On 30th June 2009 Sopra Group and Capita Children's Services (CCS) delivered the first release of the PRIME Business Intelligence (BI) product – a key part of a major bespoke specialist BI solution for Children's Services.  Based on Microsoft technology, PRIME BI has been developed for childcare professionals within Local Authorities and Schools.

CCS are the UK's leading supplier of Management Information Systems to the Education and Children's Services Sector, providing modules to over 22,000 schools and 150 local authorities.  PRIME BI will supply reporting and analysis capabilities for CCS's ONE database - an information and case management system that integrates and shares Children's Services data, and is accessed by Local Authorities and Schools.

With recent high profile cases highlighting an urgent need for better decision-making at all levels within Children's Services, public scrutiny and pressure on childcare professionals has become more intense than ever.  PRIME BI will empower users to make more informed decisions by providing more accurate and timely information that is accessible in real time via a secure web-based portal.  PRIME BI will support Children's Services professionals by delivering a number of benefits including highlighting and sharing the 'bigger picture'. It will allow senior managers to track performance against KPIs and National Indicators as well as providing them with a clearer overall picture of what is really happening throughout their organization. PRIME BI will enable better decision making as professionals will have the power to track, monitor and evaluate information more effectively. Not only will they have a better understanding of what is happening, but they will now be able to access more detailed case information.

Sopra Group's BI team worked closely with CCS throughout PRIME BI's full lifecycle development from requirements analysis and definition through to design, build and test to ensure delivery within a very tight 4 month timescale.

"Strong team collaboration really was the key to helping us develop and deliver the right product on time.  We were very pleased to get the chance to work with CCS on such an important project," explained Sopra Group's Client Director, Mary Byrne.

Richard Winstock, Head of Development for ONE at CCS commented: "PRIME BI will enable resources to be targeted where they are needed most, meaning they will really benefit children and families."

> VISIT THE CAPITA CHILDREN'S SERVICES WEBSITE