From John O' Groats to Lands End MOT computerisation is a winner

The bespoke MOT Computerisation system has brought the biggest change to the MOT Scheme since the Scheme’s introduction almost 50 years ago. Computer hardware has been provided free of charge to almost 19,000 private garages linking them to a central database of MOT results.

An electronic record of all MOT tests conducted in GB has replaced the old, paper certificate as definitive proof of MOT Status. During 2007/8, we anticipate issuing 26m new style MOT certificates; motorists are able to re-license vehicles over the internet and a website enables motorists to check MOT status and history thereby improving consumer protection."

Instead of receiving hand written MOT documentation as they did for over 40 years, some 26m motorists  yearly now receive more professional computer generated Certificates and MOT related documents.

Additionally, they now have the capability to use a dedicated website free of charge to check the MOT status and history of a vehicle which they may be considering purchasing. Providing MOT test pass data to DVLA in real time has enabled DVLA to fully realise the potential of Electronic Vehicle Licensing by expanding the ability to tax vehicles on line from around 8m vehicles to over 32m vehicles per year.

This will have brought significant, tangible IT related benefits to the vast majority of motorists in Great Britain. Prior to the introduction of MOT Computerisation, garages ordered MOT Certificates by either cheque or Postal Order. When MOT Computerisation first went live in February 2005, electronic payment mechanisms by credit/debit card and standing order were introduced.

These electronic methods have been enthusiastically adopted by garages; during August 2007, 96% of all orders were made electronically compared with a baseline figure of 22.5% in February 2005. To date some £67m has been collected via these electronic payment processes with up to 17,000 transactions being processed each month.

Prior to the introduction of MOT Computerisation, there was speculation within the MOT Trade that garage staff would not enjoy working with the system thereby leading to a significant number of garages voluntarily leaving the MOT Scheme. In fact, the opposite has been true.

At the point when the system was installed in the last of the garages, there were 18,330 MOT garages in GB. Currently; 29 months later, there are now over 18,900. Garages benefit from very high levels of service reliability; MOT Computerisation monthly availability averaged 99.84% over the past 12 months."

In an internal review in spring 2006, PA Consulting said “MOT Computerisation is probably the most complicated, bespoke business system that government has deployed, with over 18,000 private businesses involved which range from single garage owners in the Western Isles of Scotland through to major national chains in major conurbations”. This independent assessment is testimony to the scale of the project, the successful way in which it has been delivered and puts it into context when compared with other significant major government IT projects.

The results of the independent 2006 MORI garage survey which canvassed garage user’s opinion of MOT Computerisation demonstrate that it enjoys a good reputation amongst the garage trade. Examples from the survey include:-

• 75% say that MOT Computerisation has had a positive impact on their day-to-day work (less than 10% actually expressed a negative opinion)
• 95% say the system is easy to use.
* 93% say that navigating the system is easy
• 93% say that it is easy to enter data.
• MOT Computerisation was awarded ‘Highly Commended’ in the Public: Private Finance Awards 2007 and is a finalist in the BCS IT Industry Awards 2007."

"The suppliers, via a PFI contract, are Siemens IT Solutions & Services who  financed, designed and developed the bespoke MOT Computerisation software. In addition, they  installed computer equipment into almost 19,000 private garages and provided on-site training for the end users. They also provide fee collection and banking services on behalf of VOSA and Service Desk and hardware support for garage users." 

Lands end from the coast path by Chris B Courtesy: www.bbc.co.uk/cornwall/

Source: http://www.publictechnology.net/