“The Kinship Navigator app helps us to achieve our mission of keeping families together. Any delays in families trying to access services could mean that a child is separated and ends up in foster care and this application solves that.”
Robert L. Matthews
Agency Director, CFSA
About CFSA
The DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) is the primary public child welfare agency in the District of Columbia, entrusted with the crucial responsibility of safeguarding child victims and those vulnerable to abuse and neglect, while also providing vital assistance to their families. As a dedicated agency, CFSA is committed to ensuring the well-being and safety of children in the community, working diligently to prevent harm, intervene in cases of maltreatment, and support families in need.
The Need for Online Access to Social Assistance
The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on the inefficiencies ca used by manual forms and systems in place for the public to apply for assistance and essential child welfare services. The agency knew that to provide the best possible support to children and families, it needed to modernize its processes and make the application processes efficient and accessible online and mobile. More specifically, the agency wanted to make it easier to administer a subsidy program that gives financial aid to grandparents and close relatives caring for minor children whose parents cannot care for them.
CFSA partnered with Quisitive and collaboratively, they undertook a tight seven-month transformative project to introduce a Kinship Navigator platform to streamline child welfare subsidy application processes, optimize accessibility, and bolster support for DC’s community. The Quisitive team worked closely with the Agency to create a public-facing portal and mobile app to process subsidy applications. The result has been a transformation is how the public and staff process and track applications, and has resulted in more families gaining access to essential financial aid that helps to keep children safe and with their families.
Getting the Kinship Navigator App Up and Running
Through close collaboration with CFSA, Quisitive’s team conducted extensive discovery and research, pinpointing pain points in existing workflows and strategically devising automated processes for a comprehensive and user-friendly public website and application. Leveraging Microsoft’s Power Platform Power Pages, Dynamics 365, and Azure Cloud, as the core technology stack, Quisitive was able to develop an intuitive website and mobile application that allows families to submit applications, upload documents, and track important information they need to receive essential services and financial aid.
“Our experience with Quisitive was great. We were under a very tight deadline they brought a team together with different skills across user experience, software development, and mobile development. It is amazing how much work we got done in a short timeframe and produced an excellent product.”
Issa Barkett, Project Manager, CFSA
“When designing the Kinship Navigator platform, we needed to ensure that grandparents and close relatives could access the app and web portal easily. We used a user-centered design to ensure the platform was simple to use and could help these families navigate this process as easily as possible.”
Mark Nagao, Power Platform Solution Architect, Quisitive
Keeping DC Families Together
Since the rollout of the Kinship Navigator program, CFSA has experience a drastic uptake of applications for social services. Close to 8,000 families have accessed and used the app and website.
Reduction in foster care entries
More families gaining access to vital services and support
Better child safety and security
Faster processing of applications and reduced administrative time and costs
“The Kinship Navigator app helps us to achieve our mission of keeping families together. Any delays in families trying to access services could mean that a child is separated and ends up in foster care and this application solves that.”
Robert L. Matthews, Agency Director, CFSA
“We were behind the times. Most people expect to be able to do most things from their phones. They can order food and shop—so why not be able to access essential services the same way and just as easily.
Working with Quisitive was seamless. They became an extension of our team. They took the time to understand our organization and users and brought our vision to life.”
Latasha Tomlin
Kinship Program Manager, CFSA
Empowering Child Welfare: A Transformative Journey with Quisitive
Quisitive’s indispensable role in revolutionizing child welfare services in DC has left an enduring positive impact on vulnerable children and families, reinforcing the power of technology in fostering positive change and social well-being.
“We loved developing this solution with CFSA. Knowing that this technology impacts people’s lives and helps make their situations better is very rewarding, and is why we do what we do.”
Mark Nagao, Power Platform Solution Architect, Quisitive
Your Partner for Smart and Impactful Community Applications
Quisitive is on a mission to empower organizations to leverage cloud technology for impact. We employ years of cloud experience to help local governments, non-profits and NGOs imagine what is next for their citizens with solutions designed to serve and grow with your community.
If you’re a business owner, leader, or decision-maker looking to mature your business with Microsoft’s M365 cloud services and SharePoint Online, you might be thinking about analyzing how your employees use these tools to maximize their value and boost adoption and engagement. This article is for you.
What are analytics?
Web analytics about user behavior can be interpreted to drive adoption and engagement in a front-facing system like a public website or a company intranet like SharePoint Online. The data collected often includes information about search results, page views, unique viewers, click-through rate, most popular pages, peak usage hours, and much more.
