For public safety agencies, it’s extremely important to keep accurate records of crime within the community to ensure quick response and resource allocation. These teams are also often working across several departments, leading to an abundance of data to track. While this is a good thing for powering data-driven decision making, it can also be overwhelming if you don’t have the right software to use the data effectively.
Before Bonterra Apricot case management software
The City of Philadelphia Department of Public Safety has experienced firsthand what it’s like to have a complex data landscape without the tech to support it. Before Apricot case management software, the agency faced three critical challenges:
- Decentralized data: The office of public safety and its sub-offices were saving data across different sources, sometimes even Excel spreadsheets and paper notes. This lack of integration and collaboration led to data silos and inconsistencies.
- Limited data capacity: The City of Philadelphia doesn’t have a dedicated data manager for each of its offices. This meant just a few people were managing data across these disparate and outdated systems. This lack of capacity also led to delayed incident and data request response.
- Data distortion: Due to the various systems across offices, the agency experienced inconsistent data quality and reporting. These challenges made it harder for them to allocate resources effectively and gain public trust.
How Bonterra Apricot for Government powered stronger data and better incident response
To overcome these challenges, the agency turned to Bonterra because it is purpose-built to support government agencies’ complex data management needs. In this clip from our recent webinar, Gabrielle Spence, data manager for the City of Philadelphia Office of Public Safety, explains how the agency uses Apricot case management software to improve incident response tracking:
5 benefits of Apricot case management software for public safety agencies
Apricot provides a lot of value to public safety agencies. Here is an overview of the key benefits The City of Philadelphia has experienced since using our case management software.
1. Centralized incident tracking
The agency created a standardized process for incident profiling and response documentation. This allowed them to link individual and program level responses and community engagement strategies to specific incidents, providing a comprehensive view.
2. Improved responsiveness
Data managers developed dashboards and implemented automation to quickly respond to data requests from key stakeholders and leadership, like the mayor. This allowed them to easily answer questions about their response to specific incidents within the community.
3. Enhanced data-driven decision making
They began tracking incident responses across different offices and programs, giving them a clearer picture of the agency’s data and impact. In turn, they were able to identify gaps in resources, target programming more effectively, and use their data to secure funding and expand services.
4. Increased validation and transparency
The agency was able to overlay incident data with geospatial analysis to visualize the alignment between community needs and their programming. This in turn showcased their outcomes and provided a powerful way to communicate impact to the mayor, funders, and stakeholders.
5. Improved data quality and standardization
By training both data and operational staff on the software, data managers were able to prove the importance of prioritizing data fidelity, security, and standard definitions and terminology, while also incorporating team feedback to better meet their needs.
Interested in hearing more about The City of Philadelphia’s experience with Apricot? Watch the full on-demand webinar.
Learn how Bonterra can support your public safety agency
This is just one example of how Apricot case management software empowers public safety agencies to securely manage their data, increase efficiency, and improve outcomes. Download our guide to learn more about the benefits of Apricot for public safety agencies or schedule a demo to discuss your unique needs.
