Computronix Implementation Services

Project Planning

Each project typical begins with kick off meetings with project stakeholders to clarify objectives and project scope, discuss roles, responsibilities, deliverables, and schedules. At these meetings project stakeholders also kick off the documentation of the project management plan. The Computronix project manager, in conjunction with the client’s project manager then begin the development of the project plan, including risk management plans, quality management plans, communication management plans, resource management plans, the project schedule, etc.

Computronix is fluent with all project management processes and knowledge areas promoted by the Project Management Institute (PMI). All of the Project Management quality processes are in alignment with PMI’s methodology as documented in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). All of our Project Managers and have taken a PMI-compliant certificate program. Many have gone on to complete their Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from PMI.

Business Analysis

Our experienced business analysts work collaboratively with your staff, subject matter experts and consultants to define solution requirements and optimize "best practice" and "work smart" business processes for your POSSE implementation. Our experience with multiple POSSE clients can be leveraged to comment on best practices and simplified models for licensing, permitting, remote data collection and external user interactions.

Our analysts can leverage your existing Business Process Reengineering (BPR) effort to define workflows for POSSE. Often, the practice of defining the workflows for POSSE's powerful Business Process Management (BPM) capabilities lead to the need for further clarification, and our analysts can also help guide you through your BPR sessions to further refine the workflows.

Concurrent with the analysis, our configuration experts can develop a prototype of the proposed system to model data capture, workflow, and user interaction using your jurisdiction-specific business processes. This allows for your users to quickly realize the benefits of the new system and comment on the user presentation sooner. As required, we provide detailed business process analysis and/or design documents.

System Design

Our business analysts and system technical designers work with your staff and subject matter experts (SME) to determine overall functional requirements of your system. A System Requirements Specification (SRS) document is produced defining the business requirements of your system.

System design staff generate workflow diagrams defining all statuses, processes and related outcomes. The workflow diagrams are further documented explaining what the system must do to meet business requirements, including any automation procedures. System outputs, such as report generation, are also identified. Included in the system design is an object model depicted with an entity relationship diagram. This diagram defines all objects and their relationship to each other.

For browser-based deployment, a Web navigation model is developed defining how an end user navigates through the application. Computronix follows an established internal best-practice for configuring business applications in a Web environment.

Solution Configuration

Computronix provides full configuration services to build your business rules and workflows into POSSE. As part of the configuration process, Computronix can provide multiple on-site or Web-based iteration reviews of configurations to ensure they meet defined specifications. When configurations are finished, our implementation staff work with your staff to test configured workflows in your environment prior to going into production.

After system startup, Computronix staff can provide configuration changes or mentorship as required. POSSE’s power and flexibility help meets your ongoing and changing business or regulatory requirements.

The POSSE browser-based presentations are a combination of system data and website branding. End-user configurations (presentation of data and workflows) are managed independently of your website branding and content management activities. This allows your Webmaster to brand your solutions and retain your preferred website look-and-feel, or create a new site design.

System Integration

In virtually every implementation, POSSE need to interface with existing systems. These typically include financial, GIS, IVR, and/or enterprise document management systems. Integration may also be required with an e-commerce provider for online payments, your e-mail system or automated faxing systems. Computronix staff have years of experience in system integrations.

POSSE has an open and published Application Program Interface (API) and uses a common data integration component to allow system integration to be managed centrally. POSSE can link to, view, and even update external data with the appropriate security privileges.

POSSE can access any legacy Oracle database directly, and can connect to other databases through ODBC or Oracle gateways. Our technical experts can advise you on the best approach to integrate POSSE with other systems at your site.

For most agencies, access to spatial data in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) can add significant value in helping make sound business decisions. For example, knowing what activities have occurred on a parcel of land, or within a given proximity, is often critical in how to best approach a specific land use request, such as a permit approval.

GIS integration is also used for operational decisions, such as automatic work assignments to your staff based on territories defined in your GIS. This feature can help improve staff efficiencies and reduce operational costs.

POSSE has native client-server GIS integration capabilities with ESRI, Intergraph, and AutoDesk GIS systems, and also integrates with browser-based GIS software for an seamless Web presentation. Our staff can advise you on how to interface relevant layers of your GIS data with your business processes in order to expedite and improve your business decisions while also maximizing the value of your investment in GIS data.

