Enhancing Efficiency and Compliance: Test Valley's Return to PSSLive
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Company
Test Valley Borough Council
Services Provided
Parks, playgrounds and public open spaces management and inspection
Challenge
Switched to a cheaper generic alternative to cut costs but lost EN standard compliance and tailored workflow; had to return to PSSLive
How PSS Helped
EN standards compliance, tailored inspection workflow, cost-effective specialist software, audit trail, risk management
About the company
Test Valley Borough Council is a local authority in Hampshire, England. They manage parks and play areas and require compliance with EN standards for play area safety inspections.
Playgrounds
Digital transformation
Test Valley Borough Council manages parks and play area inspections across the borough, requiring a system that meets stringent EN standards and provides a workflow tailored specifically to the play industry. Their journey reflects a challenge many organisations face — balancing cost-effectiveness with compliance in the realm of inspections, safety and quality management.
Challenge
In an effort to cut costs, Test Valley's procurement department switched from PSSLive to a cheaper, generic alternative. While more budget-friendly on paper, the alternative lacked the industry-specific features, EN standards compliance and workflow customisation that their operations required — creating operational and compliance risks.
Return to PSSLive
Recognising the detrimental impact on operations, Test Valley's management re-evaluated the decision and returned to PSSLive. The return was driven by the need for a system that balanced budgetary constraints with industry-specific compliance — particularly adherence to EN standards and a workflow tailored specifically to the play market.
Results
- Restored compliance with EN standards for play area inspections
- Returned to a workflow tailored specifically to the play industry
- Operational disruption resolved through seamless transition back to PSSLive
- Demonstrated long-term value of industry-specific software over generic alternatives