Analytics create potential for a deeper understanding of employee adoption. Without knowing how your employees use SharePoint Online and M365, you may be missing opportunities for engagement and increased adoption of new tools. The best analytics solution for your organization depends on your business needs. Some analytics tools are more generic in nature and are applicable to wider audience. Oftentimes, free options like Google Analytics are attractive because your budget is limited, or the procurement process takes too long. But there is more to consider that could shift your focus to a hidden cost that isn’t always immediately observed.
So, let’s review all options before discussing one of the more popular free options, Google Analytics.
What are my analytics options for SharePoint Online?
The audience differs for each solution. For example, Syskit, Netwrix, and ShareGate are aimed at administrators and are usually used for auditing and governance. But others are more geared toward employee focused groups like Marketing, Human Resources, or Communications for the purpose of employee engagement. tyGraph, for example, has focused their attention on a smoother experience of interpreting the data, making it more user friendly. Quisitive is a tyGraph (AvePoint) partner because it integrates with more than just SharePoint Online and we support all aspects of the M365 suite including OneDrive, Teams, and the Viva Suite.
Of course, Microsoft offers their own analytics engine inside of the M365 admin center and a separate Power BI dashboard kit. Without question, both add tremendous value in lieu of a third-party tool. Microsoft has made great strides in the last few years with their analytics, but the scope of the data collected is limited. If you’re not in a position to fund the purchase of a third-party tool, the M365 Usage report is an excellent choice and requires little effort to understand and use.
Factors to consider when choosing an analytics tool may include:
Initial cost and cost of implementation, maintenance, upgrades, and retirement
Interoperability with enterprise systems and devices
Security and privacy
Skill set required to implement and use it
Adaptability to new systems in the future without losing funcionality
Data source compatibility – from which systems can I pull data, even if not interoperable
Google Analytics in SharePoint Online
One of the most popular free alternatives is Google Analytics. Let’s review the pros and cons.
Pros of Google Analytics in SharePoint Online
Compatible with SharePoint Online
Low initial cost if total number of hits remains below 10 million per month
You get to skip the procurement process
User friendly (post-installation)
Learning curve is reasonable, albeit a bit technical
More granular than limited native M365 analytics
Mobile devices are supported
Most organizations use mobile devices for productivity so that base is covered
Cons of Google Analytics in SharePoint Online
Google just released Google Analytics v4 and a migration/upgrade may be in your near and long-term future
Tagging pages for analytics was never simple and remains that way, even in the latest Google Analytics 4. You must be familiar with SharePoint Online administration to install.
Personally identifiable information is prohibited. “[Google Analytics] prohibits sending personally identifiable information (PII) to Analytics (such as names, social security numbers, email addresses, or any similar data), or data that permanently identifies a particular device…”
Support options are limited without a partner relationship
Google is a large company and typically hands support tasks to its qualified Partners.
Lack of M365 native interoperability
Only page data is collected, document usage isn’t collected. There is relevant data to collect outside of SharePoint Online when influencing employees to adopt multiple M365 applications. Google does not offer documentation explaining which data isn’t collected
You will be charged if total hits exceed 10 million in a month
Anyone who has access to the Google Analytics account has access to all SharePoint analytics data
There isn’t a way to keep the analytics data private and segregate roles. Other tools offer role-based security (viewers vs admins).
Privacy isn’t a guarantee
You’ll want to read the fine print before choosing Google Analytics since they often use customer information for targeted ads and predictive search results.
Which tool is best for my organization?
Now that you are aware of the pros and cons, let’s put it all into context.
One of the most common reactions to a paid solution is aversion due to the perception of excessive cost. But just because a tool is free doesn’t mean it won’t cost you anything and may simply be the wrong tool for your business. Security is also concern that might be ignored in favor of a free tool. What good is a free tool if it doesn’t truly meet your needs?
Your organization may in fact already be using Google Analytics and wondering whether to stay with it or move to a new solution. But the decision remains the same because your business is going to change, and your solutions should be agile enough to change with it. Is Google Analytics agile enough to keep up with M365? Google is focused on a wider audience, mostly public websites, and especially online retail. Metrics meant for retail and public websites simply can’t be used in SharePoint Online because the data point isn’t available.
With that in mind, it’s safe to say that the cost of an analytics solution is relative. Not just compared to other solutions, free or paid, but relative to the potential consequences of using the wrong solution, costing you time and energy when you likely revisit this decision in the future as your business matures beyond the free solution’s limitations.
You might think ROI isn’t a factor while implementing Google Analytics because the solution is free. The reality is that if you choose an analytics solution that isn’t right for your business, you could find yourself collecting irrelevant data or more likely end up in an information deficit – behavioral information that could help you motivate your employees to use the tools that organically boost efficiency and output and shift your company culture in a positive direction.
The financial cost of an incomplete understanding how your employees work is difficult to quantify but it’s easily observed in common day-to-day pain points and high turnover. Both could be addressed by leadership who are armed with the added context the behavioral data offers.
