Underpin your applications with Microsoft Dataverse

Housing associations often ask us: "Why would we adopt Microsoft Dataverse?" Fair question. Think of it like this: failing building foundations get stronger through underpinning, the process of strengthening an existing structure's foundation.

Your housing management applications work the same way.

Underpinning becomes necessary when the original foundation isn't strong enough, when usage has changed, when soil properties shift, or when new construction nearby demands it. Sometimes it's just more economical to strengthen what's there than start from scratch.

Why Your Housing Applications Need Underpinning

Replace "building foundations" with "housing management systems" and you'll see the pattern:

Your original application can't keep up. Usage has changed. Applications are expensive and slow to adapt. Software vendors underinvest in development and expect you to foot the bill.

Your systems weren't designed for what you need today. New requirements demand changes. You need more functionality to meet new legislation. Working with what you have costs less than ripping everything out and starting again.

Mergers or acquisitions created chaos across your business and IT systems. Legacy housing management apps were never built for today's always-on digital world. They were designed for back-office staff, not modern tenant experience.

This isn't an attack on housing management software providers. These applications are complex. Total replacement with a Dynamics platform solution remains expensive and time-consuming.

But tenants expect always-on services. Meeting those expectations means adding modern cloud applications on top of your traditional back-office systems. Since 2023, the Regulator of Social Housing's Tenant Satisfaction Measures have made this more urgent, requiring housing providers to track tenant feedback and service performance across 12 mandatory metrics.

What Dataverse Actually Does

Microsoft Dataverse and the Power Platform let you build applications without expensive development teams. They work on mobiles, tablets, and desktops. They work offline when your staff are out in the field. They all connect to one central database.

The platform now connects to over 900 other systems (up from 200 just a few years ago), making integration straightforward whether you're linking to finance systems, repair scheduling tools, or tenant communication platforms.

Rather than rip out your entire housing management system (costly, time-consuming, and disruptive), you move specific functions into Dataverse one at a time. This gives colleagues and tenants modern applications that integrate with your existing systems. Your housing management system stays as your main database for properties and tenants, handling the complex housing-specific functions it was built for.

You can also build tenant-facing portals using Power Pages, letting residents log repairs, view rent statements, or update their details online without calling your office. Digitising tenant services has become essential for meeting modern expectations whilst reducing contact centre volumes.

Your IT applications profile could look like this:

A Real Example

mhs homes, Kent's largest independent social landlord managing over 9,500 homes, approached us in 2022. They needed to meet new Tenant Satisfaction Measures but their manual telephone surveys were time-consuming and limited response volumes.

We implemented Dynamics 365 Customer Voice backed by Dataverse, integrated with their existing Capita OpenHousing system and data warehouse. The solution automated survey distribution after repair completions.

Results: they sent 800 surveys and received double the response volumes of previous telephone surveys. The housing association now meets regulatory requirements without manual survey campaigns, whilst maximising return on existing Microsoft 365 licences.

Why This Matters Now

The 2023 Tenant Satisfaction Measures aren't optional. Housing associations must track and report on tenant feedback, complaint handling, repairs performance, and safety across 12 mandatory metrics. You need systems that can capture this data automatically and report on it reliably.

A second housing association came to us with a different problem: a failing .NET Microsoft Access solution managing their supported living service. Built in-house by someone who'd since left, with no documentation.

Common story: solution developed in-house by someone "good at that computer stuff" who'd moved on. No documentation. The whole thing was about to collapse.

We told them they didn't need D365. They insisted they did. "Because it's got CRM."

Common story: solution developed in-house by someone "good at that computer stuff" who'd moved on. No documentation. The whole thing was about to collapse.

We told them they didn't need D365. They insisted they did. "Because it's got CRM."

We explained: you haven't asked for CRM. Why not consider Dataverse? Licences cost less than D365, the platform underneath is identical, and you can migrate apps from Dataverse to D365 later.

They wanted to know more. Dataverse connects to 900+ other systems to bring everything together. Legacy systems were built for another era. Modern cloud platforms are the only way forward to deliver the service tenants expect, 24/7.

If you're in a similar situation, or want to migrate processes from your core systems to a single cloud platform, get in touch. Dataverse might be exactly what you need.

That .NET application? It's now running smoothly on Dataverse. The mhs homes survey solution? It's handling daily transactional surveys and meeting regulatory requirements without additional staff.

Want to explore what Dataverse can do for your housing association? Read our guide on how housing associations can get the most from Microsoft Dataverse.