Case study
From a single download page to a business-critical intranet
- Client
- Sunrealm
- Contact
- Martin Kelly, Operations Director
- Sector
- Gas safety & property compliance services
Services delivered
The challenge
Sunrealm operates in a compliance-driven industry where gas safety records, service scheduling and accurate property data are business-critical. Like many established operations, its day-to-day runs on third-party back-office software — capable systems, but ones that rarely fit every need out of the box.
Thirteen years ago the requirement was modest: a simple web page so customers could download their Landlord Gas Safety Records (LGSRs) themselves. That single page was the beginning of Datalink.
Off-the-shelf back-office platforms give a business the essentials, but the gaps are where time and money leak away — data locked in screens no one can report on, manual monthly tasks that swallow hours of staff time, and processes that don't quite match how the business actually works. Sunrealm needed a partner who could close those gaps without ripping out and replacing the systems they depend on.
What we did
Datalink — a bespoke intranet
Over 13 years, that first download page has grown into Datalink — a fully functional bespoke intranet that sits between Sunrealm's third-party back-office providers and its staff and clients. Rather than replacing the core systems, Datalink extends them: delivering functionality the standard software doesn't offer, surfacing data that was previously buried, and automating work that used to be done by hand.
Crucially, Datalink has evolved with the business. As Sunrealm changed back-office systems over the years, Datalink was adapted each time so that day-to-day operations continued seamlessly, with no disruption to staff or clients.
Automated monthly compliance exports
Sunrealm's third-party auditors need every Gas Safety Certificate for certain clients each month for quality assurance, along with a specific customer export — a recurring manual burden. Datalink now runs the whole process automatically: it pulls all certificates for the relevant contracts, delivers them to a secure SFTP site, and sends an email report of the contents alongside an Excel spreadsheet of the associated jobs and properties. A reliable, repeatable compliance process replaced a monthly scramble.
Bulk data imports — from hours to around an hour
Sunrealm's customers regularly send data in inconsistent spreadsheet formats, sometimes with purchase order numbers attached, all of which needs to land cleanly in the back office. Datalink handles the entire pipeline: checking for duplicates, confirming and cleaning addresses, and geocoding latitude and longitude for planning — then booking the services and updating the service jobs with the correct customer POs. Work that once took staff hours and hours is now completed in around an hour.
Surfacing data that used to be buried
Details locked away in the back-office systems — smoke alarm records, boiler details and more — can now be searched, edited and reported on through Datalink, and accessed immediately by customers themselves. Information that previously required a manual lookup is now available on demand.
Proactive, compliant service scheduling
Upcoming services are flagged automatically, with automatic fuel detection built in — helping Sunrealm stay ahead of its servicing obligations rather than reacting to them.
The result
Across every one of these areas the pattern is the same: identify a limitation in the existing software, then design and build a practical solution directly into Datalink. The result is a platform that has quietly become central to how Sunrealm operates — automating compliance reporting, collapsing hours of manual data work into minutes, opening up previously inaccessible data, and keeping services on schedule.
Results at a glance
- Monthly auditor certificate export fully automated — secure SFTP delivery, email report and job/property spreadsheet
- Bulk customer data imports reduced from hours of manual work to around an hour — fully validated, cleaned and geocoded
- Compliance data such as smoke alarm and boiler records made searchable, editable and customer-accessible
- Proactive service scheduling with automatic fuel detection
“I am delighted to highly recommend David Hutchings and ECK Technology for their outstanding IT support, software development, and business systems expertise. We have worked with David for many years, and throughout that time he has consistently delivered exceptional service, innovative solutions, and remarkable value for money. His technical knowledge is second to none, but what truly sets him apart is his ability to understand how a business operates and then create practical, cost-effective solutions that make a real difference. For over 13 years, David has supported our IT systems, including our back-office software and the development and ongoing maintenance of our bespoke intranet platform, Datalink. This system acts as a vital bridge between our third-party back-office providers and our staff and clients, delivering functionality that the standard software simply does not offer. One of the most impressive aspects of David's work has been his ability to adapt Datalink through several changes of back-office systems over the years. These transitions could easily have caused disruption, but thanks to his expertise and foresight, our day-to-day operations continued seamlessly. He has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to solve complex business challenges by designing and implementing custom solutions that meet our exact requirements. In addition to maintaining our core systems, David handles data imports, customer enquiries, and ongoing system enhancements. Whenever we identify a process that could be improved or encounter a limitation with our existing software, David is able to develop practical solutions quickly and efficiently, often integrating them directly into Datalink. His responsiveness, reliability, and commitment to delivering results have been invaluable to our business. What I value most about working with David and ECK Technology is their combination of exceptional service, technical excellence, and affordability. It is rare to find a technology partner who consistently delivers such high-quality work while remaining so approachable, dependable, and cost-effective. I would not hesitate to recommend David Hutchings and his company ECK Technology to any organisation looking for a trusted technology partner capable of supporting, enhancing, and future-proofing critical business systems.”