2008 Users Conference

"PDS systems allow you to endure budget cutbacks while minimizing cutbacks in service".

Brian Perconti, Perconti Data Systems, Inc.

The 2008 PDS Users Conference held June 5th through 6th at the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort on St Pete Beach presented users with many options helping them thrive in times of cutbacks.

The theme of maximizing use of resources was manifested throughout the conference including the Online Applications session which covered the new Permitting, Code Enforcement, Business Tax Licensing, and Development Review online modules allowing clients' constituents to interface with various systems over the internet thus relying less on limited staff effort and making the most of available resources.

The idea of doing more with less was also present during the session presenting the new customizable Lobby System. This new system can be configured to allow PDS clients' customers the ability to self sign in via a kiosk or lobby terminal which intelligently determines their needs based on a series of custom multiple choice questions, and routes them to electronic queues monitored by CD-Plus and Utopia systems. This lobby system alleviates the human resources required to manage walk-in clients at municipalities using our systems.

Other new features discussed were...

Notification System - allowing hundreds of notifications per day to be sent to customers without any staff intervention required. This is a huge time savings for staff and increases customer service and communication.

Hydrant Module - allows for the recording and printing of hydrant tests, including automated fire flow calculations. Now, from within CD-Plus or Utopia, users can track initial or annual testing of hydrants on a subdivision or project basis.

Plan Header Module - allows for the processing of site or building plans independent of any permit or development application. This allows the jurisdiction to process and charge for plans reviews independent of other application processes - a valuable revenue source.

Enhanced Security Improvements - security may now be implemented at the form, tab, or screen element level on all major forms, such as address, permit, or project.

"Your ideas drive our system"

Brian Perconti, Perconti Data Systems, Inc.

Users got a chance to contribute their ideas during the Developer Discussion session. This valuable session is usually the most fruitful for PDS as it is the one where users directly voice their wishes for the system. There was much very useful feedback this year and we are already working on implementing these suggestions and making the CD-Plus systems even better.

A noteworthy presentation was made by Duane Green of ProjectDox demonstrating the power of the online plan submission and review product that will interface with CD-Plus. This collaboration will not only optimize these processes in terms of efforts involved, but will present the potential of transforming plan submission and review, which required several copies of large maps and documents to be made, into a completely paperless and more environmentally friendly process. To go even further, for every document downloaded from ProjectDox, Avolve Software will donate a tree to be planted to replace the trees lost in the California fires!

Overall, users were excited to see the new modules available to them as they directly tied into increasing their productivity in times of slimming resources.

" ... let me thank Perconti for a great and very informative conference, it's always good to attend your conferences."

Claudia Carlton, City of Oakland Park