Looking Back on 2023

2023 has been a hugely exciting year for MyDriveTime, and 2024 promises to be even more so. Launching a completely new app that sets a higher standard in business management is no mean feat, and we can say with hands on our hearts that it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of you, our user community. 

MyDriveTime version 2 (MDT2) is much more powerful than its predecessor and is built on a substantial framework which allows for new features to be added easily. Expect it to grow and to grow quickly.

Whilst primarily an app for driving instructors, we recognise that your pupils are an essential and important part of what you do and so we have developed a modern, original student interface to help them throughout their learning journey; something we will continue to enhance as we move into 2024.

Released in January 2023, originally in beta mode, initially there was some reluctance from existing customers to migrate from something so known and comfortable (MDT1) to something so new and different (MDT2) - change is always scary, right? Our appreciation to those who were willing to continue to trust us with their business cannot be understated and we recognise that their pioneering spirit has helped to progress our app to the point it is now.

Almost a year in, with the beta phase well in the past, many have migrated and are using the app every day. It is still a work in progress, but what is already there does precisely what it is designed to do. We are always open to new ideas and will give any suggestions due consideration. Additionally, we are constantly looking at how we can improve the app, making full use of the technology that is now available as well as our own experience. Ultimately, we will try to provide those features which bring the most value to your business.

Watch out - Emma's here

As if releasing MDT2 wasn't enough, I joined the team in the summer of 2023 as well. I'd been consulting with the team for a while, offering my wealth of experience as an ADI and more opinions than you'd find at an ADI convention so they decided to invite me on board. How little they realised............

With my Quality Assurance hat plonked firmly on my head, my responsibility is making sure that nothing leaves MDT Towers unless it has been thoroughly tested by me. Locked in a little room (not the little room), I spend hours thrashing the app to within an inch of its life before emerging triumphantly declaring "It's a green light - you can release it".

Then I put on my Blogging/Vlogging hat and tell you all about the wondrous things that are coming your way, including how to use them.

I wish I could say that I find every conceivable bug but somehow you guys always manage to do something I'd never even thought of and so I have to swap hats to Support and try to resolve it. Haha, you can never escape me...!

Time off over Christmas?

Christmas is a great time to relax, spending time with family and friends, eating, drinking and spending too much and we hope that you do all of those as much as you want to. However, if you are anything like me, you might be bored by the 27th and looking for an alternative to rubbish TV or The Sound of Music for the 20th year in a row - and, by the way, Die Hard is NOT a Christmas movie!

If that's the case perhaps this would be the ideal opportunity to migrate if you have been invited to do so. Alternatively, if you don't already have a MyDriveTime account, why not sign up for a free trial?

It would give you time to watch some non-Christmas videos - supplied by MyDriveTime - and familiarise yourself with the app.

The festive season may also provide a chance to immerse yourself into the more premium features.

Our Reflective Log feature offers you and your students a more focussed, client-centered experience with lots of flexibility in the questions you ask through your own question database - perhaps now would be a good time to try this out?

Our Syllabus Manager is another powerful feature which gives you full control, and your students visibility, over their progress - another area to investigate perhaps?

Christmas Hours

Although we are officially closed between Christmas and New Year (25^th Dec to 1^st Jan), our support channels are always open and being monitored - because we get bored too!

So if you have any questions or issues please email support@mydrivetime.co.uk and we will respond when we can - between glasses of wine and the nth mince pie! 

Looking back at 2023

Sometimes when you are really, really busy you lose track of how far you've travelled and what you've achieved. It's only when you take a moment to reflect that you realise your accomplishments.

So, as much for our benefit as yours, this is what we have achieved in 2023.

Looking ahead to 2024

Whereas we were probably (secretly) nervous about 2023, we are tremendously excited about 2024. We have so many features planned that it will be a year of mammoth growth for us - and our review of 2024 will probably be 3 times as long as this blog!

It's also our 10th anniversary - yes, it really has been that long - so expect some serious celebrations a bit later in the year.

Some of the changes we have planned are known already but there are many changes which we are not talking about - yet. These changes will blow you away because they are completely new, groundbreaking and, in the words of the inimitable Craig Revel Horwood, both A-ma-zing and Fab-u-lous!

We're keeping those changes under our (very large) hat at the moment but be assured, when it's time, we'll let you know. Until then, here's a reminder of some of the enhancements which we've already talked about.

• Diary Gaps 
• Payment Status 
• Integrated Payments
• Enquiry Management 
• Team Expansion & Management 
• 3^rd Party Calendar Integration 
• Driving Test Success Integration 
• Enhanced Student Access Revocation 
• ... and lots more!

It just remains for me, on behalf of everyone at MDT Towers, to wish all of you:

Best Wishes

Emma