Thanks for visiting our Start Software blog. Follow the blog to keep in touch with news and developments from Start Software, the developers of Alpha Tracker, Alpha Legal and more!
 |
| "Add All Sentinels" - new in Alpha Tracker Mobile |
 |
| Start Software's apps for Clean Up Britain |
 |
| John Read on Good Morning Britain today |
 |
| Our Litter Dashcam app - https://roadside-litter.cleanupbritain.app/ |
 |
| Scan to use the Clean Up Britain apps |
 |
| Keith Saunders taking a call on the Support Desk |
We are pleased to say that the beta version of Alpha Tracker Release 42 is already looking very encouraging.
 |
| Dan & Jack studying the Apdex results |
That may sound like a small number, but in day-to-day use it can make a noticeable difference. It means Alpha Tracker is feeling quicker, smoother and more responsive for users, especially when carrying out regular tasks across the system.
There is still more testing to do before the full release, but these early results are a promising sign. We will continue to monitor performance closely during the beta period and fine-tune things where needed.
Thank you to everyone helping us test Release 42. Your feedback is already making a difference.
 |
| Petty Harbour with Big C V2's crate |
 |
| Andrew starting the uncrating |
 |
| Heave! We got it upright thanks to the help of several locals |
 |
| Scan to register your support |
 |
| Imagine eating this for 90 days! |
 |
| Join Kim & Zac to chat Alpha Tracker |
 |
| Andrew thinking about the challenges that lie ahead |
 |
| Andrew & Robin with the satellite link on the desk |
 |
| Alpha TransForm in action |
 |
| Scan this on your phone to register your support |
It was also a particularly busy month for calls from asbestos and water hygiene technicians, reflecting the continued day-to-day reliance on Alpha Tracker in the field. Whether technicians were logging site information, updating records, managing jobs, or needing help while out with clients, the support desk was on hand to help keep work moving.
In April 2026, the support desk solved 869 problems in total. Of those, 810 were solved in time, giving an overall in-time resolution rate of 93.21%.
High-priority support remained especially strong. The team solved 141 high-priority issues in time, achieving an excellent 97.92% in-time rate for high-priority tickets.
This continues the consistent performance seen throughout the year so far:
| Month | Total solved | In time | In time % | High-priority in time % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | 904 | 846 | 93.58% | 98.86% |
| February 2026 | 926 | 855 | 92.33% | 98.81% |
| March 2026 | 996 | 923 | 92.67% | 97.93% |
| April 2026 | 869 | 810 | 93.21% | 97.92% |
April’s figures show that the support team handled a substantial number of requests while maintaining a high standard of service. With Alpha Tracker being used heavily by asbestos and water hygiene technicians, many calls required practical, timely support for people working in live operational environments.
That kind of support is especially important when technicians are on site and need quick answers. The April results show the team continuing to respond effectively, helping users resolve issues and get back to their work with minimal delay.
A big thank you goes to everyone on the support desk for another month of hard work, patience, and professionalism.
Solving 869 problems in April, while keeping more than 93% of all tickets and almost 98% of high-priority tickets within target, is a strong achievement and a great reflection of the team’s commitment to Alpha Tracker customers.
 |
| The lovely team at Harmony Fire |
Alpha Tracker specialist Kim is onsite today to guide the team through the system, answer questions, and help everyone feel confident using Alpha Tracker from the outset.
We’re really pleased to be working with Harmony Fire and look forward to supporting the team as they continue to grow their services and deliver trusted safety solutions for their clients.
Welcome to Alpha Tracker, Harmony Fire!
Big C's Andrew Bedwell & Start Software's director Robin joined Alpha TransForm's Dave & Scott on Wednesday in a live 30-minute webinar. It had been a busy day for Andrew, following a BBC interview earlier in the day: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3w3jgqj0nno
 |
| Mid-webinar talking about apps, data & power mid-Atlantic |
The conversation was a lot of fun covering every topic from how Start Software builds apps and offline-capable forms to the likelihood of Andrew seeing mermaids on his world-record-attempting crossing...
Our Big C Atlantic Challenge app is now live and you can register by using this QR code:
Alpha Software Specialists Start Software is sponsoring the World Record attempt, helping Andrew to raise money for Cancer Research. A number of the Start Software team are (and have been) affected by cancer, so this is a cause close to our hearts.