The ultimate goal of an analytics solution is to boost productivity but like any business goal, the underlying objective is financial. Increased productivity usually equates to greater cost savings and ideally leads to increased revenue, covering the cost of the solution that enabled your business to mature and succeed. In theory, a paid tool could pay for itself eventually.
Conclusion
If your goal is to mature your business by using an analytics solution for M365 and SharePoint Online, the question you might ask yourself when choosing a product is:
“Can we afford the cost associated with the risk of an information deficit?”
If you’ve exhausted your options for funding and have no alternative outside of the native M365 analytics, Google Analytics will suffice, especially with a tight timeline.
But if you have any wiggle room in your budget and timeline to obtain a paid solution that integrates with M365, you may end up covering the cost with the boost in productivity from increased adoption down the road. It’s a win-win scenario, if done right. You should still take your time to do your diligence and make a confident decision.
Whether your goal is to simply go paperless or to implement complex solutions for big ideas inside SharePoint Online and M365, Google Analytics is a fine starting point and may suffice long-term. However, if you’re expecting ongoing organizational change alongside adoption of new M365 tools, you may better serve your organization by choosing a solution that fully integrates with M365 applications, in anticipation of the future business needs.
Remember, you likely won’t stop adopting M365 at SharePoint Online and might eventually introduce Teams, OneDrive, and the Viva Suite to your employees. You may need a more comprehensive report of usage across them all to make sure your business is headed in the right direction.
Looking for additional assistance with SharePoint Online?
Quisitive offers a team of experts that can help you create a strategy for implementation, manage adoption, build your SharePoint instance, or optimize your current instance.
Products and Services: Dynamics 365, Microsoft Power Platform, Quisitive MazikCare
Country: Canada
For full customer story visit the Microsoft website here.
“We needed to choose a solution that is extensible, agile, and provides the highest level of security for handling patient information, so that was the attraction to Microsoft.”
Dr. Christian Veillette
Chief Technology Officer, Arthur Health
About Arthur Health
Arthur Health, a healthcare solutions company based in Canada, is reimagining traditionally compartmentalized models of care through a clinically integrated network approach. In 2019, Arthur Health teamed up with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and University Health Network to scale a rapid-access clinic model of care for low-back pain. In a pilot, this led to sustained reduced wait times, better access to local care, and higher patient and provider satisfaction, so Arthur Health plans to expand it. Arthur Health used Microsoft partner Quisitive’s MazikCare platform and Microsoft technologies to develop a patient-centered solution that the company hopes will spark changes to primary and specialty care in Canada.
Launching a cloud-based solution for collaboration and care close to home in less than a year
Ontario is a large province, and Arthur Health knew that empowering patients in rural, northern, and remote communities to receive the right care closer to home would require a robust digital healthcare solution. To create an integrated, cloud-based healthcare network that houses and shares information, Arthur Health needed technology that was user-friendly, flexible, and scalable. “We needed to choose a solution that was extensible, agile, and provides the highest level of security for handling patient information, so that was the attraction to Microsoft,” says Dr. Christian Veillette, Chief Technology Officer of Arthur Health.
As Arthur Health began exploring solutions to evolve a clinically integrated network, it was introduced to Microsoft partner Quisitive, a company with extensive experience in both Microsoft cloud solutions and the healthcare industry. “We approached Microsoft with our vision, and it directed us to Quisitive,” says Dr. Nizar Mahomed, CEO of Arthur Health. “The company’s depth of understanding of the Microsoft universe and of healthcare complexities would allow us to achieve our vision of an evolving model of care and care delivery, and its MazikCare platform allowed us to innovate faster.”
The Arthur Health team moved quickly to enhance its digital health platform. It drew on Quisitive’s experience to develop a care-coordination platform based on Microsoft Power Platform and Quisitive’s MazikCare in only nine months. The team configured standardized complex-care assessments for providers in the network as well as customized workflows. Communication among medical providers all over Ontario is a central piece of the new system, and Arthur Health created this critical element using the communication and automation capabilities of Microsoft Dynamics 365. “At the end of the day, you need a process to integrate care because the providers are geographically dispersed,” says Dr. Rampersaud.
Arthur Health then began work on the final puzzle piece: an e-referral service that would allow medical providers to quickly send patient referrals and information. It typically takes about one year to develop and deploy an e-referral service in the Canadian healthcare system, but Arthur Health activated its service in only three months, in part through using the security frameworks in Microsoft solutions, fast healthcare interoperability resources, and MazikCare DataFusion.
