Background

Hyper-Abstract provides title abstracting and real estate research services throughout the lower Hudson Valley region of New York. This company’s information systems were antiquated and were not integrated, resulting in highly manual processes that were time consuming and susceptible to human error. The owner estimated that he was turning away 200% more business than he was taking on. This was unacceptable. He understood that increasing the number of phones, faxes, computers, and staff was not the answer. Hyper-Abstract needed to employ e-business initiatives to grow their company. We looked at those processes in his operation that were inhibiting growth, and then we picked them off one by one, as the company was able to handle the investment required to make the changes.

Objectives

Hyper-Abstract hired Verascend to streamline both employee and customer interactions using e-business initiatives. After a comprehensive analysis of the company’s existing processes, together we determined the need to provide the following:

• A single, integrated solution for billing and document management;
  
• A single, integrated solution for internal order entry and processing, as well as for file searching;
  
• An Internet site that gives Hyper-Abstract a sophisticated Web presence.
  

Solution

Hyper-Abstract’s ROI was both swift and substantial. The company was able to realize a 60% increase in revenues within 6 months, with only a 15% increase in staff. To achieve this, Verascend:

• Integrated the billing and order processing systems to eliminate redundant data entry and streamline the billing process, thereby facilitating substantial growth in order volume;
  
• Developed an intranet system to support order entry and processing, and plant searching capabilities. The system also provides administrative features such as adding and maintaining clients and employee data. This system reduced the time required for order entry from 4 hours to 2 hours;
  
• Designed and built their public Web site which includes a client portal that provides Hyper-Abstract clients with the ability to enter orders, view order status, and retrieve completed abstracts. The client portal acts as a bridge between Hyper-Abstract’s public Web site and their intranet system. New orders and order status changes initiated in clients’ portals are posted to Hyper-Abstract’s intranet system. Order setup and status changes made in Hyper-Abstract’s intranet system, along with completed abstracts, are posted to clients’ portals.