Under the bonnet, Step has an artificial intelligence system that scans the web to find the most up-to-date publicly available information. The system intelligently interprets this information to build a rich mapping of any service it finds: from the issues it helps, who’s eligible, to which demographics it's best suited for.

Any organisation using Step can also upload their existing signposting resources or directories into Step, or report an omission or error. This allows us to fill in gaps in local knowledge where services don’t have a web presence. But it also enables sharing expertise in a local area, as we can find out, for example, who the local mental health experts trust, and use that to influence Step's recommendations.

Wherever the information comes from, our team of researchers are working around the clock to review everything that Step finds or is uploaded, ensuring an unsurpassed level of data quality.

After Step first finds a service on the web, and our research team has reviewed the mapping the artificial intelligence created, Step will then automatically recheck that website periodically. If the information changes – say a new service is launched, or an existing one closes its doors, our team will automatically be notified to investigate the changes and update service information.

There are further checks to ensure all services Step recommends are currently active. Local users can report an out-of-date service with just two clicks, and our e-shot campaigns also help identify out-of-date information. Whilst it's not possible to ensure perfection, our multifaceted strategy gives us the most accurate data available today.

In a nutshell: our ability to map huge numbers of services at an unprecedented level of detail, allows Step to offer great quality advice. Rather than offering a generic list, Step can compare your client’s profile and needs to a vast array of possible options, and in seconds to pick the ones that are best suited to their situation.