Scaling a pilot program that reduced patient wait times by 80 percent to serve more than 10 million adults
The rapid-access clinic model of care was adapted from the successful pilot that ran for five years in metropolitan, urban, and rural and northern healthcare settings. Using an interprofessional shared care model for LBP management that linked primary to tertiary care, the pilot demonstrated immediate improvement in access to care. The average wait time for participants to have a specialized LBP assessment and individualized management plan plummeted from between six and 12 months to two to four weeks—a decrease often of around 80 percent. Many people who would previously have waited in pain and with reduced mobility to see a specialist instead found care closer to home with a physiotherapist or chiropractor supported by a regional centralized specialist. Patients gained unparalleled access to specialized care and payers realized immediate cost savings from a reduction in unnecessary tests such as MRI scans.
The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) approved expanding the pilot to serve the provincial population of more than 10 million adults. Arthur Health’s partnership with MOHLTC and University Health Network helped create meaningful change for patients and providers through the company’s growing clinically integrated network digital platform. “At scale, satisfaction rates for both patients and physicians have remained greater than 90 percent, according to our surveys,” says Dr. Rampersaud. “The provincial program has happier patients and happier providers, and it has significantly reduced unnecessary MRIs, emergency visits, and specialist referrals to deliver a return on the investment from the Ontario Ministry of Health.”
“The next step will be predictive health management through analysis. With the capabilities that Microsoft is building out, five years from now this program will be much smarter and more efficient.”
Dr. Nizar Mohomed
CEO, Arthur Health
Supporting more than 8,000 primary care providers with a clinically integrated network
Arthur Health is excited by the potential for further growth and is eager to expand its clinically integrated network platform beyond specialty care. More than 8,000 primary care providers are using this program to refer patients throughout Ontario, demonstrating that patient-centered care delivers better outcomes closer to home. Dr. Veillette sees the next step as incorporating more features of Dynamics 365 to help providers communicate seamlessly and close the circle of care around individual patients. The physicians at Arthur Health are also excited to explore using predictive models as Microsoft further develops its AI capabilities.
“The next step will be predictive health management through analysis,” says Dr. Mahomed. “With the capabilities that Microsoft is building out, five years from now this program will be much smarter and more efficient.”
Embrace patient-centered, collaborative care with MazikCare’s Healthcare Cloud Platform
Quisitive MazikCare is a robust suite of real-time health solutions that create a digital bridge for patients, providers, and payers.
Powered by Microsoft Dynamics 365, MazikCare is purpose-built for healthcare and is used by organizations to improve operational performance, streamline and unify patient records, optimize the supply chain, enhance clinician and patient satisfaction, improve revenue cycles, and deliver exceptional real-time insights.
Learn how MazikCare’s Care Planner App simplifies the care planning process, eliminates the need for manual processes, and streamlines communication between physicians and caregivers.
MazikCare’s Care Planner App simplifies the care planning process, eliminates the need for manual processes, and streamlines communication between physicians and caregivers. Care Planner is easy to use and accessible on any device, so healthcare providers can collaborate in real-time, facilitate faster decision-making, and improve the quality of care.
Are you currently in the process of evaluating different ERP solutions for your business? Look no further than Microsoft’s two powerful options: Dynamics AX and Dynamics 365 Finance.
These comprehensive platforms offer a wide range of features and capabilities to streamline your financial operations and drive business growth.
To assist you in understanding the key distinctions between Dynamics AX and Dynamics 365 Finance, we have created an informative infographic, that highlights the unique features and benefits of each solution, allowing you to make an informed decision that aligns with your organization’s ERP needs.
Download the infographic to learn more about Dynamics AX and Dynamics 365 Finance.
Making the Right Choice for Your ERP Transformation
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In this eBook, we provide you with all the essential information you need to navigate your transition and understand Dynamics AX vs Dynamics 365. We’ll guide you through the key differences between the two platforms, highlighting the benefits and advantages of upgrading to Dynamics 365.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to transform your business.
Fill out the form to download our eBook today and gain the knowledge and insights you need to embark on a successful ERP transformation journey.
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Learn how Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation has been able to improve productivity, ensure the accuracy and accessibility of financial insights, and increase the understanding of cost drivers for better decision-making with Business Central and custom apps developed by Quisitive.
Streamlining Non profit ERP: Small charity migrates to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central in less than four weeks with the help of Quisitive.
“We knew it was time to look for a new ERP solution that could meet our financial management needs and support a remote work environment brought on by the pandemic.”
Jason Kempt
Vice President, Finance & Administration, ORCF
Overview
The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation (ORCF), an Ottawa-based non-profit, struggled to manage finances effectively due to an outdated ERP system. The lack of multi-segment coding made it challenging for ORCF to allocate costs accurately and report activities to tax authorities. Additionally, the solution’s on-premises server was approaching end-of-life, causing further complications for the organization.OCRF realized the need for a modern cloud ERP solution to address these issues and improve financial management and reporting.
