TRAKiT provides integrated software solutions for Blacksburg
January 24, 2008
In June 2007, the Planning and Engineering Department of the Town of Blacksburg, Virginia went live with the TRAKiT software suite, developed by CRW Systems, Inc., and the program has quickly become, “...one of the best things we’ve purchased,” says Blacksburg Building Official Cathy Cook. Initially, the Town was searching for a replacement to their cumbersome building permit system. However, after seeing the flexibility and integration of the applications in TRAKiT, they realized how a single software program could provide a unified solution for their entire department.
Cook explains how TRAKiT has made her job easier. “In our old system, nothing was tied together.... We’d put information into the system and then couldn’t get it back out,” says Cook. With TRAKiT, she readily views important information, such as parcel history, plan reviews, code enforcement cases, and land owner use, before issuing building permits or scheduling inspections. Additionally, TRAKiT’s extensive reporting capabilities allow Cook to quickly and easily extract any type of information—whether it’s the number of building permits, residential units, or even smoke detectors—in response to town council, in-house, and public requests. And, with a user-friendly interface that is designed specifically for local governments, the staff training and adjustment time have been minimal. “I have not had one single complaint,” says Cook. “It’s nice not to have to worry about software....”
According to Cook, Blacksburg has only just begun to tap the benefits of the TRAKiT system. They recently started using TRAKiT to log inspection requests in real-time, improving their responsiveness and customer service to citizens, and they are expanding their use of TRAKiT beyond building applications to other departmental functions, including zoning and engineering. Blacksburg is also implementing mobile devices for field access, and the CRW technical team has been assisting with the process.
“The follow up is great.... CRW doesn’t just sell you something and then they are gone. They’re always there,” says Cook. Debra Mueller, CRW Project Manager for the Blacksburg implementation, knows that ongoing support is the key to client satisfaction. “We’re still here; you can count on us;” she assures. Mueller emphasizes the availability of CRW’s many client services, including technical support, classroom training, eLearning tutorials, and online documentation. Cook and her colleagues also recently attended CRW’s 2007 User Conference, where they exchanged ideas, tips, and tricks with CRW staff, technology partners, and other TRAKiT users.
Among the reasons that Blacksburg selected TRAKiT were CRW’s commitment to customer support, outstanding reputation, and ability to meet current and future data management needs. The Town plans to further expand their TRAKiT system by launching eTRAKiT, CRW’s public access, Web-based application. They will also be working with CRW’s technology partner to implement an interactive voice response (IVR) interface to TRAKiT that will give citizens and staff members access to community development services—such as scheduling inspections, hearing inspection results, and obtaining permit information—over the telephone.
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About Blacksburg, VA
Established in 1798, Blacksburg is Virginia’s largest town with a population of over 41,000. It is the proud home of Virginia Tech, the largest university in the state. Blacksburg is surrounded by the picturesque Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. The Town’s great natural beauty is complemented by superb shopping, arts, entertainment, and recreation.
For further information about the Town of Blacksburg, please contact Heather Browning, Community Relations Manager, at (540) 961-1199 or via e-mail at hbrowning@blacksburg.gov.
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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