K-12 Technology Works


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Everyone believes in the value of process automation. If it weren’t so, we wouldn’t use computers at all. From the beginning, much like the industrial age before it, the information age has been about doing things more efficiently. The efficacy of technology to improve efficiency is well understood. School systems across the nation routinely rely upon computer systems to automate the processes that keep our schools running.

Student information, financial data, payroll, transportation, food service, library, are all systems for which we enjoy the benefit of automation on a daily basis. Email, voice communication, support systems, the World Wide Web — these too have become indispensible for daily operations. Every system has its purpose, and regardless of the version or brand, every system delivers on the promise of improved efficiency. The benefits are evident, but there’s still a question you must ask: is every system as efficient as it can be?

The problem found in most organizations is while each system serves its intended purpose, it does not necessarily follow that the many systems work effectively together as an efficient solution. This then is the realm of Business Process Automation (BPA).

The focus of BPA is to ensure that all systems work together as a harmonious whole, and the maximum benefit is gained across the organization. The net result of a successful BPA project is to increase productivity, while at the same time reducing costs and improving the overall quality of data.

Process automation at K-12 Technology Works is focused on 3 key areas:

System Integration
Most applications simply do not talk to each other. This fact flies in the face of efficient operations, because it means that redundant data entry is required for each system. The sorry result of redundant data entry is not only a serious loss in productivity, but all too often a corresponding reduction in the quality of data. K12TW will work with you to design and implement a data integration solution that will:

Be customized for your environment
Reduce or eliminate redundant data entry
Increase productivity
Reduce costs
Improve data integrity across disparate systems
Provide the data accuracy needed for improved decision making

Work Flow
The process of automation not only requires that applications talk to one another but that people do as well. The method by which the staff in your organization communicate with the applications that automate your processes is referred to as “work flow.” Understanding your work flow and fitting the process to match your organizational needs is critical to successfully optimizing operations.

In order to bring effective automation into your organization, all processes that feed and consume the information recorded in your systems must be understood and documented in an end-to-end fashion. At K12TW, we concentrate on making this happen. We will work with you to ensure that the most effective work flow is defined and documented, and put into operation.

In order to ensure that your work flow is optimized, K12TW will:

Interview your operational staff
Map and diagram existing work flows
Identify opportunities for automation
Recommend actions for improvement
Document new work flows, including flow diagrams and procedures
Provide end-user training and documentation

Gap Applications
No matter how vast the array of information systems in your organization, it’s highly unlikely that everything that can and should be automated is automated. Whether it be specific purpose-built applications that fit your environment like a glove or more general BPA and work flow solutions, K12TW has the expertise to optimize your operations.

Using a multilingual RDE (Rapid Development Environment), we can build custom mini-applications for your specific needs in a manner of days instead of months or years. These small database applications often serve as the glue that connects the dots between the larger systems in an organization. Contract management, appointment scheduling, policy and procedure manuals, meeting minutes, these are but a few examples of the gaps that can be filled. These applications can move many of your manual processes to a web browser.

n cases where more is needed still, K12TW can take you beyond mini-applications and serve as your full work flow automation partner. Relying on the third-party BPA engine that’s right for you, we will work with you to eliminate paper and fully automate every work flow for which there is a benefit in so doing.