Data Conversion

POSSE^®can map to and utilize data that exists in your current systems without having to convert the data, seamlessly integrating the data to provide a single window to users.

Data conversion requirements, conversion approach, and roles for Computronix and client staff are defined as part of project planning. To convert data, Computronix follows a standard data conversion methodology. First, data is converted from your existing systems to populate the POSSE database. These objects (e.g. people, facilities, equipment, etc.) form the foundation for all business processes and workflow configurations. Second, historical data records of completed processes (e.g. issued permits, inspections, complaints, etc.) are moved into the POSSE database.

In both stages of the data conversion, we work closely with your staff to complete respective tasks. Normally, Computronix will map data to fit into POSSE, building conversion scripts and importing your data into the new database. Your staff would help with unloading data from your existing system, performing any necessary cleanups/scrubbing of the data, and ensure that data meets POSSE requirements.

Report Writing

POSSE's reporting capabilities allows users to integrate a wide variety of operational reports into workflow process steps. Reports types can range from simple operational reports such as forms and form letters, applications, permits and licenses, to more complex reports, such as work orders or reports for tracking schedules or projecting staff availability. In most cases, a copy of each report is automatically saved in PDF format, to provide a historical and legal record. The reports, like all documents, can be saved in POSSE, in an external document management system or file server.

Computronix report writing staff typically develop required integrated/operational reports as part of the implementation process. Computronix will also train your staff in developing reports for use with your POSSE system.

There is an additional reporting warehouse solution in POSSE, where normalized subsets of your data can reside for reporting. The reporting warehouse offers authorized users an up-to-date replication of all production data for off-line reporting, drill-down and statistical analysis without affecting the performance of your production database. However, POSSE's powerful online query and searching capabilities often eliminate the need to develop some types of reports.

Operational (imbedded) reports are written using Sybase InfoMaker. However, because POSSE uses the Oracle database, any third-party reporting tool (e.g. Crystal Reports, Business Objects, etc.) can be used against the reporting warehouse to produce site-specific management and ad hoc reports.

Training Services

The Education Services team is committed to helping you maximize your investment by helping you define your POSSE training goals. Whether you need to begin basic user training, enhance your configuration skills or increase staff productivity, Education Services will help you define and plan your education requirements using an enablement plan. For more information on Education Services, click here.

Computronix recommends and uses a “train-the-trainer” approach. A small group of selected client users are trained first, who in turn train other users at your site. This approach reduces your costs by utilizing internal staff who most often become the de facto Tier One support team that is familiar with the needs and requirements of your individual groups of users. Alternatively, Computronix Education Services can provide user training for all your staff.

For administration and support training, Education Services provides standard POSSE support training for those responsible for maintaining your POSSE environment. The content and length of support training depends on your specific needs and the courses selected. Computronix Education Services staff can also provide mentoring or refresher courses for client staff, if desired.

Computronix Education Services has a permanent 20-seat training facility at our Edmonton, Canada office. Education Services offers POSSE training as well as “refresher” training courses, as requested. A variety of training courses are also offered prior to our annual User Conference in Edmonton in September.

For more information on POSSE training, click here.

Ongoing Support

Computronix provides ongoing support to all our POSSE clients. Annual support includes software upgrades to underlying POSSE technology as well as support from our Helpdesk. Our fully-staffed Helpdesk provides our clients direct access to highly trained POSSE professionals who are equipped to handle support requests related to our POSSE software.

In addition to our Helpdesk, Computronix provides a User Group website where clients can log technical support requests as well as track the status of any requests or issues that they have originated. Issues are handled based on type of support request and urgency, with senior Computronix staff becoming involved to help resolve urgent issues. Our User Group website also provides access to POSSE technical materials, as well as software release notes and related documentation.

Computronix also hosts an annual user conference where users of POSSE gather to share their experiences and learn how POSSE is being used at other client locations. The conference also provides the ability to connect with senior Computronix technical and business staff.

Each client has a designated Account Manager to help ensure projects are progressing, client needs are being met, and ongoing services are provided.