David Bywater, Chief Operating Officer, State Government, Xerox Services

We’re proud to tell people that Xerox provides services to more than 1,500 government agencies, but why do governments turn to outside companies in the first place?

Here’s one way to think about it:  If you’re looking for a company to paint your house, your top priority is that they do good work.  But in order to stay in business that house painting company has to be good at many things, some that have nothing to do with painting—such as making sure the bills get paid on time. In that case, it’s best to get an accountant to help out. The result? The business runs smoother and can focus on what it does best – painting and keeping customers happy.

It’s the same for governments.  People want government agencies to be good at the core services they rely on every day.

Xerox works with government agencies in all 50 states, using our expertise to improve services that aren’t core to running a government.  There are dozens of services I could tell you about, everything from managing Medicaid claims systems, administering child support payment programs, information technology services, even helping people recover unclaimed property.

There are many success stories.  For example, we’re working with the state of Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services to administer its state-funded daycare program. With our eChildcare solution, the state is saving $15 million annually, and state payments made to daycare providers are more accurate and timely, thanks to the updated technology. You can read more here.  We’re also helping the state of Ohio run a similar successful program.

By working with Xerox, government agencies save money and focus on what they do best and citizens have access to the most up-to-date technology and improved services. It’s a partnership that works.  You can go here for more examples.

By Joseph Doherty, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, ACS Government Solutions

When you drive through an E-ZPass lane or read a book in a graffiti-free park, it’s unlikely that you take a moment to think, “Wow, I’m really enjoying the services provided by my government today.” You may not stop and reflect on it, but a lot of behind-the-scenes work goes into the services provided by government agencies like transportation, healthcare, law enforcement and human services.

ACS, A Xerox Company helps power many of the processes that help governments operate smoothly and focus on their core task: delivering services to citizens. We are partners with 1,700 government agencies and provide services in all 50 states and around the world.

This graphic  shows only a very small slice of what we do, but it’s a great representation of the cost savings and efficiencies our customers are achieving. In Indianapolis, for example, ACS is updating the city’s parking system with modernized technology and services that’s making parking easier for drivers and increasing net revenue for the city. We’re helping states across the country to use a debit card instead of paper checks to deliver benefits and payments, which is saving millions in postage and printing, not to mention increasing convenience and security for citizens. And speaking of printing, cities using managed print services are cutting costs by nearly 20 percent and reducing time spent by employees on print-related activities.

We’re playing a role in building the government of the future, one city, one service at a time. Want to know even more about how we help government agencies?  Find out here.

By Cecile Thirion, marketing director for Transportation Solutions at ACS, A Xerox Company

We recently returned from the 18^th ITS World Congress, a gathering of transportation and businesses leaders from sixty countries sharing new and cutting-edge technologies that can help solve transportation challenges around the globe.

While it’s has never been easier to travel all over the world, movement within cities can be very challenging. Problems caused by traffic congestion, the need for sustainable transportation solutions and keeping the economy moving were common themes we heard at the conference. And this was before our world added our seven billionth person.

But there are answers to help simplify the customer and commuter experience.

With ACS’ innovative mobility solutions, transit riders can board with the tap or wave of their credit or debit card in New Jersey, drivers in Los Angeles have an easier time finding a parking space and the transit authorities in Lima, Peru provide real time passenger information to eight million citizens.

Intrigued? Think these ideas can help your daily commute? Watch our videos on innovation with transportation experts on our virtual event to see what the future of transportation will be like, and in some places, is like today.  We’re working to make your transportation experience simpler, and even enjoyable. 

How about you? What do you believe are the toughest challenges facing the transportation planners who are helping 7 Billion people get to where they need to go?

By Joseph Doherty, executive vice president and chief operating officer, ACS Government Solutions.

Ruth Johnson with Dugan Petty, State of Oregon CIO and incoming President of NASCIO

From helping people with shelter and refuge from natural disasters, to offering child care assistance programs for working, low-income families, state human services agencies can make a profound impact on many lives. That’s why organizations like the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) are not only staying one step ahead of citizens services programs – they are seeing impressive success as well.

Led by Secretary Ruth Johnson, the Louisiana DCFS has rejuvenated programs and improved workflow efficiencies to put a stronger focus on citizens. With help from the human services solutions offered by ACS, A Xerox Company, DCFS is simplifying the benefits application process by allowing citizens to enroll in programs in person, by mail or through calling a customer service center.  The improved application process and centralized customer support system allows DCFS to focus on what’s most important – providing quality programs for citizens.