After careful consideration, the organization partnered with Quisitive and migrated to Dynamics 365 Business Central. With Business Central and custom apps developed by Quisitive, ORCF has been able to improve productivity, ensure the accuracy and accessibility of financial insights, and increase the understanding of cost drivers for better decision-making.
About ORCF: The Voice for Cancer Survivorship in Eastern Ontario
Founded in 1995, ORCF supports cancer patients and survivors in Eastern Ontario. The foundation operates two main business lines: fundraising and patient support delivery, providing person-centered care to cancer patients. ORCF achieves its mission by offering innovative cancer research, a world-class clinical trials program, and increasing access to care in the region. ORCF’s patient-focused approach and commitment to providing high-quality cancer care and support has earned ORCF a reputation as the voice for cancer survivorship in Eastern Ontario.
The Challenge: Relying on a Legacy On-Premises ERP System & Server Approaching End-of-Life
Before launching Business Central, ORCF’s on-premises ERP system was causing significant challenges for the organization. The systems’ shortcomings increased manual work, errors, and confusion regarding the organization’s financial landscape. To overcome these challenges, ORCF recognized the need for a modern cloud-based ERP solution that could provide advanced features such as multi-segment cost coding, automated workflows, and robust controls that could operate seamlessly in a remote work setting.
ORCF’s decision to migrate to Business Central with Microsoft Partner, Quisitive, was based on several factors:
Quisitive’s excellent reputation in the local non-profit market
The non-profit pricing offered by Microsoft
The multi-segment coding feature of Business Central
Automated workflows for approvals
Business Central’s off-the-shelf functionality
Quisitive’s ability to develop custom applications for employee expense approvals and credit card reconciliation, which would round out the scope of the project needs
Getting Started with Business Central in Less Than Four Months
ORCF’s finance team worked closely with Quisitive to plan and launch Business Central in just four months.
“We knew it was time to look for a new ERP solution that could meet our financial management needs and support a remote work environment brought on by the pandemic," says Jason Kempt, Vice President, Finance & Administration at ORCF.
The implementation process also involved Quisitive creating custom Business Central apps to streamline processes and improve efficiency. One of the custom applications created was an employee expenses app that allowed users to scan receipts and enter expenses, which would then be routed for approval. The credit card reconciliation app automated data entry and eliminated the need for paper. Statements were sent to cardholders and imported into the app, which would then translate the expenses and route them to the unit for approval.
Implementing Business Central and Quisitive’s custom apps resulted in significant time savings and improved organizational efficiencies. The ORCF was also able to generate more accurate and accessible reports. The workflows for purchase requisitions and employee expenses were much more user-friendly and efficient than the previous processes, which staff members were very pleased with.
“Implementing Business Central was smooth and efficient thanks to Quisitive’s expertise and support,”
Jason Kempt
Vice President, Finance & Administration, ORCF
Getting Started with Business Central in Less Than Four Months
Since launching Business Central, ORCF has experienced substantial enhancements in its financial management processes. Multi-segment coding has enabled them to understand cost structure more effectively, while automated workflows for approvals have streamlined operations, saved time, and enhanced productivity. With real-time reports based on accurate data, ORCF now has the information they need to make informed decisions quickly. Overall, Business Central has been a game-changer for ORCF, providing them with the necessary tools to efficiently manage their finances and support their mission.
Improved Productivity and Efficiency
Automating requisition and expense workflows and enabling cloud-based document storage and retention in Business Central has resulted in faster delivery of month-end reports and easier day-to-day financial management. ORFC’s finance team can now complete tasks more efficiently and accurately, allowing them to focus on more strategic and value-adding activities.
“Business Central has made our entire organization more productive and informed,” said Jason. “The multi-segment reporting helps non-financial users understand the cost behaviour of our business and we can produce timely financial data and reports without Excel," says Kempt.
Enhanced Accuracy of Cost Allocation with Multi-Segmented Reporting
Business Central’s multi-segment reporting (or dimensions) has improved the accuracy and allocation of costs. By eliminating the need for manual work to allocate central costs to business activities, dimensions have provided a deeper understanding of cost behavior within the organization.
Increased Accountability and Better Decision-Making
With Business Central, ORCF can easily toggle between budget accountability and the full cost of business activities, including support functions with different budget holders. This visibility has increased accountability on the expense side and facilitated informed decision-making. By providing a clear picture of cost drivers for business activities, Business Central has empowered ORCF to allocate resources more effectively.
Streamlined Expense and Credit Card Reconciliation
Quisitive’s custom-built employee expense and credit card reconciliation apps for Business Central have significantly simplified ORCF’s reconciliation process. With the employee expense app, employees can easily upload photos of receipts or attach PDF invoices to an online form, freeing up their time and streamlining the process. The credit card reconciliation app automates data entry, reducing the chances of errors and saving time for both employees and managers.