For more information, please do click these links:
• The app at https://big-c-atlantic-challenge.app
• The World Record Attempt
• Start Software's support for the Big C Atlantic Challenge
• The Cancer Research donation page
You can watch the webinar here, on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vDgeyaLJa4 - and please Like and Share with your friends!
Remember - if you need help with Alpha TransForm or want us to create offline-capable data capture forms for your business, we're here to help: https://alpha-software-specialists.com/
Next week we will be continuing our series of Alpha Tracker “Office Hours” sessions. We hope you can join us.
Our Alpha Tracker Office Hours sessions will be short, informal, half-hour drop-in sessions providing the opportunity for support, discussion, clarification, demonstration, advice – all sorts of help with any area of Alpha Tracker.
The Office Hours are live and interactive; we’ll be led by the topics you want to discuss. These are “cameras on” sessions for everyone, we’ll be on camera and so will you. To make you feel more comfortable, we won’t record the sessions.
Join Kim & Catherine for the next session on Tuesday 21 April 2026 at 13:00. No need to pre-register, simply click the link between 13:00 – 13:30 on the day to join: https://whereby.com/alpha-tracker-office-hours
See you Tuesday!
Smooth Sailing with Alpha Tracker: Office Hours with Kim
& Catherine
 |
| Start Software is the lead sponsor for Andrew's world record attempt |
One of our company values is that we join in and contribute to our communities. This week we did exactly that - a group of volunteers from the Start Software Telford HQ stepped away from their desks and into the community, taking part in a litter picking initiative aimed at making a visible difference to the local area.
Things didn’t go entirely to plan!! Partway through the journey, the weather turned and hail started coming down. Still, the team persevered and got stuck in.
By the end, a noticeable amount of waste had been cleared and the area left in much better shape. Not unlike their day jobs, really. Whether it’s cleaning up data or cleaning up streets, the aim is the same: leave things tidier and improve the environment for everyone.
In a single session, the team cleared three full bags of waste, a shopping trolley, and a roadside fly-tipping deposit. Well done all.
We've just finished an Alpha Tracker asbestos implementation for one of the UK's largest companies.
 |
| That AI-Jack and AI-Dan doing an AI-celebration |
Our client has literally thousands of sites nationwide, ranging from small units to huge office complexes. Our asbestos software is now deployed in the Alpha Tracker cloud, and is managing the asbestos across the entire estate.
It's been a challenging implementation, but today we went live, on time, and on budget. Well done Jack & Dan - great job.
 |
| Could 2026 be our year, finally?! Stranger things have happened (just) |
 |
| That's not a real photo. Robin's hair is much more grey |
 |
| Big C in good hands... please don't drop it! |
Need help? Want to show us a problem you have on your screen? You can now launch an instant video call with our Support Team straight from our website.
 |
| Instant video call! No Teams, no Zoom, just one click! |
There’s nothing quite like getting out from behind a desk and onto site.
Last week, Zac from our Alpha Tracker Support team did exactly that—joining the asbestos surveyors from our partners at Acorn Asbestos for a day in the field. The goal? To see first-hand how surveys are carried out, how our software performs in real-world conditions, and—most importantly—where we can make things even better. We've had some repeat tickets from an asbestos surveyor and wanted to see the issue live - supporting our wonderful customers is *so* much easier in person.
We spend a lot of time building and refining Alpha Tracker and Tracker Mobile but the real test is always on site.
Asbestos surveying isn’t done in ideal conditions. It’s tight spaces, awkward access, poor signal, and the constant need to work quickly and accurately. That’s exactly why Tracker Mobile has been designed to work offline, capture detailed data, and sync reliably later.
But no matter how much experience we have, there’s no substitute for standing alongside surveyors and watching the process unfold.
Zac spent the day following Acorn’s team as they carried out a live asbestos survey.
From logging into site, reviewing previous records, and planning the inspection route, through to capturing samples, photos and notes—it was a full walkthrough of the survey lifecycle.
 |
| Nice tats, Zac! |
In the photo above, you can see Tracker Mobile in action—being used on-site to capture survey data in real time. This is exactly how the system is designed to be used: simple, structured, and reliable, even in less-than-ideal environments.
