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The Analysis Enforcement Focus


Technology for the enforcement industry


In the modern world, enforcement companies need to be at the head of technological developments to offer the best service to all stakeholders


Alan Smith Director – corporate governance, High Court Enforcement Group alan.smith@hcegroup.co.uk


Whilst the enforcement industry’s origins date back to the sheriffs of the Middle Ages, twenty-first century enforcement companies make extensive use of technology across a number of areas, not least to improve recovery rates.


Main stakeholders There are four main stakeholders who can benefit from good quality enforcement technology: l Solicitors l Creditors l Debtors l Enforcement companies For solicitors and creditors, they can have


the option to instantly instruct a High Court Enforcement Officer (HCEO) online or via a client portal. Client portals should provide the case


history, with information on action and progress on a case, as well as the ability to upload documents or evidence to assist the enforcement. At HCE Group, some of our legal clients


take a direct feed from our portal straight into their case-management system, to have all the information together in one place.


technology and embracing change is a must for the enforcement industry, as with other industries, as a means of continuously improving performance and efficiency to better support solicitors, creditors, and debtors


Keeping abreast of


Debtors For debtors, technology is primarily about providing easy ways to pay and manage their repayments. This can include options such as mobilephone apps that allow the debtor to see what they owe, whether they are up-to-date with repayments, and the ability to pay from the app. Our app also allows debtors to add other cases that we are managing, so they can obtain a single view of their debts.


Enforcement companies For enforcement companies, technology allows for the efficient management of processes, such as paperwork and correspondence, fuel,


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and time-efficient allocation of enforcement agents to cases, and reporting. For example, we developed an app called


Remote Bailiff, which all our enforcement agents use. It allows them to print all the paperwork


the night before, plan their route for the day, log all activity during the visit, and take photos and video to add to inventories and evidence. We also developed a custom-built audio


recording function for agents to dictate visit reports, which are typed up to form part of the client reporting. This all saves a great deal of time and


allows the agents to undertake more visits during the day.


Tracing and third-party software Tracing software has also become more sophisticated at locating debtors and absconded tenants, assisted by social media and the broader digital footprint we all create these days. Third-party link-ups greatly support the


enforcement industry, such as customised reporting and integrated messaging platforms to communicate across various media with


debtors to boost engagement and encourage prompt payment.


Training Finally, technology can support training and development of enforcement agents and clients, should they wish. Last year HCE Group launched a Moodle online learning platform,


forming part of the delivery of our Regulated Qualifications Framework level 2 awards and level 3 certificates. Keeping abreast of technology and embracing change is a must


for the enforcement industry, as with other industries, as a means of continuously improving performance and efficiency to better support solicitors, creditors, and debtors. CCR


www.CCRMagazine.com October 2019


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