“The employee expense app is great,” said Jason. “Employees can take pictures of receipts or attach PDF invoices and upload to an online form—which automatically routes for approval. This app has saved a lot of clerical time and puts the onus to code things properly on the business user. Lastly, the approved document makes a properly coded A/P entry in Business Central for the accounting staff to post.”
“With the new credit card reconciliation app in Business Central, manual data entry has become completely unnecessary,” continued Jason. “Because the corporate credit card user pre-populates the form with transactions from the bank via CSV upload, everything is done quickly and without errors. This has saved us days of work and ensure our costs are accurately reported.”
“With the new credit card reconciliation app in Business Central, manual data entry has become completely unnecessary.”
Jason Kempt
Vice President, Finance & Administration, ORCF
Greater Accessibility & Flexibility
As a cloud-based solution, Business Central offers ORCF complete accessibility and security. Staff can now access the system and data from various devices, allowing them to work remotely or in different locations. Additionally, automatic updates and upgrades eliminate the need for IT staff to manually install updates on a server or individual devices, ensuring that all users are using the latest version.
ORCF continues to enhance its financial management processes in Business Central while exploring more advanced features to identify opportunities for improvement. With their focus on becoming more proficient in the core product, including the fixed assets module, ORCF aims to stay ahead of the curve. Their dedication to leveraging technology and innovation to support their mission highlights their commitment to driving success for the organization and the community they serve.
Unite Your Entire Organization with Dynamics 365 Business Central
Manage your entire organization with one solution and enable access from anywhere, anytime. Contact Quisitive to learn about your options or to book a Business Central Migration Assessment.
4 Use Cases to Implement in Your Organization Today
This on-demand webinar covers:
Usage scenarios: From small teams to enterprise usage, learn how to enable teams and individuals to democratize your data estate and begin working together on the same data from anywhere in the world.
Data residency & security: access your on-premises data stores securely without moving them to the cloud.
Centralized datasets: Discover how to eliminate report duplication and multiple connections to the same data stores.
Content endorsement: Learn how to help your users identify which content and datasets are trustworthy and authoritative.
6 Surprising Industries Ripe for Disruption by Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) can simplify the lives of workers in myriad fields by performing tasks that are typically done by humans in a fraction of the time cost. A 2019 survey by Gartner shows that 37% of organizations have implemented some form of AI, skyrocketing its investment by 270% in the past four years. Nevertheless, industries have room to grow when it comes to adopting and innovating cloud-based operations through machine learning and other AI-powered technologies.
1. Manufacturing
Automation alleviates repetitive or even dangerous tasks for manufacturing workers, while effectively streamlining operations for the businesses running such facilities. These discoveries, however, are not new, and instead can be seen throughout much of the 20th century. Notably, in 1951, George Devol conceived of the first industrial robot — the Unimate — a mechanical arm capable of moving an object from point A to point B. Otherwise known as the Programmed Article Transfer device, this mechanical arm came to fruition in the 1960s after Joseph Engelberger pitched the product as one that prioritized workers’ safety.
Today, AI not only performs manufacturing tasks like assembling goods, but also helps conduct quality control, facilitate predictive maintenance, and reduce material waste, among other beneficial uses.
Despite the advantages surrounding the use of AI in manufacturing, one significant downside remains. Oxford Economics predicts that up to 20 million manufacturing jobs worldwide will be lost to robots by 2030. AI’s ability to cause job displacement makes the recognition of digital disruption important for industry executives and leaders to understand. With machines performing typically human-powered tasks at half the cost and twice the speed, companies may be more prone to side with the machines. Between 2000 and 2010, siding with AI was all too familiar for manufacturing workers as the industry plummeted by a third, causing nearly 6 million Americans to lose their jobs.
2. Education
While private companies, such as IBM’s Watson Education, have created AI systems to personalize learning strategies and improve students’ academic performance, how educators leverage these tools is entirely up to them. One teacher has begun implementing AI in the classroom to auto-grade students’ schoolwork and provide insight into where they need help. School administrators are utilizing AI through virtual assistants; this technology can announce teacher absences, which classrooms need substitutes, and what forms need to be signed.
Although AI may be useful in the classroom, internet accessibility at home remains an obstacle for students across the U.S. Nearly 15% of U.S. households with school-aged children lack access to high-speed internet, creating a “homework gap” between those with access and those without. Furthermore, AI may only be beneficial as a supplement, and not as a replacement, to real one-on-one teaching and mentoring.
There are still far more ways to utilize AI in the education sector before it truly revolutionizes the ways in which students learn. Policies regarding its application and accessibility must be prioritized.