Tracker Mobile plays a central role here. Surveyors are using it to:
Record asbestos samples and suspected materials
Capture photos and link them directly to items
Log “no access” areas and site observations
Work through structured forms designed around their workflow
All of this is done on a phone or tablet, often with no signal, and synced back to the main system later.
If you’re new to Tracker Mobile, you can read more about how it supports asbestos surveying on our website:
👉 https://alpha-tracker.co.uk/asbestos
One of the most valuable parts of the visit was spotting the little things.
Not big feature requests—but small, practical improvements:
Reducing the number of taps needed for common tasks
Making key fields easier to access on-site
Improving visibility of important information in bright or awkward environments
Streamlining workflows when moving quickly between rooms or areas
These are the kinds of refinements that only come from real-world use. And they matter—because when you’re on site, every second counts.
This kind of continuous improvement is something we’ve talked about before—particularly in how user feedback shapes development.
It was also a great opportunity to spend time with the team at Acorn Asbestos.
Their experience, professionalism, and willingness to share honest feedback are exactly what make partnerships like this so valuable. Open conversations about what works (and what doesn’t) help us continuously improve.
At Alpha Tracker, we’ve always built our software in collaboration with the industry—and days like this are a perfect example of that in action.
Tracker Mobile is already widely used across the asbestos surveying industry and has been refined over years of real-world use.
But we never stand still.
The insights from Zac’s visit are already feeding into discussions with the development team—helping shape future updates and improvements. Whether it’s performance tweaks, usability enhancements, or new features, it all starts with understanding what happens on site.
If you’d like to explore more about Tracker Mobile and how it supports asbestos surveying teams, take a look here:
👉 https://alpha-tracker.co.uk/asbestos
A big thank you to Acorn Asbestos for having us along.
Getting out on site, asking questions, and seeing the reality of asbestos surveying is invaluable. It keeps us grounded, focused, and motivated to keep improving.
And for Zac… not a bad day at the office.
 |
| Busy, busy, busy! |
We’re excited to announce that next week we will be starting our first series of Alpha Tracker “Office Hours” sessions. We hope you can join us.
 |
| Click this link to join the session from 12:00-12:30 on Wed 25 March |
To explain what “Office Hours” are (confession... most of us here at Start Software weren’t aware, either!), the term originally referred to academic help sessions in the US, where students could get personalised assistance outside of class. Our Alpha Tracker Office Hours sessions will be short, informal, half-hour drop-in sessions providing the opportunity for support, discussion, clarification, demonstration, advice – all sorts of help with any area of Alpha Tracker.
The Office Hours are live and interactive; we’ll be led by the topics you want to discuss. These are “cameras on” sessions for everyone, we’ll be on camera and so will you. To make you feel more comfortable, we won’t record the sessions.
Join Robin, Kim & Zac for the first session on Wednesday 25 March 2026 at 12:00. No need to pre-register, simply click the link between 12:00 – 12:30 on the day to join: https://whereby.com/alpha-tracker-office-hours
See you Wednesday!
We’ve published a set of experimental AI tools designed for asbestos consultancies to explore and test.
 |
| There are six tools altogether (although one only applies if you're Norwegian!) |
These tools are currently being evaluated and refined. Once they have been thoroughly tested, the most successful features will be integrated into our asbestos software, Alpha Tracker, as part of our 2026 development roadmap.
Although the tools are being developed alongside Alpha Tracker, consultancies using other asbestos software are very welcome to try them and share feedback.
There are currently six tools available, including one developed specifically for the Norwegian asbestos industry.
The tools were previewed at the FAMANZ ASBESTOS 2026 conference in Sydney, and they are now available for anyone to try.
https://asbestos-photo-analyst.start-software.ai/
Evaluates whole-structure photos to identify areas that may contain asbestos-containing materials.
https://asbestos-building-analyst.start-software.ai/
Checks asbestos survey reports for potential errors, omissions, and inconsistencies.
https://asbestos-report-qc.start-software.ai/
Developed for the Norwegian asbestos industry and aimed primarily at contractors working in Norway.
Don’t worry if you don’t speak Norwegian! The tool includes an English/Norwegian toggle.
