City: Toronto
Province: Ontario
Provide a brief description of the Solution, Service Provided, or Initiative.
Helping the the client solve collaboration nightmares, move from paper-based and unmanaged electronic records to flexible and automated Information Management systems and transform data living deep within Line of Business (LOB) systems into actionable insight might sound like a tall order. But for Microsoft SharePoint specialist – NetDexterity – it was just another day at the office. As the only Canadian partner that delivered on the SharePoint 2013 RDP Program (an elite program enabling customers to access pre-release software and special funding), one of a select group of specialized global partners in the Microsoft Business Critical SharePoint Partner Program and one of three Canadian partners listed on the Microsoft Governance, Risk and Compliance Program, NetDexterity was uniquely qualified to help the Region win big. The NetDexterity team proposed that the Region could solve all of their challenges and build a platform for the future by investing in Microsoft SharePoint 2013, and SQL Server 2012, delivered in two projects that would streamline access to information, improve data analysis, and save $3.1 million over two years. NetDexterity has translated years of experience in providing compliant and highly usable Document and Records Management programs into a suite of Apps to enable clients with SharePoint 2013/Office 2013/Office 365 to leverage the platform for all of their Information Management requirements and proposed these Apps as part of the solution. When the Region agreed, NetDexterity rolled up their sleeves and got started. The Public Sector Challenge The call for better government has never been stronger. Citizens demand transparency, efficiency and greater accountability from elected officials and civil servants. Public pressure and regulatory requirements are pushing for governments to deliver more, all with greater economy. Most government bodies operate with siloed departments, unconnected applications and an inability to share information across the operation. This hampers collaboration and puts a stranglehold on business intelligence. How can decisions be made when insights only reflect partial or inaccurate data? In delivering on this engagement, NetDexterity identified project goals against the Region’s strategic plan to become a Responsive Region delivering a positive Environmental Impact. Supporting the area around this natural icon is the responsibility of the the client. the client’s “Keen on Green” environmental initiative provided an opportunity to find efficiencies, be better collaborators, organize documents and data, make information easier to find, automate records management processes, and reduce paper usage. LOB systems housed vast quantities of data. The Region also wanted to access valuable data stored across the enterprise to produce scorecards to track performance against KPIs – finding ways to measure and report on outcomes. The Region had already invested in Cognos for reporting, however, the solution wasn’t delivering what the Region needed. They had been using a limited deployment of Microsoft SharePoint technologies for document and records management and collaboration but were not using tools to analyze the data. Looking for answers they began discussions with a variety of vendors. NetDexterity’s unique position of being the only Canadian Microsoft partner in the SharePoint 2013 RDP meant that they could help the Region participate as an early adopter. A SharePoint-based enterprise content and records management (ECM) solution would provide the long-term benefits the Region was looking for – at the lowest TCO and with the most flexibility. In parallel, NetDexterity showcased the powerful business intelligence capabilities of SQL Server 2012 featuring PowerPivot. NetDexterity was proud to be selected as one of only a handful of global partners for the Business Critical SharePoint Partner Program, because of their proven success integrating LOB systems into SharePoint. This program reinforced their capabilities in connecting independent LOBs, surfacing important data across a common collaboration platform, accelerating business decision-making and process by automating workflows and connecting people to information at the right time. “In listening to the strategy of our commissioners, we realized their common need to quantify the services they’re providing and to better measure their performance,” says Paul Di Felice, Associate Director for Consulting and Analysis for the the client Region. “As budgets get tighter, it’s increasingly important to be able to explain and justify how we spend time and money.”
Describe what makes this Solution, Service Provided, or Initiative original or innovative.
As a premiere SharePoint partner, NetDexterity commits to being thought leaders and accordingly invests in evangelizing Microsoft programs such as the RDP and Business Critical SharePoint Partner Programs to clients. They are often the first-to-market when customers want to adopt the latest thinking. In addition, their business driven approach to information management delivers a highly usable and repeatable framework to meet the needs of the entire organization: 1. For information managers, NetDexterity delivers a compliant framework that delivers on the desired outcomes of enterprise information management. 2. For IT organizations, NetDexterity delivers universally supportable solutions that are delivered to meet security and accessibility requirements. 3. For organizational users, NetDexterity delivers highly usable solutions to support them in their business priorities while delivering on the promise of information management in a meaningful way.