3. Hiring and Employee Development
The hiring process is one more area of focus ripe for disruption by AI. The technology is essentially transforming the way in which companies recruit. With its ability to efficiently filter through applications, choose the best applicant for a position, and even seek out potential applicants, AI is providing a plethora of advantages to companies — especially their human resource departments.
A recent survey conducted by IBM found that 50% of human resource executives understand cognitive computing has the ability to transform HR operations. Despite implementation, many businesses have yet to scale AI’s usability; a McKinsey report finds that only 21% of respondents embedded AI into multiple business units or features. As such, there is still much to be done to successfully incorporate AI into businesses and fully revamp companies’ hiring process.
Similarly, AI can be used to help develop existing employees’ talents. By pinpointing their strengths and weaknesses, AI can effectively inform managers on what their employees could improve, as well as provide personalized training programs that focus on their missing skills.
4. Healthcare
The potential uses for AI in healthcare are seemingly endless. With myriad departments inside healthcare facilities, advanced technology could provide workers with the collectivity and consistency that they need to perform their jobs well. Just about every department inside healthcare facilities could benefit from AI.
Clinical stage, AI-powered biotechnology company BERG utilizes the technology to forward the discovery and development of breakthrough medicines. In a 2018 Neuroscience conference, the company revealed their findings on treating Parkinson’s disease, and how they used AI to discover a correlation between chemicals in the human body that were previously unknown.
Diagnosing and treating patients, helping senior citizens live fuller and healthier lives, and managing massive collections of patient records are just a few examples of how AI can help this sector. Despite all the advantages of AI in the healthcare sector, real challenges exist in its implementation. Electronic medical records, for instance, have not been as successful as originally thought to be, primarily due to high levels of data entry among healthcare professionals. Interoperability must remain at the forefront of developers’ minds going forward with the industry’s growth.
5. Business Intelligence
AI offers businesses the opportunity to replace old tools, become more innovative, and ultimately change the ways in which companies use their data, by means of automation, data analytics, machine learning, and natural language processing. Retrofitting businesses’ intelligence systems with this technology could help find important data points or patterns that were previously unknown.
The whole purpose of business intelligence systems is to provide companies with insights that aid in decision-making. Big data analytics effectively does this; companies using the product are 5 times more likely to make faster decisions. Banks, for instance, are utilizing AI-driven business intelligence practices to outperform competitors and receive meaningful information in ways that were previously unfeasible.
Data may only be one way to improve business efficiency, but it is an excellent starting point for any company or department.
6. Customer Service
Providing product recommendations, personalizing advertising, and handling simple customer queries are just a few examples of how AI can be used to augment the customer experience. Companies can implement these practices through the use of chatbots, virtual assistants, and other AI-powered technologies.
Chatbots, for instance, provide real-time solutions to customers without the need for human interference. This software application may be used for answering questions, troubleshooting, or interacting with potential customers. It’s 24/7 availability makes it possible for customers to receive immediate answers to some of their most commonly asked questions. For more complex questions, chatbots can direct customers to the proper department.
Personalized advertising and product recommendations are two other ways AI is revolutionizing customer service. AI’s ability to amalgamate individual customer data provides valuable insight on personal preference, as well as geographical location, weather, and even events nearby — each of which may be used to tailor a site’s content to their unique visitor needs. Customer service, as a result, is one field that would highly benefit from disruptive innovation.
The industries outlined above must all be primed for a digital transformation if they are to truly succeed in harnessing AI’s capabilities.
Medisys Leverages the MazikCare Platform to Deliver Centralized, Collaborative Healthcare Services and Clinic Management
Learn how Medisys leveraged the MazikCare Platform to deliver centralized, collaborative healthcare services and clinic management.
In this case study:
Client: Medisys Health Group (now TELUS Health)
Industry: Healthcare IT Services
Products and Services: Quisitive MazikCare, Microsoft Dynamics AX, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Surface Pro 4
Country: Canada
“MazikCare provided an out-of-the-box, fully integrated, end-to-end solution on top of Dynamics AX that addressed the entire patient journey, from appointment scheduling to patient flow through the clinic, electronic medical records, billing, and post-discharge follow-up,”
Michel Bouchard
IT Director, Medisys
Company Overview
Medisys Health Group (now TELUS Health) is committed to leveraging world-leading technology and a passionate team to revolutionize access to healthcare and drive remarkable health experiences for the people in Canada. A leader in virtual care, tele homecare, e-medical and health records, benefits, and pharmacy management, Medisys gives health authorities, healthcare professionals, patients, and consumers the power to turn information into a healthier future. By leveraging the power of technology to deliver connected solutions and services both in-person and virtually, Medisys is improving access to care and revolutionizing the flow of information while facilitating collaboration, efficiency, and productivity for physicians, pharmacists, health authorities, allied healthcare professionals, insurers, employers and people globally, progressing its vision of transforming healthcare and empowering people to live healthier lives.