With the help of ACS, DCFS has implemented a standardized payment system for state-subsidized childcare. By improving security on the caregiver validation process through biometrics, they have been able to save $1.5 million each month. The paperless, web-based alternative eliminates a series of tedious processes and greatly increases payment accuracy for child care providers, reducing fraud and increasing program investment overall.

As a result of her forward-thinking approach to modernizing Louisiana’s technology policy agenda and in turn improving the state’s human services programs, Ruth has been recognized with the 2011 State Technology Innovator Award at the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) Annual Conference in Denver, Colo. ACS would like to congratulate Ruth and everyone at DCFS for their dedication to citizen program improvement.

Congratulations, Ruth!

by Marco Bressan, chief innovation officer, Transportation Solutions, ACS, A Xerox Company

A good public transit system is essential for every major city. It’s the only real way to keep the city moving, avoid congestion and allow the city to continue to grow. The trains need to run on time and get people to where they need to be. But a great public transit system can anticipate changes, incorporate them and accurately predict the consequences of route changes, stop locations and frequency of service.

Sound far-fetched? Maybe – but it is possible, and we’re making it happen. By using a transit system’s own ticketing information, ACS’ expertise in fare collection and ticket processing and Xerox’s research capabilities – the building blocks for making it happen all fall into place.

Xerox has long been the leader in managed print services; managing approximately 1.5 million devices (printers, copiers, fax machines) from multiple vendors worldwide. To simplify our customers’ print operations, we’ve invested heavily in researching the way people interact with technology on a daily basis. And the same research principles can apply to folks taking mass transit. Now, we’ll apply the way we analyze behavior in the office, to create transit rider simulations and deliver tools transportation agencies need to provide passengers with a better and more predictable ride home.

Yeah, Xerox can do that.

By:  Mark Talbot, senior vice president and managing director, Parking and Safety Solutions, ACS, A Xerox Company

A news story out of New York recently caught my eye. A car ran a red light and crashed into a school bus, sending five people to the hospital. Fortunately, everybody is going to be all right. The scary part about all this is that reports show that red light running killed 676 people and injured an estimated 113,000 in 2009. If those numbers don’t convince you that this is a serious issue then take a look at this video that shows what happens when people run red lights.

That’s why the editorial board at Newsday in New York supports the use of photo enforcement to automatically ticket red light runners. In an editorial about the effectiveness of cameras in Suffolk, County, New York, titled More Traffic Camera for Safety, they write: “Red-light cameras are deterring light-jumping… what makes more sense is more cameras.” ACS is the vendor helping Suffolk County deter folks from running red lights.

While nobody likes getting a ticket, a survey by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows overwhelming support for red-light cameras. The survey showed that two-thirds of drivers in 14 big cities with longstanding red light camera programs support their use.

I am not surprised since most people are familiar with the research that says camera enforcement programs reduced fatal red light running crashes by 24% and saved 159 lives in 14 cities in the US from 2004-2008.

While red light cameras will never prevent everyone  from running a red light, they will hopefully make the vast majority of people think twice the next time they rush through the intersection trying to beat the yellow light.

Joe Doherty, executive vice president and chief operating officer, ACS Government Solutions

With governments looking to stretch their budget dollars, any time we can streamline how they serve citizens can be a big plus.

Case in point, what we’re doing in Alabama.

The state had programs to help Alabamans by delivering benefits and funds on a reloadable plastic card—instead of paper checks or vouchers– making it convenient for users of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) and the state’s Medicaid Agency Non-Emergency Transportation program.

With the card programs helping both the state and its citizens, it only made sense to grow it.  That’s where we come in.  The state turned to ACS, A Xerox Company, to take over the existing card programs and expand it to include those who receive child support.

With the addition of a new program, Alabama will save even more by not having to print and mail checks, which can cost about $2.00 per check.

The new program also eliminates the need to wait for the mail carrier.  Child support recipients will now have their funds loaded instantly on a card that is accepted at thousands of retailers and ATMs, offering flexibility and no check-cashing fees. That’s important, because with paper checks, we found that child support recipients spend $9.00 in check-cashing fees. Cardholders will also avoid money-order fees, saving an estimated $4.00 to $13.00 per month.

Experiencing firsthand the savings and efficiency of electronic payment card programs, Alabama has found a successful formula.

So when a program works, expand it. We’ll be happy to help.