Describe the improvement this Solution, Service Provided, or Initiative made to the customer’s sales or revenues. What changed?
Provide evidence of measurable improvements in sales, revenues, cost reduction, etc.
As a public sector organization, sales revenues are not applicable.
Describe the improvement this Solution, Service Provided, or Initiative made to the customer’s efficiency. What changed?
Provide evidence of how customer efficiency was increased.
The Region was able to realize the following benefits: Benefit – Improved Access to Information Saves Time By moving from paper-based and unmanaged electronic records to flexible and automated Information Management systems, the client has streamlined information access and information management and is reducing costs. By strengthening business intelligence capabilities, employees, councillors, and taxpayers get improved insight into operations and expenses. Legal department employees no longer have to sift through boxes of paper files or piles of email printouts. They easily find what they need with the search capabilities of SharePoint 2013. “I think the biggest benefit is the time savings. There used to be so many places to look for information and multiple email accounts to search. Now we can quickly find the right information, the right version, and the best data.” the client. Benefit – Cost Savings and Reduced Environmental Impact Moving from paper-based systems to electronic records not only saves time and paper it also saves money. the client is currently on track to realize an estimated $3.1 million in cost savings over two years. “Electronic records not only reduce paper consumption, they also save on transportation and energy costs for moving and storing those records,” notes Steve Kopstick, President of NetDexterity. Benefit – More Meaningful Data Delivers Business Insight An improved BI system means better information for municipal decision making. The Region is already reaping the benefits by using the powerful capabilities of Microsoft’s BI platform. This is the first step in an organization-wide corporate dashboard. “Because of tight integration with Microsoft Excel, we can now take data stored in a Microsoft SQL Server 2012 database and display the data and key metrics in filterable, interactive dashboards within SharePoint 2013,” explains the client. “Power View allows executives and employees to look at their data from almost any angle at varying levels of granularity. Employees can use scorecards to easily track both time and performance metrics to be more effective in their jobs.”
How did this Solution, Service provided, or Initiative improve the customer’s ability to serve its internal and/or external clients?
Provide evidence of the improvement.
The Regional Municipality of the client serves citizens in Southern Ontario, Canada. As budgets at all levels of government tighten, the client wanted tools to better track and evaluate how it spends time and money, and to more efficiently manage information. The Region deployed Microsoft SharePoint 2013 in two pilot projects that streamline access to information, improve data analysis, and will save CAD$3.1 million over two years. The Region is thrilled with the success of the implementation.
In what ways does this Solution or Service Provided go above and beyond industry norms and expectations?
The Region was able to participate in this project with funding and incentives from Microsoft because of the commitment that NetDexterity has made to advanced certification in SharePoint technologies, Document and Records Management and Line of Business integration and methods. As a result, NetDexterity leveraged on behalf of the Region: • SharePoint 2013 RDP – The only Canadian partner to deliver a customer solution using the early adopter incentives that the Region was able to benefit from, Steve Kopstick, President of NetDexterity was invited to present his findings to a global audience of 16,000 at Microsoft World Partner Conference in Houston where he shared lessons learned with other partners. • Microsoft Business Critical SharePoint Partner Program. NexDexterity is one of only 60 global partners identified to participate in this program which helps companies implement SharePoint-based solutions that surface Line-of-Business (LOB) data within the collaboration platform everyone uses, to make data-driven decisions with confidence, to manage risk and compliance across SharePoint and Exchange, and to boost Return-on-Investment (ROI). • One of only three Canadian partners listed on the Microsoft Governance, Risk and Compliance Program, NetDexterity was uniquely qualified to help the Region realize project success.
How does this solution further your customer’s green or environmentally friendly plans?
the client’s “Keen on Green” environmental initiative provided an opportunity to find efficiencies, be better collaborators, organize documents and data, make information easier to find, automate records management processes, and reduce paper usage. “Electronic records not only reduce paper consumption, they also save on transportation and energy costs for moving and storing those records,” notes Steve Kopstick, President of NetDexterity.