The Need for Client Record Automation, Centralization and Insights
Business growth at Medisys was being hindered by a mix of traditional, manual recordkeeping systems and processes at its clinics. These limitations drove Medisys to search for a new platform that would enable process and file centralization and automation. Medisys partnered with Quisitive to deploy the MazikCare platform for automated client record and clinic management.
Background
Prior to launching MazikCare, Medisys was experiencing limitations in its legacy business processes that threatened to slow growth, tarnish corporate relationships, and inhibit the delivery of best-in-class patient care.
Rapid growth and a series of strategic acquisitions had left the organization operating with manual and outdated booking and information systems, which included paper and spreadsheet-based processes, and a variety of outdated healthcare applications.
“We were working hard to overcome the inefficiency of our patient workflow systems,” said Joseph Lo, Chief Executive Officer, Medisys Executive Health Services.
“We didn’t have the information we needed to develop deeper personal relationships with our executive guests. We knew that if we were to grow, we needed to get our back office in order, create consistent, efficient patient workflows across all our clinics, and provide real-time data that our corporate clients could use to steer their business.”
Joseph Lo
Chief Executive Officer, Medisys Executive Health Services
Getting Started with MazikCare
Medisys had long used Microsoft Dynamics CRM to record patient interactions and appointment timing. Additionally, it used Microsoft Dynamics AX as its financial management platform. The organization needed a solution that could complement and augment its existing Dynamics infrastructure. After a careful analysis of current and future needs, Medisys officially selected MazikCare due to its native integration with Dynamics and extensive toolset of options to serve the entire business and customer continuum.
“MazikCare provided an out-of-the-box, fully integrated, end-to-end solution on top of Dynamics AX that addressed the entire patient journey, from appointment scheduling to patient flow through the clinic, electronic medical records, billing, and post-discharge follow-up,” says Michel Bouchard, IT Director, Medisys.
With MazikCare, Medisys was able to create consistent patient workflows across all its clinics nationwide and provide its clients with real-time insight into the health of their businesses.
The Benefits
Since starting with MazikCare, Medisys has realized significant benefits. By providing greater consistency and efficiency, improved visibility into scheduling, billing, and patient data, and by automating vital tasks, the organization is better equipped to do what they do best — help clients.
Manual entry and processes have been eliminated, shifting staff’s time from administrative tasks to more strategic activities
Teams can review scheduling, billing, and client reports, quickly and from anywhere
Leadership can access real-time accurate data for better planning & decision-making
“MazikCare provided an out-of-the-box, fully integrated, end-to-end solution on top of Dynamics AX that addressed the entire patient journey.”
Michel Bouchard
IT Director, Medisys
Significant Time Savings and Enhanced Client Experience
Today, when a prospective guest calls Medisys clinics for an appointment, scheduling agents can book it in less than a minute without the prep work that was previously involved. “Our previous setup was so complex that it took weeks to train a scheduling agent,” explains Bouchard. “They had to familiarize themselves with our various preventive healthcare providers, know which medical specialists served which clinics and pore over those specialists’ schedules to find openings. To our executive guests and corporate clients, appointment scheduling appeared easy, but behind the scenes, it was a lot of work.”
Once the guest is inside a Medisys clinic, check-in is simple and more personalized because the staff has a detailed visit history and the guest’s complete medical record in the palm of their hands, on a tablet. As a guest steps through the various exam stations, clinicians check them in and out and record results digitally.
When the visit is complete, Medisys uses MazikCare to automatically generate a personalized detailed results report for the guest and an invoice for their employer while maintaining the highest standards of data security and personal health information privacy protection.
Medisys physicians can securely access MazikCare from any location or device to enter patient information such as medications and allergies, which is then shared with the patient’s care team. Physicians can even add patient videos and photos to the system in a highly secure, confidential, regulatory-compliant manner.
“We were delivering a great guest experience before, but through Herculean effort,” Bouchard says. “Our efficiency has skyrocketed with MazikCare, and guests are impressed to see our caregivers using tablets versus paper.”
Ready to get started with MazikCare?
Powered by Microsoft Dynamics and the Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Quisitive MazikCare is a complete platform purpose-built for the healthcare and life sciences industry. From day 1, MazikCare delivers powerful functionality to help improve patient engagement, automate operations, streamline and unify patient records, optimize the supply chain, enhance clinician and patient satisfaction, improve revenue cycles, and deliver exceptional real-time insights.
Get Started with a Healthcare Innovation Workshop, designed to understand your needs and deliver your digital transformation roadmap.