Skip Navigation LinksHome / Compliance Software Solutions / FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Search:
  1. What exactly does PowerDMS do?
  1. Using your agency’s intranet in conjunction with PowerDMS software, you can electronically maintain your policies and their signatures. You would simply upload your policies to your PowerDMS database. From there, the software sends out policies to those required to sign them, based on designations you will have previously established. PowerDMS then keeps records of those electronic signatures, which you and your staff can view through the software’s reporting module. Additionally, PowerDMS turns those policies into a searchable database, available for both you and your employees to search through via desktop computers or mobile computers in the field.
back to top ^  
  1. How is PowerDMS better than the current method I am using?
  1. PowerDMS is a complete directive management solution. It allows you to place your policies on an intranet (without IT help) and capture electronic signatures (no more signed hard copies). It gives you focus-driven deployment (send your directives to a select group of people), real-time compliance (as soon as your policy is in the Power DMS system you can start collecting signatures immediately) and the ability to print real time reports (print a fully customizable report to see who hasn't signed a particular document). PowerDMS also offers complete revision tracking (tracks all of your revisions and allows you to quickly see old directives at the click of the mouse) and full policy manual text search (your employees can search by policy number, scope, or by a single word contained in the policy's subject or description). PowerDMS gives you all of these advantages and more. Please ask for a demo so we can show you all of PowerDMS' advanced features.
back to top ^  
  1. What types of documents are compatible with PowerDMS?
  1. Word, PDF, HTML, and PowerPoint are the most popular multimedia documents that PowerDMS utilizes.
back to top ^  
  1. What type of system does PowerDMS utilize and where is it installed?
  1. PowerDMS is installed locally at your agency on a Windows 2000/2003 server.
back to top ^  
  1. What are the technical requirements for PowerDMS™, PowerTEST™, PowerSURVEY™ and PowerTRAINING™?
  1. System Requirements
    • Windows 2000/2003 Server
    • SQL Server 2005 or later
    • 512MB RAM (To Facilitate the SQL or MSDE)
    • 500MB of free hard drive space for data files
    • PowerDMS and PowerTest are web-based applications consisting of ASP pages for IIS server
back to top ^  
  1. Do you have a demo disc that you can send me?
  1. There are two forms of demos that we find are very effective for demonstrating our software: online demos and onsite demos. Online demos are a good way to introduce the software to an agency that needs more information or would like to learn about the advanced features of PowerDMS. We ask for ten of your directives, put them in a full working version of PowerDMS on the internet, and then have an Account Manager contact you by telephone to conduct the demo. (The internet site is password protected, and IDS never shares your policies with any outside agency or third party.) Meanwhile, an onsite demo is ideal for an agency that has a good understanding of Power DMS but would like the opportunity to view it further and ask questions with an Account Manager present. Both types of demos are very effective, and IDS can conduct whichever fits the needs of your office.
back to top ^  
  1. How many customers do you currently have?
  1. We currently have over 200 happy customers and we are expanding rapidly. We would love to add your agency to that growing list.
back to top ^  
  1. Our IT department says they can build something similar to PowerDMS. What are your thoughts on that?
  1. While your IT department probably could build something similar to PowerDMS, it would take a long time and/or cost an amount that is greater than the cost of our software. Also, when finished, whatever was developed would be all you had to work with. On the flip side, PowerDMS is constantly being upgraded and tailored to our customers' needs. PowerDMS was developed and redeveloped using our customers' ideas and suggestions and will continue to be tailored to fit changing accreditation needs.
back to top ^  
  1. What is PowerTEST?
  1. PowerTEST is another software application that, when combined with Power DMS, allows you to test your employees' knowledge of your directives. The tests can be stand-alone tests or can be attached to a specific directive. PowerTEST gives you the extra accountability you need as an accredited agency.
back to top ^  
  1. Are PowerDMS and PowerTEST just for directive management?
  1. Although directive management is the main function of PowerDMS and PowerTEST, they can be used for many different applications. They can be used as a training tool by utilizing PowerPoint presentations and/or administering stand-alone testing. They can be used to archive memos, training bulletins, training forms and many other multimedia documents. They also can be used to communicate important information quickly, conveniently, and with accountability if required. We are constantly coming across new ways to utilize the two programs, so be sure to check back for updates.
