Data Conversion
Zuercher Technologies has developed proprietary tools and processes that make data conversion efficient, effective, and more affordable than most vendors. The integrity and accuracy of the data is second to none, and all conversions are completed before your ledsSuite implementation.
Data Quality
The proprietary tools our data conversion engineers utilize have built-in data quality and profiling routines. All converted data is subjected to the same referential integrity checks as data entered through ledsSuite. These steps allow Zuercher Technologies to create a seamless flow of information that lets you continue to build on your existing data history, instead of having to start over or manually transfer the data.
Discovery & Analysis
Your project manager starts the data conversion process with an in-depth analysis of your existing system. Each of your agency’s departments uses their data in unique ways. Our project manager spends time discovering the processes for each department and examines how that data is used in performing their job duties. Once an understanding of these key factors has been established, your project manager begins working with Zuercher Technologies’ data conversion engineers to create a basic plan of what needs to be converted and how it should relate to the new ledsSuite system. An agency contact person is also established for each section of data to be converted in the event that any questions arise during the process.
Data Mapping
In the next phase, data mapping, the basic conversion plan becomes highly refined. Every element of data to be converted is examined and the plan is expanded to determine exactly where the data will be placed in ledsSuite and if any conversions of values are necessary. A key step for many agencies in the data mapping process is combining information from separate or disparate legacy systems. There may be several fields with different titles or records that are combined. For example, an individual may have a name record in your CAD system from a call for service and also a record in your jail system from a previous arrest. During the conversion, these two records are scrubbed and merged to create one master name file that can be utilized by all modules of the ledsSuite system. If in the CAD system "Name” was one field and in the jail system there was "First Name” and "Last Name”, the mapping process accounts for these differences and ensures that the data ends up in the correct place in ledsSuite. The process continues to evolve with conversion testing. Zuercher Technologies’ data conversion engineers run test conversions using the established data mapping, then they examine the data for accuracy and any concerns. The tests can be run multiple times. That way, when it is time for the actual conversion, everything is where you need it to be.
Extraction & Conversion
Because of the mapping and testing process, the actual extraction and conversion of data is very simple and completely automated. The proprietary tools used allow us to work with logical entities within ledsSuite and abstract the complexity of record level transactional data. The most unique thing about the process is that it is all completed before your agency goes live with the ledsSuite solution. Many vendors activate the agency’s software and then attempt to convert the old data. This can cause unnecessary downtime and stress for your agency.
Data Quality
The proprietary tools our data conversion engineers utilize have built-in data quality and profiling routines. All converted data is subjected to the same referential integrity checks as data entered through ledsSuite. These steps allow Zuercher Technologies to create a seamless flow of information that lets you continue to build on your existing data history, instead of having to start over or manually transfer the data.