TRAKiT eases worries, workload in Saratoga
August 1, 2007
The City of Saratoga, California recently implemented the TRAKiT software suite, developed by CRW Systems, Inc., and they are discovering the benefits of their new system. The City went live with ProjectTRAK, PermitTRAK, CodeTRAK, BusinessTRAK, and TimeTRAK in June and will soon launch eTRAKiT, a Web-based application with public access capability.
Brad Lind, Saratoga Building Official, works with PermitTRAK, which tracks permitting applications in TRAKiT, as well as BusinessTRAK, which tracks business and occupational license information. He was initially concerned about transferring historical data and training staff to work with a new system, but a smooth transition has eased his worries. “It is very, very easy to work with and we haven’t had any problems at all,” said Lind.
According to Lind, staff members have quickly picked up the system thanks in part to the application-specific training offered by CRW. In fact, they are already starting to enjoy the advantages of TRAKiT. “The building inspectors love it. It has really helped with scheduling,” said Lind. Saratoga building inspectors are making use of the batch scheduling function, which saves time and effort by allowing multiple inspections to be entered on the same screen.
Lind has seen improvements in his own workflow, especially with TRAKiT’s reporting options. He can now send out his reports via e-mail instead of printing and mailing hard copies as he did in the past. He also looks forward to saving time, effort, and printing fees on building permits, which he now prints directly from TRAKiT using a custom report designed by Celine Chun, CRW Project Manager.
Lind credits Chun for making the transition to TRAKiT so smooth. “Celine just worked magic. She really has a calming effect on people,” said Lind. Chun responded, “We understand that implementing a system can be nerve-wracking...Providing the best customer service is a goal that we always try to achieve, and it’s wonderful when our clients let us know that we’re doing a good job of it.”
CRW’s reputation for excellence in customer service was one of the reasons that Saratoga selected TRAKiT. Lind was impressed by reviews from other CRW clients as well as his meetings with Christopher Wuerz, CRW President. “It speaks volumes when the president of a company comes, on a couple of different occasions, to make sure the client is happy,” said Lind. Wuerz, a former architect and civil engineer, takes pride in serving the needs of local governments, “We’re so excited to have the City of Saratoga join the many other clients we have in the Bay Area and throughout the U.S.”
As Lind spends more time working with TRAKiT, his initial worries are being replaced with excitement about the future of the new system. Lind plans to work with Chun on another custom report to improve his monthly data review. He also hopes to start using eTRAKiT within the next month, allowing inspectors and other staff members to access data while in the field. “It’s so new that I’m still not aware of all the things it can do,” said Lind. “But, the longer we use it and the more comfortable we get, I think it will do everything we need it to do.”
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About Saratoga, CA
The City of Saratoga is located in Santa Clara County, California at the entrance to a historic pass of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Situated 26 miles east of the Pacific Coast and 50 miles south of San Francisco, this attractive, residential community of nearly 30,000 residents features excellent schools, beautiful parks, and a charming, historic downtown district. In 2005, Money Magazine included the City of Saratoga as number 26 in its annual survey of the best places to live in the United States.
For further information about the City of Saratoga, please contact Cathleen Boyer, City Clerk, at (408)-868-1269 or via e-mail at ctclerk@saratoga.ca.us.
About CRW Systems, Inc.
CRW Systems, Inc. is a leading developer of state-of-the-art enterprise solutions for managing community development. Such solutions include software applications for Permit Management, Project Application Tracking, Code Enforcement, License Management, Citizen Response Management, Interactive Voice Response, Mobile/Field Access, eGovernment, and GIS Integration. CRW has been serving the needs of municipal, regional and state agencies nationwide through the TRAKiT application for the past 18 years. CRW offers a complete range of services including training, project management, business process review, data conversion, and on-going customer support. TRAKiT is intended to be the final solution for local municipalities, due to its ever-evolving outlook on understanding the business practices of Community Development Departments.
For further information about CRW Systems, Inc. and the TRAKiT system, please contact Nathan Hershkowitz, Vice President of Business Development, by calling 888-CRW-2043 ext 119, or via email at marketing@crw.com, or by visiting www.crw.com.
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