back to top ^  
  1. Does it make a difference what size my agency is? Can we use PowerDMS even if our agency has fewer than 100 employees?
  1. PowerDMS can be used by small and large offices alike. We a have a number of different options in terms of purchasing user licenses, so whether you have 5 or 5,000 employees, you can benefit from the purchase of PowerDMS.
back to top ^  
  1. How can PowerDMS help me attain CALEA Accreditation or Accreditation for my state's PAC?
  1. The CALEA web site states that they are looking to see that you have a "proven management system of written directives." PowerDMS makes it easy to satisfy the questions posed to you by your CALEA or PAC on-site assessment teams. With PowerDMS, there will be no more searching through endless file drawers and mountains of paper to prove you have a policy on a certain topic along with the corresponding employee signatures. PowerDMS enables you to search your policies and procedures by subject or text, and quickly generate reports on signature status for those policies.
back to top ^  
  1. What is PowerDETAILS?
  1. PowerDETAILS is a web-based application for the complete management of off duty employment. PowerDETAILS takes care of everything from job scheduling to billing and payment.
back to top ^  
  1. What can PowerDETAILS do for my personnel?
  1. Personnel can see what jobs are available by logging in anywhere Internet access is available. Personnel can also choose to be notified electronically through email, paging, cell phones or a combination of the three.
back to top ^  
  1. What can PowerDETAILS do for my employers?
  1. Employers can request officers online, saving your administrator valuable time. Employers will be able to request any number of officers and also advise if a vehicle is necessary. Employers will also be able to set up their detail according to their needs (for example, whether it is a one-time detail or one that reoccurs on a regular basis).
back to top ^  
  1. How do I administer PowerDETAILS?
  1. Administrators will have complete control over the system. They will be able to approve or deny details, assign officers, limit the number of details, and see a calendar of all details and the personnel that will be working those details.
back to top ^  
  1. Is PowerDETAILS secure?
  1. Yes. PowerDETAILS uses SSL technology to encrypt all transactions. This is the same technology used for online banking.
back to top ^  
  1. What about billing?
  1. PowerDETAILS handles all billing electronically. Your personnel receive compensation faster, and your agency will save time and avoid the headaches of handling the billing process.
back to top ^  
  1. How can PowerSURVEY benefit my agency?
  1. PowerSURVEY will allow you to gather critical information quickly and at a low cost. Your agency can then use this information to make important decisions. An agency that values the opinions of its employees will operate more efficiently and have higher morale.
back to top ^  
  1. Is PowerSURVEY easy to use?
  1. PowerSURVEY was designed to be a quick, simple way to gather information for your agency. You simply type out your questions, enter the response choices, and then simply select the group you would like to distribute it to. A survey can be created and deployed in 5 minutes.
back to top ^  
  1. What kind of question formats can you use with PowerSURVEY?
  1. You can use single response, multiple-responses, and horizontal numerical. In the next release we plan to add several more options.
back to top ^  
  1. Can I see who responded to the survey?
  1. Currently the surveys are all anonymous. In the future, you will be able to determine if a survey is anonymous or not when you create it.
back to top ^  
  1. Are you planning on enhancing PowerSURVEY?
  1. Just like all of our software products, we base upgrades on customer needs and recommendations. We do have plans to improve PowerSURVEY. These plans include the ability to post a public survey on your website, the ability to have write-in responses, and the ability to pull detailed statistical information from your survey results.
back to top ^  
  1. What are some examples of how you could use PowerSURVEY?
  1. If you would like to know what your employees thought about a class they attended or a speaker they observed, you could create a survey quickly and obtain that information. If you wanted to know how your employees felt about the department, their health care or their overall benefits, you could create a survey and then receive that information quickly. Of course there are many more examples, but these are some of the common uses.
back to top ^  
  1. What are the benefits of PowerSURVEY over the other software out there?
  1. PowerSURVEY is inexpensive and user friendly, and works with the rest of our Power line of software.
back to top ^  

Free Online Demonstration

Register below and a representative will contact you shortly:

Name:
Organization Name:
Phone Number:
Email:
How did you hear about us: