8th September 2010 - A new report, `The Value of Geospatial Information to Local Public Service Delivery in England and Wales' published by the Local Government Group features a deployment of Astun Technology's iShare software platform as a successful example of `Channel Shift'.

 Channel Shift describes how savings can be made by providing applications that allow citizens, businesses and community groups to access public information and self-serve via Council websites. Using the web as opposed to traditional routes, such as call-in-centres and phone enquiries, which need to be manned, is both efficient and cost effective.


The report seeks to examine the economic impact of the use of geospatial information upon service delivery and estimates that GDP was approximately £320m higher in 2008-9 than would have been the case without the adoption of geospatial information by local public services providers. It goes on to say that this could be expected to rise to £560m by 2014-5. The report also highlights additional benefits to citizens from "more effective interaction with local public service providers, including reduced travel costs."


"A featured case study in the report focuses on South Tyneside Council's implementation of Astun Technology's iShare platform. A winner of a number of awards and also featured amongst the top ten sites in the 2010 SOCITM `Better Connected' survey the South Tyneside website is an exemplar of ease-of-use, enabling people to use their Postcode to find information quickly, locate facilities on maps and even sign up for automatic email alerts. These are triggered when something, such as a new planning application or road works, happen in close proximity to where they live.


"Much of what we do for over 30 local authorities who are now using our iShare platform is focussed on encouraging citizens and businesses to make greater use of Council websites, simply because it is easier, quicker and based on precisely where they live or work, said Mike Saunt, Managing Director of Astun Technology. "iShare uses precise location to link information pulled from different service delivery systems, to date we have integrated with over 50 of them and every day our customers are finding new ways of transforming internal processes, delivering more information and improving efficiency."