Banksia Villages Limited, located in Broulee, New South Wales, is a community owned, not for profit provider offering independent retirement living as well as residential aged care, home care and respite care services. The retirement village features 121 independent living units and is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary this year.
Heidi Pendlebury, Village Manager of Banksia Village retirement living, who has been with Banksia for 11 years, shared her experience with implementing our Operations Management Software, powered by Centrim Life.
The retirement living industry is navigating a period of significant change and adaptation, to succeed operators must embrace technology, prioritise workforce optimisation and focus on creating engaging and sustainable communities for residents of all generations.
I discovered Person Centred Software (PCS) and Centrim Life through my professional development with DCM Institute, where I also met Jodie Prosser, Retirement Living Executive, and gained invaluable industry insights and learned about the software's impact on other village operators.
Banksia recognised a key advantage of Centrim Life is that it is an easy-to-use solution, designed with industry and residents, with an array of features that support both resident engagement and end-to-end village operations. The system provides a number of functions to support compliance, workforce and best practice.
Recognising the need for fit-for-purpose technology to assist with various aspects of retirement living operations, the Banksia executive team made the strategic decision to implement Centrim Life. A milestone was achieved in December 2024 when we imported our waitlist, resident and property data into the system, transitioning from our previous reliance on spreadsheets for record-keeping. This transition marks a significant departure from storing knowledge within individual silos, centralising and streamlining data management and fosters organisational continuity and knowledge-sharing.
Leveraging the CRM system, we have embarked on efficiently managing resident profiles, property details, and exploring its functionalities for coordinating lifestyle activities such as scheduling and booking village events. We have expanded our usage of the system to document incidents and complaints, which will provide comprehensive reporting for PCI and compliance.
One of the most prominent hurdles during the implementation phase has been the demanding balance of implementing a new system while managing day-to-day duties as a Village Manager. Navigating this challenge required a pragmatic approach to setting priorities and optimising time management to ensure a successful rollout.
The online training sessions delivered by the PCS team are systematic and provide a step-by-step approach that equipped our team with the necessary skills and knowledge to adapt to the system and effectively train staff in a manner that is both intuitive and manageable.
The support received from the PCS team to date has been one of the most positive aspects of our implementation experience at Banksia.
From the initial stage, the PCS team has been incredibly supportive during our transition to going digital. The guidance and proactive approach from our Account Manager, Elena Muller, has been invaluable and helped identify and address any issues as we integrate Banksia’s processes and workflows into the software.
The responsiveness of the help function within the platform and the availability of Head of Support, Adam Parsons, has facilitated a smoother implementation process.
The adoption of the new CRM system has been positive and sparked a fresh perspective from staff accustomed to longstanding processes. By centralising tasks previously spread across multiple spreadsheets, the system has effectively streamlined processes, encompassing everything from initial client contact to resident management.
Furthermore, the implementation has brought to light opportunities for integrating existing systems to enhance operational efficiency. While Banksia’s use of the property management features is limited due to prior investments in a separate maintenance and asset management system, the simplicity and user-friendly interface of the resident app is expected to be beneficial for both staff and residents.
The consolidation of Banksia’s data to centralise all information, a venture that is still in its early stages, will streamline processes, enhance data management capabilities, and bolster security through online accessibility.
From a CRM perspective, maintaining a comprehensive record of client interactions – starting from the initial inquiry and continuing throughout the entire customer lifecycle – stands to bring significant advantages to Banksia. Furthermore, the ability to digitise documents and securely store contracts, condition reports, and other pertinent data in a digital system is in alignment with our environmental sustainability objectives and will allow quick access to information when needed.
For village operators considering the implementation of a digital system into their operations, it's vital to set realistic time frames for the transition process. It requires careful planning and adjustment of existing processes. This transition period is valuable for reviewing and optimising operations, to support staff, improve operational efficiency and community engagement, compliance and resident outcomes.
As technology continues to evolve, our market and client base are becoming increasingly tech-savvy, driving demand for online services and streamlined processes. Embracing digital solutions will not only provide my role as a Village Manager more time to engage with the resident community but also ensures that Banksia is well-positioned for the future.
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