Integrating the DigiTV Starter Kit with your existing databases and systems is possible using the Stater Kit plug-in. Read here how it works and what uses have been made of it so far.

The DigiTV Starter Kit plug-in enables Local Authorities to take appropriate key back-end systems and/or transactions and deliver them on DiTV. A full data schema is provided with the Starter Kit, enabling a Local Authority web application to deliver the functionality required without the need for an understanding of the underlying DiTV technologies, (click here to view the Plug-In Guide). 

A working example of this can be seen in the GP appointments system developed in South Yorkshire by e@SY Connects, now available nationally. In this case, users on TV are able to book, review and cancel GP appointments with their local surgery. Here the plug-in is talking to the underlying eMIS booking system used by the surgery, which also offers web and front line interfaces. The sheer cost of unattended GP appointments makes this one of the ‘killer applications’ for the Starter Kit. Providing an alternative and simple-to-use system that enables users to cancel appointments that are not needed makes a valuable contribution to bringing the cost of wasted appointments down. 

As well as benefiting the already overstretched surgery administration teams, the ability to re-use this application will provide genuine costs savings and efficiencies for a relatively small up-front investment. This approach of re-using plug-in development is core to the strategy being followed by DigiTV. 

There are some 4,000 surgeries across the UK using the same eMIS booking technology; this is around 50% of all surgeries in the UK. Whilst there is work to do liasing with local PCTs and marketing the service, integrating this application into your micro-site is now as easy as ticking a box within the CMS. If you would like to know how many eMIS surgeries are in your area, then please contact us.  

The plug-in has also been used locally to integrate with some of the heaviest used databases. In Barnsley the service offers the ability to link with the Housing Benefit system, to allow the citizen to check the status of their account and payment. This means that calls to the call centre are reduced as citizens can check when payment is due, how much they owe etc.  

Both the GP appointment and housing benefit systems involve level of security to ensure that personal information cannot be accessed by others. The Starter Kit passes all information across SSL encrypted lines – the same as any website – then requires PIN and personal reference numbers, to be entered and verified before allowing the user to enter the system. Therefore citizens can only look at their accounts and records of access can be logged.  

Again in Barnsley they have used the plug-in XML schema to integrate with their local Waste Collection database. This allows viewers to enter their postcode or address details and be told on what days their bins are collected. In that this is a frequently requested piece of information – especially around holiday times – this is a quick and simple piece of integration work that can divert resources to more personal and/or involved enquiries. Again this information is available 24 hours a day as and when required by the customer.  

Other plug-ins already working within DigiTV include:  

·       Herts Direct link to their own Content Management System reducing their need to publish news and other content twice. This integration means that they offer a range of information, centrally managed which gives more depth to the service than otherwise might have been the case. Local info, events, onfo on health and welfare services, leisure and learning services and much more is available via this plugin.

·       Wychavon has integrated the DiTV interface with their choice based lettings services, now giving equal access to all citizens whatever their channel. Now citizens can look at the details of the available properties, then bid on those they are keen on. Wychavon's CBL software is provided by Abritas, so now any LA running this system can offer CBL to their citizens as the integration has been completed

·       Fife has integrated a number of their most used databases to make these common services available on all channels and has really good service usage as a result. Databases include: news and events, bin collection, schools and facility closures, unplanned road closures and issues as well as daily traffic news.

·       Avon & Somerset Police now offers the latest traffic news from their back end systems as well as the ability to find out where your local police station is, the contact details, who the local policemen are and a range of other relevant information.

·       Sheffield’s school texting service  

·       Brent property search providing local information on a property such as ward, polling stations, rubbish collection day, coucil tax bands, local schools etc 

There are many ideas around the plug-in currently being investigated by local partners. DigiTV is often contacted by system providers to undertake integration with a whole system, which would then allow all their local government customers to offer the service. To read the ease with which plug-in development can be done, click here.

Future plug-ins being investigated include library services, leisure service bookings, payments, rent and sundry debt, other choice based lettings applications and many more.  If you would like to see a full list of plug-ins live and under consideration click here or for more information about using the plug-in then contact us.