Information Technology Mobility Platform Process Improvement

About the Program

Category: County Administration and Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

Chesterfield County Information Systems Technology (IST), in partnership with Citizens Information and Resources, worked with the Mobility Services’ staff to create a highly successful computer platform that targets efficiency, and accuracy that removes the “human error” factor. The purpose was to migrate from the outdated Mobility Services passenger information table that used an Access database into new technology. Updating to current technology would automate the process of creating ridership information lending to history being captured and reports created. The second part of the program was to be able to create the ability to validate payment requests submitted by ride vendors through the new technology. Beginning with the ridership and moving to the invoice reconciliation being done by a computer has been extremely beneficial to the department. The outcome has been successful in every way. Passenger registration is streamlined into a system that must be filled out correctly with the proper information and cautions staff when a rider is in the program to avoid redundancy. This program is not limited by the amount of information it can handle and includes several places to add notes which allows staff to record a history of rider updates. Invoice validation is accurate to the penny checking the costs of the vendor’s transportation fees. This system notes errors on the invoices such as: a rider isn’t in the system, riding outside the Geo-fence, or is no longer part of the program. Reports can be printed and shared with customers inside and outside the county. The Excel reports help manage the grant funding reimbursements and serve as a guide to the staff in areas of education and marketing to the residents of Chesterfield County.