Six months after signing a 10-year strategic partnership with Microsoft, the London Borough of Newham is using a Microsoft-based portal to help local authorities share software.
Richard Steel, head of ICT at Newham Council, said the Open Application Sharing Portal (OAS), is being used to share software connectors to simplify links to back-office council systems.
"We have also developed adaptors with Microsoft's help to link via Biztalk to the Local Land and Property Gazetteer, and we are working on a few other systems such as housing and social services, which will be available through the OAS," he said.
By sharing software via the portal, Steel hopes to reduce the risk of using pioneering technology. There is also a financial benefit. "Other local authorities' investments can help with the cost of developing software for the portal," said Steel.
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