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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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  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 record 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.
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  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), capture electronic signatures (no more signed hard copies), 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 PowerDMS system you can start collecting signatures immediately), the ability to print real time reports (print A fully customizable report to see who hasn?t signed a particular document), offers complete revision tracking (PowerDMS tracks all of your revisions and allows you to quickly see old directives at the click of the mouse), 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.
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  1. What types of documents are compatible with PowerDMS?
  1. Word, PDF, HTML, and Power Point are the most popular multimedia documents that PowerDMS utilizes.
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  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.
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  1. What are the Technical Requirements for PowerDMS™, PowerTEST™, PowerSURVEY™, PowerTRAINING™
  1. System Requirements
    • Windows 2000/2003 Server
    • SQL Server 2000 or We Install MSDE(Microsoft Desktop Engine)
    • 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
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  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, onsite demos and online 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 more advanced features of PowerDMS. We ask for ten of your directives and put them in a full working version of PowerDMS on the internet. We 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. Onsite demos are ideal for an agency that has a good understanding of PowerDMS but would like the opportunity to view it further and ask questions with an Account Manager present. Both methods are very effective and IDS can conduct whichever fits your offices needs.
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  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.
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  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 them a long time and/or cost them an amount that is greater than our software. Also when they are finished, what they developed is what you get, whereas 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.
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  1. What is PowerTEST?
  1. PowerTEST is another software application that when combined with PowerDMS 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 and should want as an accredited agency.
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  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 Power Point 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 check back for updates.
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  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 that whether you have 5 or 5,000 employees, you can benefit from the purchase of PowerDMS.
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  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.
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  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.
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  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.
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  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; whether it is a one-time detail or one that reoccurs on a regular basis.
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  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.
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  1. Is PowerDETAILS secure?
  1. Yes. PowerDETAILS uses SSL technology to encrypt all transaction. This is the same technology used for online banking.
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  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.
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  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.
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  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.
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  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.
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  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 when you create the survey if it is anonymous or not.
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  1. Are you planning on enhancing PowerSURVEY?
  1. Just like all of our software products we base upgrades on customer needs and recommendations. We 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 to name a few.
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  1. What are some examples where you would 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 quickly create a survey and obtain that information. Also, 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. These are just a few examples.
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  1. What are the benefits of PowerSURVEY over the other software out there?
  1. PowerSURVEY is easy to use, user friendly, works with our other Power line of software, and is inexpensive.
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