Opening of Proposals - Utility Billing System - North Star Utilities Solutions - Part 1

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NORTHSTAR'" Once the CIS software has been installed on the organization's servers, end -user workstation configurations are reviewed to ensure they are in alignment with the CIS hardware and software recommendations, such as the appropriate web browser version. From this point until the end of the project and the subsequent transition of support responsibilities to the CIS Client Management and Support Desk, NorthStar Utilities Solutions Consultants and Implementation Specialist remain the primary contacts for support issues. Once the Servers are installed, NorthStar Utilities Solutions' Technical Resources configure and customizes the CIS based on the approved deliverables of Phase 2. On -going validation at the unit level is performed on the work that's being performed for quality assurance purpose. In preparation for validation testing, validation scenarios which mirror the organization's day-to-day operations are developed. These organization -specific scenarios and their responses are the foundation for the Base System Review, in which NorthStar Utilities Solutions Consultants will facilitate a step-by-step walk- through of the configured system in the Testing phase. The Development Phase concludes with the delivery of a configured system where the entire project team participates in a walk-through of the configuration. Phase Four: Test The purpose of the Test Phase is to verify that the NorthStar Utilities Solutions configuration and extensions defined in the Design Phase supports the organization's business processes. The first step within the Test Phase is an initial data load. The data load can be manual, automated, or a combination of methods. The First component of the Test phase is for representatives from all functional areas within the organization actively participate in the process by entering transactional data, in a hands-on manner, which simulates the organization's day-to-day operations. The objective of the Base System Review is to ensure that the CIS configuration meets the organization's process requirements. Necessary process and setup adjustments are made in order to fine-tune the configuration. The steps within this process traditionally include: • Process review • Test scenario execution • Process and configuration fine-tuning The second component is the Technical Audit and Performance Tuning, where an NorthStar Utilities Solutions Implementation Specialist reviews the technical setup of the servers and application to ensure they are production -ready. The Test Phase also includes End -user Materials Development in preparation for end -user training. NorthStar Utilities Solutions can provide services to prepare a Train -the -Trainer product as a starting point to assist organizations in building a set of training and on-the-job tools. The Train -the -Trainer package is a complete set of easily customizable training materials as per the customer's needs. From Quick Reference Guides to Agendas, Outlines, Exercises, and Tip Sheets, these materials can provide the organization with the benefit 'just-in-time'job aids to enhance the adoption of the CIS solution. Before the solution can be deployed to the user community, the next events that take place are an import of legacy data and a final Go -Live Review of the system. In this review, project team members conduct another end -to -end walk-through of the configured system, including the configuration, customizations, interfaces, or data imports to be used upon Go -Live. NorthStar Proposal Response —South Bend Indiana