Avis Fleet Services: Creative Innovation with Powerful Integrations
Contributed by: Vincent Kelly, Analyst Programmer, Avis Fleet Services
Prior to Laserfiche, the biggest cost and time-consuming challenges faced by Avis Fleet Services were the risk of missing documents from filing cabinets, duplicate copies of the same files among multiple departments and related frustrations that many companies face when utilizing hard copy filing systems.
183 Rio users now manage files from a central Laserfiche repository and give both onsite and remote office staff access to documents with Web Access. All seven departments using Laserfiche have increased both productivity as well as the number of daily transactions processed without adding additional staff.
Integrations Improve Customer Service
For virtually every activity, Avis Fleet Services uses a custom Workflow activity integrated within its AS400 based Fleet Management System. The SDK then facilitates communication with the Avis Fleet Services Fleet Management System through Web Access.
The process works as follows:
- Documents are scanned in at a central location.
- Workflow routes the documents to various departments for processing.
- The metadata is verified against the Fleet Management System. Only key data is captured against a document, and the remainder of the metadata is retrieved.
- Once processed, Laserfiche archives the documents.
- Documents can be searched and filed based on information captured within the Fleet Management System, even if this information is not contained within the original scanned document.
From the archive, users have read-only access to all documents and associated data. The Web Access client also ensures that all regional offices in remote areas can always access documents, giving them the ability to resolve enquiries more efficiently.
A Departmental View provides relevant department managers with the ability to manage and monitor the workload in their respective departments. The basic template is shown below:
“Each department’s process is unique to suit their business needs, but the high level overview of all the processes stays the same.” – Vincent Kelly, Systems Analyst
Workflow integration through the PlanetPress Suite allows the Accounts Receivable Department to automatically link customer invoices, credit notes and statements to customers via e-mail or a personalized Website:
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- The accounts staff creates invoices within the Oracle Financial System and sends them into Laserfiche for processing.
- Workflow automatically links all supporting documentation to the accounts receivable invoices.
- Customers can choose to receive the bundled documents and invoices electronically.
The Traffic Fines Management Department uses a reverse process in which the customer can upload relevant documents directly into Laserfiche for processing via Avis’ online customer portal.
Words of Advice
Avis Fleet Services recommends the following steps to other companies for successful implementation:
- If the integration involves intricate workflows and processes, ensure that all hardware is well specified.
- Ensure that the SQL server does not run on a Virtual Server environment.
- For Workflow design and configuration, make use of Laserfiche’s Best Practice Guide to ensure efficient functionality.
- Maintain as much metadata as possible for field searches to ensure efficient searching.
- Create effective processes to check for the document quality and to verify data capture.
- Manage users’ expectations and describe how content management is efficient and benefits the entire company.
