Report It using your smartphone
It's now even easier for North Ayrshire residents to report things like potholes, litter and graffiti - after the Council became the first in Scotland to introduce a 'report and track' iPhone app.
Report It, North Ayrshire Council's free app, means that iPhone users can tell the Council about issues such as broken street lights, fly tipping and dog fouling. They will also be able to track a repair or clean-up job from start to finish with live progress updates.
Launched as part of National Customer Service Week, Report It is not only free to download from the App Store, it's really easy to use. In just five quick steps, residents can report fly tipping, graffiti, litter, roads and pavement problems, street lighting faults and dog fouling.
Report It uses the iPhone's GSP services to pinpoints the exact location of the problem and sends this information directly to the Council. It is linked directly to the Council's back office systems so residents can be able to kept up-to-date on the progress of the job.
It's really simple. Here's how it works:
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Download the app for free from the iStore
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Launch the app when you see something like a pothole, fly-tipping or broken street light
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Create a new report by selecting the pencil icon at the top right of the screen
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Choose the relevant category – we've listed the most common faults
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Add a photo – this allows us to see the exact nature of the problem
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Select the address – your location services should identify the address
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Provide us with any additional info about the location or problem so we can correctly identify it
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Give us your details if you like – you'll only have to do this once as the app remembers your info
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Click submit to send the details to the Council
Customers can lso access a step-by-step guide to using the iPhone app by visiting YouTube.
Once the report is received, it's logged, prioritised and allocated to the correct team. A push notification is then sent to the customer to let them know. As soon as the problem is resolved, another push notification is sent to the reporter to let them know the Council has taken action.
While a small number of other UK local authorities have introduced iPhone apps for things such as checking out library books or booking museum tickets, North Ayrshire Council is the first in Scotland to launch an app that gives residents the opportunity to log and keep track of local problems and repairs.
Report It is currently available as an iPhone app but the Council is working on an android version and aims to launch that later in the year.
The app compliments the Council's existing customer service options – residents can still get in touch by visiting www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk , by calling 0845 603 0590 or visiting one of the Council's local area offices.
Councillor David O'Neill, Leader of North Ayrshire Council said: "North Ayrshire Council is committed to providing excellent customer service and is keen to embrace new technology where possible.
"Research indicates that more and more people are using smartphones and that these are increasingly the preferred method of contact for many customers.
"This new iPhone app is an innovative but simple way for local people to contact the Council, provides our customers with improved choice and demonstrates the Council's commitment to continuous improvement."
The North Ayrshire Council App has been developed as part of the Improvement Service's wider Customer First Channel Shift programme, which is focused on helping Scotland's councils meet customers' expectations and save money by making more key services available online.
Martin Brown, Head of Customer Relationship Management at the Improvement Service, added: "We are delighted to assist North Ayrshire Council with the development and release of the App, which is an important part of the wider Customer First channel shift programme currently taking place in Scotland.
"The App will help meet customers' expectations in the modern, digital age and will enable North Ayrshire Council to reach out to a wider cross-section of the local community."