Our IVR vendor, Selectron, is performing a server upgrade that will go live at the same time as the Azure Cloud migration for the Accela database. This IVR upgrade will include a version upgrade to the latest software version and all existing functionality of the present IVR will be maintained. We will be replacing Accela’s GovXML interface with Construct API which opens up the door for new functionality and enhancements – some of these will include a much-improved Request Comment for inspections scheduled with IVR (in the Inspection List and Inspection Detail), more information for those agencies that receive IVR contractor messages via email, and some functional improvements to the overall call flow.

Looking ahead!! We are excited that our vendor Selectron will also be introducing a new text-based inspection scheduling option (SelecTXT) for customers that is very fast and easy, offering one more way for customers to schedule with your agencies.

We are planning to upgrade PRODUCTION from Accela Civic Platform version 8.0.3.0.2 to 9.1.3 on Monday, October 9th.  This version is advertised to fix up to 15 cases that we have submitted to Accela based on feedback we received from you.  The ePermitting team has tested this new version for OSM agencies for some time but we would like you to test out your daily activities in the TRAINING environment where we have copied PRODUCTION data, as of 8/17/2017.  This is your opportunity to find bugs in the software BEFORE we upgrade so please take some extra time to do this important testing.  Custom agencies (Lane County, SWS, MHODS) and the remaining D14 agencies (Lake Oswego, Lebanon) are responsible for testing their own configuration, as our focus is OSM agencies, so we do not test these agencies.  On a related note, we mentioned in a previous newsletter that we were working with Accela on a project to move our hosted environment off of Accela servers located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and onto a true cloud-hosted service called Microsoft Azure.  This project did not align with our 9.1.3 version upgrade schedule so we are postponing this move.  The Monthly Focus Training for October will be on Wednesday, October 4 from 1:30 – 2:30 where we will go over the new Workflow Card View and fixed bugs in 9.1.3.  This training will be open to all ePermitting agencies, with sign up information coming in the October newsletter.  Please send an email to [email protected] if you see any errors or issues while testing.

As we mentioned last month, we are going to begin testing of Civic Platform Version 9.1 this month in our DEV environment.  This version is advertised to fix up to 15 cases that we have submitted to Accela based on feedback we receive from our end users (that’s you!).  This includes the “5 MB” error users get when attempting to email reports, like the Building Permit or Receipt.  It is also rumored to fix the intermittent “Contact your agency administrator” error when scheduling inspections, updating workflow, etc.  In addition,  we are working hand-in-hand with the Accela infrastructure team on a project that will be taking place behind the scenes to move our hosted environment off of Accela servers located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and onto a true cloud-hosted service called Microsoft Azure.  The software will still be maintained by Accela and configured by the State ePermitting Program, but the hardware will be hosted and maintained by Microsoft.  If testing of the cloud-hosted environment is successful, we will move each environment, including Production, to this new platform as we install 9.1.  The biggest benefit you will see is increased performance and speed.

Accela will be releasing Civic Platform version 9.1 in the next few weeks.  We plan to install this new version in our DEV environment and begin our internal process of rigorous testing at the beginning of July with the expectation of installing 9.1 in Production by Fall/Winter 2017.  We would like to move as quickly as possible to test and finally install this version into Production because it should fix the “5 MB” error users get when attempting to email reports, like the Building Permit or Receipt.  It is rumored to also fix the intermittent “Contact your agency administrator” error.  And it has been advertised to be compatible with Microsoft Edge, which is the newest browser version that many agencies are upgrading to.  You will hear more about this project and see full release notes in the next several months when we are ready for agency staff to begin their testing of this new version.

Note: Civic Platform version 8.0.3.0.2 is currently installed in Production.  You can always check the software version in Production by going to this URL:
https://av.prod.oregon.accela.com/portlets/version.jsp

Soon we will be reviewing all of the OSM inspection reports to make them more efficient, accurate, and useful across all of our agencies.  We are soliciting feedback regarding changes to the inspection reports and would appreciate your input and suggestions by sending an email to [email protected].