Helps you build reliable AI prompts for asbestos-related tasks when using tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude.
https://asbestos-prompt-engineer.start-software.ai/
Extracts key information from asbestos reports and allows the data to be downloaded into Excel and other formats.
https://asbestos-report-extractor.start-software.ai/
You can access the full set of tools here:
UK:
https://alpha-tracker.co.uk/ai-tools
Australia and New Zealand:
https://alpha-tracker.com.au/ai-tools
Please do try them and send us your feedback.
These tools are still experimental, and your feedback will help shape how AI is integrated into asbestos software Alpha Tracker in the future.
 |
| Judy, Ben & Robin (and the bottle) |
 |
| What a location, and what a venue (and view!) |
 |
| Robin (jetlagged!) and Judy with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the distance |
 |
| The welcome drinks always attracts a crowd! |
 |
| Instant prints - Polaroid-style - from a digital camera (the TimTam is for scale!) |
 |
| The photo printer has been busy! |
 |
| Judy talking to an interested asbestos surveying company owner |
 |
| Come and find us - we're easy to spot! |
 |
| Judy with Brett from Agon Environmental |
 |
| Robin has managed to avoid being in the photos (so far) |
 |
| Not a drone photo! Robin was up a staircase |
At Alpha Tracker we always listen closely to our users. That insight helps us plan updates that make the software more capable, easier to use and better suited to real world project workflows.
Our 2026 Alpha Tracker Roadmap sets out the major releases we have planned this year. These updates reflect customer feedback, industry demand and our ongoing commitment to practical improvements.
 |
| It's going to be a busy 2026 for the Alpha Tracker team! |
We kick off the year with Release 42, which brings together a number of features we have been testing with customers:
Improvements to Water Hygiene data collection and reporting, including enhanced Client Portal workflows
Better automation of milestones and automated report email distribution
Improved QR code support for field teams
Enhanced admin automation, such as auto-populating of report recipients
Completion of the Australian asbestos risk assessment methodology
Ongoing security improvements across the product
This release lays a strong foundation for the rest of the year by focusing on core user needs and meaningful workflow improvements.
Next up is Release 42.1, focused on general performance and usability:
Updated software framework for better overall performance
Faster import tools, making data loading quicker
A fresh look and cleaner user interface, optimized for tablets and desktop
Usage tracking to guide future performance improvements
Integration with Assure360
API updates to support integrations with external systems
These enhancements make Alpha Tracker easier and faster to use day-to-day.
Building on the AI work we started in 2025, Release 42.2 brings multiple AI-powered features:
Jotter auto-summaries to help reduce time spent writing narrative text
An AI photo analyser to assist with image tagging and interpretation
Better list summaries throughout the product
An updated and integrated AI QC checker
Tracker Agent, our AI-powered replacement for Tracker Filer
These tools are designed to save time and support quality control across busy workflows.
Customers have been clear that finance workflows matter. Release 42.3 focuses on:
Improved Xero integration for smoother accounting workflows
Faster, easier invoicing
A new application for payment process
A special feature to support designated charities
This release makes financial processes in Alpha Tracker quicker and more flexible.
We are batching up changes requested specifically by our Australian and New Zealand asbestos consultancy clients and delivering these in Release 42.4.
After that we have a series of updates focused on specific areas of the product:
This update will improve how your customers interact with Alpha Tracker through the Client Portal and optimise internal sales and service processes.
Expect new and improved calendar views, tighter integration with What3Words, enhanced mapping capability and a new Calendar Sync module.
We are rebuilding the Fire Risk assessment module from the ground up and plan to release this later in the year.
Alpha Tracker already meets many accessibility standards. In this release we go further, especially for users with limited vision.
Towards the end of the year we intend to retire some older modules “behind the scenes” and replace them with a new product core, setting the stage for Release 43 and future development.
This roadmap shows a clear progression through performance, usability, AI, finance, regional customisation and specialised updates. It reflects both our development priorities and the real needs of Alpha Tracker users.
We will continue to refine and adapt based on feedback as the year progresses, and you can expect each release to bring practical improvements to your workflows.
If you have specific ideas or requests for future releases, please get in touch. Your insight helps shape Alpha Tracker’s direction.
