at the broader picture. Across the six-month period shown above, the Support Desk handled:

• 5,127 tickets in total

• 1,003 high-priority tickets

• With consistently high SLA compliance for urgent issues every month

Maintaining over 97% on-time performance for high-priority tickets across such a sustained period is a strong result, particularly given the mix of routine queries, complex issues and time-critical incidents that come through the desk.

Just as importantly, ticket volumes have remained high throughout the year without any significant drop in service quality. That combination of throughput and reliability reflects the experience of the team, clear escalation processes, and a continued focus on resolving issues efficiently rather than simply closing tickets quickly.

Looking ahead

January usually brings a return to higher volumes, along with new projects and system changes. Our priorities going into the new year remain unchanged:

• Keep high-priority responses fast and dependable

• Maintain clear, timely communication

• Use support trends to identify and reduce recurring issues

Thank you to everyone involved for another solid year of support delivery. Keeping things running smoothly, even during the busiest and quietest months alike, is no small achievement.