Technology Services

Workflow and Collaboration Capabilities

Introduction

RDA specializes in the design and implementation of Information Worker/Collaboration Technology solutions that utilize a wide variety of tools and technologies. Employing industry standard platforms and servers, such as Microsoft SharePoint, RDA customers have implemented or improved collaboration, automated business processes, and instituted corporate-wide systems for managing information.

 

Collaborative Systems

Collaboration software systems are systems designed to assist people involved in a common task achieve their desired results. Collaborative solutions typically provide a unified platform that provides information exchange, both synchronous and asynchronous, through a wide variety of tools and interfaces. Software features such as centralized knowledge and content management, synchronous online meeting and collaboration tools, shared calendars and discussion groups foster the timely exchange and management of information in a variety of forms and formats. Information may range from email messages, word processing files, and electronic spreadsheets to fully structured relational database content.

A typical RDA developed collaborative system may encompass a number of solutions, including:

• Knowledge management systems
• Information sharing and management systems
• Content management solutions
• Project management systems
• Electronic workflow systems
• Intranet and Extranet implementations

RDA has a team of trained and certified professionals who will work with you to understand your business and your business problems to craft a solution that fits both your technical needs and your budget. With our use of proven technologies and techniques, RDA is ready to help your employees become more productive, and assist your business in becoming more efficient and profitable.

Workflow Enabled Systems

In its simplest form, an electronic workflow system is a depiction of an ordered series of operations, involving people and/or electronic systems, detailing the flow of information from one step to the next. Without realizing it, most organizations use these systems everyday. (Have you ever routed a document for approval?) RDA assists organizations in the implementation of workflow-based systems to improve efficiencies, provide monitoring and reduce operational costs associated with these type of processes.

Workflow systems may be employed in a variety of business environments. For example, consider a purchase order that moves through your various departments for authorization and eventual execution of the purchase. The orders may be processed and treated as a single component which is put into various queues for processing – both manual and automatic.  Processes can range from simple approval or denial to fully automated, complex decision reviews. In fact, even the eventual ordering process from the vendor can become part of the electronic workflow – there are virtually no limits.

What benefit does this provide you, the business? Automated workflows not only improve the process, but they also provide visibility into the process. At all times, the state of the various queues are captured and reported by the system. This reporting can help identify bottlenecks and areas of improvement as well as provide security and enforce rules – both regulatory and internal. In fact, implementation of these systems is often the perfect time to modify your processes to further enhance your business.

RDA engineers work with some of the most complete workflow development environments available in the commercial market. Utilizing sophisticated tools such as K2 BlackPearl, Microsoft SharePoint, and the Windows Workflow Foundation, a unique workflow solution can be designed for the unique business processes you require. From analysis to inception and deployment, we can provide the knowledge and experience required to improve your processes.

 

Document and Records Management

With the ever increasing volume of documents we handle on a daily basis, it is no surprise that the management of this information becomes more important than ever. Storing these documents in an electronic format provides no business value if they cannot be located, secured, and even destroyed in a routine manner. RDA personnel provide expertise you require to design and implement full-featured electronic document and records management solutions using industry standard, approved platforms.

RDA-designed solutions are based on products such as Microsoft SharePoint and can provide a multitude of functions that can be customized for your unique business needs. Features typically include:

• Electronic filing
• Full text search capabilities
• Document security
• Disaster recovery
• Automated retention and disposition
• Digital archive solutions

In addition, many of the functions associated with document/records management can be automated as part of an electronic workflow solution. Document review, electronic signatures, and automated disposition are just a few of the solutions available with RDA-supported platforms.

 

Integrated Solutions

Many business problems require solutions that involve multiple product sets. The RDA team specializes in the implementation of these solutions through the use of industry-standard platforms to provide you, the client, with an integrated solution that solves not only today’s business problem, but provides the platform for your future solutions.

Integrated solutions are created by the careful analysis and selection of tools, technologies, and platforms from a number of vendors. A typical RDA-engineered solution may range from the integration of third-party tools to the development of analysis and reporting strategies.

Integrated solutions may include:

• Development of electronic dashboards and key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Integration of sophisticated reporting into corporate SharePoint intranet and Internet sites
• Deployment of Excel Services for sophisticated modeling of data
• Centralized display of information from disparate systems through the use of SharePoint BDC and other technologies

RDA personnel will work with you and your business to understand what is right for you and how to achieve the results you desire. Our proven track record of implementations provides us with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully implement an integrated solution.