When the UK Government decided to introduce competition into the English non-household water market, it was the most dramatic change the sector had seen since privatisation in 1989.

The new market means that 1.2 million business customers, from the smallest charities to the largest public authorities, are now able to choose their retailer of water and wastewater services. As well as being able to choose the best deal to suit them, customers will reap benefits from the new competitive market in the form of water efficiency and cost savings, improved customer services and new and innovative service offerings.

The Government set a deadline of 1 April 2017 for the grand opening. On this day, all companies preparing to operate in the market, wholesalers and retailers, needed to have their people, processes and systems ready to go. But, before this could happen, the water sector needed one key ingredient — an IT system that would facilitate the entire process.