City governments, and the technology that support them, are vital to keeping communities running smoothly. When the City of Phoenix announced it was looking to install the financial management software INCODE, Core was ready with a solution to meet their needs and ultimately advance efforts to serve Phoenix residents. Core’s leaders crafted a proposal to the city council to install INCODE and update the city’s technological backbone as well. Then Core worked behind the scenes to implement the necessary infrastructure upgrades, increase security and efficiency, and upgrade city Web and e-mail addresses.
The Client: City of Phoenix
The city of Phoenix, Oregon, located five miles south of Medford, was settled in the 1850s and incorporated in 1911. Now home to approximately 5,000 residents, the city employs a staff spread over five departments, including administration, finance, police, public works and building/planning.
The Problem: Software and Server Upgrades Needed at a Citizen-Friendly Cost
City staff identified a need for more specialized financial management software geared for the public sector. They found that solution in Tyler Technology’s leading INCODE software, then sought a company to design and implement the new application. Core had the required skill set, and won the project bid by presenting a comprehensive plan to help the city upgrade on a number of technology fronts.
Among their suggestions was replacing an aging server and setting up a new one with more user-friendly features, as well as improved backup capabilities and upgraded features to speed office communication and provide more accessibility to information outside the main building. The staff also desired to change the city’s Web address from a .net domain to a more professional .gov address, along with new .gov e-mail addresses for all city officials and employees. As a public entity, they needed to find the best solutions at the most competitive price and implement them without disrupting city operations.
The Solution: New Server, Software and Domain Name Allow City to Fully Utilize Resources
Core began work on the city’s network after winning a bid from the six-member city council. Although the proposal was not the cheapest of those presented, it was an enterprise-level solution that went above and beyond the city’s immediate needs to set them up for a solid technological future. The first step was replacing the existing server with a new small business server and adding on a terminal server that reduced costs and enabled employees to work remotely. Core then worked with Tyler Technologies to install and run INCODE with Remote App (Terminal Server 2008). They also virtualized the Terminal Server environment with Microsoft Hypervisor technology, which extended the life of older workstations and kept the city within its budget. Core also upgraded network printers and added several point-of-sale accessories including a receipt printer, barcode scanner and cash drawer.
With the new server and software in place, Core was able to enable previously unused features to increase efficiency and centralize data. Their system is now equipped with shared calendars and contacts, a standardized folder and file structure, and customizable user permissions and security. City officials and employees all received new e-mail addresses ending in .gov, which will eventually match a new city Web address. E-mail and other critical applications are accessible anywhere an Internet connection is available. Because thousands of citizens count on city staff to safeguard important records and operate efficiently, the city also opted for a CoreCONNECTED online data backup plan to add another layer of protection and security. Nearly everything was done after regular business hours to avoid interrupting normal city functions.
The Result: Increased Professionalism in Look and Practice of Serving Residents
Server and software upgrades brought the city’s operations to a higher level of proficiency, and the new domain names and addresses gave the city a more professional public image. With all the features of their new small business server turned on, the city can now serve their citizens with increased effectiveness, knowing they are using their new equipment to its fullest potential. The CoreCONNNECTED data backup plan provides peace of mind, ensuring the safety of city records, while the staff has Core technicians at the ready if new issues arise. |
