Automated Licensing System
The Automated Licensing System (ALS) is for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. The system produces one comprehensive system and one process flow that facilitates the issue and tracking of sport licenses and other items dispensed by FWP service providers to FWP customers. The system also allows FWP to track information about all of its service providers.
Requirement
Montana’s licensing system was about 100 years old, and was both paper and labor intensive. The current project was first explored by the legislature in 1993, and development began in 1999.
The project involved interfacing with a number of other state agencies and required use of state-of-the-art technology. The intention was to reduce or eliminate problems inherent to a paper-based labor system where the business process was riddled with inaccuracies, and in which reporting was segmented, inadequate, and inflexible. ALS was to provide accurate and timely information, activity based cost tracking, a smooth exchange of information between systems, and support the analysis of operational activities.
Solution
WESCO developed and implemented ALS Phase I with the ability to issue 55 different types of licenses from approximately 450 locations both over-the-counter and through the mail. In addition, the core functionality allows for out-of-state residency and some disability and landowner certifications. The ALS program also addressed a variety of interface, data conversion, and integration issues.
Phase II modifies core functionality to include telephone providers and 25 new license types, and adds the remaining disability and landowner certifications. In addition, the core functionality has enhanced capability to process applications and select applicants (based on several parameters) for limited special permit drawings.
Features
ALS was designed to completely automate:
- Processing licenses, certifications, violations, registrations, and merchandise for a diverse customer base.
- Processing applications, including drawings to select applicants for limited special permits.
- Processing items by external/internal providers, provider category, process category, account processing (including electronic fund transfers).
Monitoring data communications, hardware, software, training, inventory, production control, and system operations for the Help Desk.
Environment
- UNIX, AIX, Windows NT & 98
- Oracle 8i, Oracle Lite
- Oracle IAS 8i/9i Web server
- Designer 2000
- Developer 6i suite
- Jbuilder 3.5, Jdeveloper
- Oracle XML parser, JNI, XML, XSL, Jinitiator
- Servlets
- JRB 1.22
- Developer 6i Runtime
Challenges
Initially WESCO was hampered by the absence of first-hand experience with FWP licensing gathering requirements, and constrained by the need to use a previously assembled business process re-engineering document.
During the user acceptance phase, WESCO discovered that a change in Web server architecture made the server unstable. At the same time Oracle withdrew support from the OAS Web server.
The program needed to ship POS devices to over 450 license agent locations across the State of Montana. Also required was networking these devices to the main environment.
How we met them
- Prepared andconducted a detailed design presentation with FWP’s technical and user communities. These presentations included questions and answers sessions and a separate review feedback session with lead analysts from both sides. WESCO gathered the information necessary for an effective design and implementation.
- Moved the application to Oracle’s latest Web server, tested the application, and changed the application software to make it compliant. Wrote a compliant version of the replication cartridge, then rewrote the entire replication package.
- Simulated an assembly-line environment to test the installation process, and minimize production and training issues, and thus reduce Help Desk calls.
Benefits to the Client
ALS enhances the department’s effectiveness by:
- Improving the way in which licenses are sold statewide.
- Improving the way in which certifications, violations, registrations and merchandise are sold and tracked.
- Normalizing license processing, thus ensuring timely data and revenue collection.
- Improving item processing by external providers, security access, and account processing.
- Eliminating extensive errors inherent to paper-based licensing.
- Ensuring improved services to the public.
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