By Emily Shaw – Senior Director, Product Lead
The UK housing sector is at a pivotal moment. The convergence of new regulations, heightened resident expectations, and economic pressures means that housing providers are seeking solutions that do more with less. But this isn't a new challenge. What has changed is the technology available to meet it.
For years, digital transformation was a buzzword, often focused on simply digitising old, manual processes. Today, we're seeing a shift. The conversation is now about using technology to create scalable, purposeful solutions that put residents at the heart of what we all do.
Scaling in many forms: From mergers to stock purchases and everything in between
Whilst scaling can come in the form of purchasing additional stock, we’re all well aware that this sector frequently sees mergers take place. This means that housing providers can often double in size overnight. Scaling to this extent inevitably has its challenges, but with the right technology plans in place, the organisation’s core purposes can persist, allowing the technology to be shaped around the new structure, rather than the opposite being the case.
Moving from reactive to proactive management
For too long, the default approach to property management has been reactive. A resident reports a leak, a mould issue, or a heating problem, and a repair is scheduled. This is, of course, a critical part of service delivery. But what if we could anticipate many of these issues before they become major problems?
This is where technologies like IoT sensors and AI-powered platform capabilities come into play. By monitoring events in real time, providers can identify potential issues before they escalate. This not only prevents costly and disruptive repairs but also creates safer and healthier homes for residents.
Driving efficiency with empathy
The goal of automation and AI in social housing is not to replace human interaction, but to enhance it. This is still very much a sector with humans at its heart, as it should be - we deal with people’s homes, not houses. The most successful technology implementations are those that free up staff from routine, administrative tasks, allowing them to focus on what matters most: handling complex issues and resident well-being.
Building transparency and trust
In an era of increased regulatory scrutiny and resident empowerment, transparency is non-negotiable. Technology provides the tools to build this trust. Meeting new consumer standards and demonstrating a clear commitment to resident safety by providing decent homes is at the centre of housing providers’ operations, and the technology used must be an enabler for this.
Create thriving communities
The ultimate goal of all of this is to create stable, thriving communities, especially when at scale. Technology is an enabler in this mission. With platforms that help providers better understand the needs of their communities, technology can be a powerful force for social good.
It's about moving beyond simply "doing" digital transformation to "being" a digitally-enabled, resident-first organisation, no matter your size.
Insights from Home Group
Paul Walker, Executive Director at Home Group, emphasises the importance of purpose-driven adoption:
“Technology is only valuable when it directly improves the lives of residents. At Home Group, our focus is on harnessing digital tools not just to make processes faster, but to ensure every tenant feels supported and heard. Scaling with purpose means using innovation to build trust, strengthen communities, and ultimately deliver safer, more sustainable homes.”
His perspective highlights the essence of transformation: technology is not the end goal, but a vehicle for meaningful change.
Insights from Amplius
Vicky Askey, Director of Strategy and Transformation at Amplius, underscores the importance of scale with impact:
“Scaling with technology is about enablement, working smarter not harder to deliver great outcomes. When digital solutions are designed around people, colleagues feel invested and empowered, residents feel supported and heard, and organisations can move at pace. True change and transformation comes when technology helps us focus less on administration and more on outcomes that matter: safe, sustainable homes and thriving communities.”
Her comment reflects a wider truth in the sector: technology delivers value when it reshapes culture, improves daily work, and strengthens resident trust.
The Future of Housing
Scaling with purpose will define the future of social housing. It is not about technology for technology’s sake, but about creating a sector that listens, learns, and acts with residents at its heart. By embedding intelligence into operations, connecting data across silos, and designing services inclusively, providers can move from reactive firefighting to proactive service excellence.
At Plentific, we believe technology should be the enabler of this shift, not the driver. The real driver is purpose: a commitment to safer homes, stronger communities, and trust between providers and residents.
For those who want to explore these lessons further, join Vicky Askey, Paul Walker and me at The Housing Community Summit.
Scaling with Purpose – How Technology is Reshaping Social Housing
📍 Location: Liverpool Exhibition Centre, The Housing Community Summit 2025
🗓 Date: Monday, 9th September, Time: 12:45 – 13:25
🎙 Speakers: Vicky Askey, Director of Strategy and Transformation at Amplius; Paul Walker, Executive Director at Home Group; Emily Shaw, Senior Director Product Lead at Plentific
The conversation will highlight real-world examples that show how technology can reshape the sector for the better, always with purpose at its core. Whether organisations are just beginning their digital transformation or seeking to optimise established systems, there will be valuable lessons and tangible takeaways to apply.
We will delve into how organisations are leveraging cloud solutions, data analytics, AI, and IoT to scale effectively. The focus is on practical, actionable impact: streamlining processes, reducing void periods, improving asset management, and enabling predictive maintenance. We will also explore how digital platforms foster stronger tenant engagement by improving communication, enabling self-service, and supporting independent living at scale. And, critically, we will examine how technology helps providers meet evolving regulatory requirements, particularly around building safety and tackling issues like damp and mould.
If you can’t make it to The Housing Community Summit, book a meeting with our team to discover how scaling with purpose can transform your business.
