Behind the Scenes with Peter Marcus, Director of Technology
17/09/2026
Welcome back to our ‘Behind the Scenes’ series, where we're introducing the people in our Leadership team. This time, we're meeting Peter Marcus, Director of Technology. Peter has helped shape the technology and digital services that support residents, colleagues and services across Poplar HARCA, keeping the organisation connected, secure and ready for the future.
Using technology to improve everyday life
Peter’s role covers everything technology-related across Poplar HARCA.
That includes the laptops and phones colleagues use, the systems that store information, and the digital tools that help services run efficiently for residents. His team also protects resident data, supports colleagues with technical issues and develops new technology solutions when existing products don’t meet the organisation’s needs.
For Peter, technology is only valuable if it helps people.
“Technology should be seen as a tool to aid people with their roles, not the other way around,” he says.
It’s a philosophy that shapes everything the team does, from developing digital services to improving the way residents access information and support.
Building services with residents
One of Peter’s proudest achievements is the development of MyHARCA, our online resident portal. Rather than purchasing an off-the-shelf product, the Technology team designed and built the platform in-house, working closely with residents throughout the process.
“Residents helped us design it and test it,” Peter says. “It was always built around making things easier for them.”
Today, more than half of residents are signed up to MyHARCA, using it to make payments, manage repairs and access information whenever it suits them.
“We were told it couldn’t be done,” Peter says. “But we built it from the ground up, and it’s become something residents use every day.”
Smarter homes, better insights
Technology is also helping Poplar HARCA take a more proactive approach to supporting residents.
Around 4,000 homes now have Aico HomeLINK smart sensors, which monitor things like temperature and humidity. The sensors help identify potential issues such as damp, condensation, leaks and faulty smoke alarms earlier, allowing teams to respond before problems become more serious.
“It gives us better insight into what’s happening in residents’ homes,” Peter explains. “The more we understand, the sooner we can step in and help.”
For Peter, tools like Aico are about more than collecting data. They help teams spot patterns, understand resident needs and make informed decisions that improve homes and services.
“Most decisions are based on data in some way,” he says. “That journey often starts with us.”
