Case Study - South Orange Digitizes Inspections with GovInspect

Customer

South Orange, NJ

Population

16,691

System Replaced

Manual Paper

GP Modules Deployed by South Orange

GovInspect App
Report-a-Concern
Alarm Registration
Block Party Registration
Bulk Pickup
Cat License
Certificate of Continued Occupancy (CCO)
Construction Permit
Contractor Registration
Dog License
Dumpster Permit
Fence Permit
Filming License
FOIA / OPRA
Food Vendor
IT Ticketing
Marriage License
Peddler, Hawker, Solicitor or Canvasser Permit
Receipt Tracking
Rental Property Registration
Soil Movement
Special Event Application
Street Opening
Tax Assessment Module
Temporary Sign/Banner Permit
Tire Disposal
Toter Order
Tree Removal Permit
Vehicle Maintenance
Vital Request
Volunteer Application
Zoning Permit

Challenge

South Orange employs eight inspectors who conduct 800 - 1,000 building and code enforcement inspections per month.

Prior to partnering with GovPilot, South Orange relied on paper processes for inspections which required that inspectors make notes on a paper clipboard in the field and spend two hours at the end of each day inputting written notes into a computer program containing individual records. This paper process meant that it often took days to complete and share the results of inspections with residents.

The eight person inspection team handles on average 12,000 inspections per year, and had done so using clip boards and paper forms - the information from which had to be manually entered into a laptop in their car, or back at the office on their desktop. With each inspection averaging 30-45 minutes, plus the added driving and data entry time, the inspection process in South Orange was inefficient, time consuming, and unsustainable.

Solution

Realizing the inefficiencies in the inspection processes, and acknowledging the frustration of staff and residents in terms of service accessibility, South Orange officials set out to digitize critical services and operations. The onset of COVID-19 further amplified the urgency for digital transformation in South Orange.

GovPilot partnered with South Orange and the township’s inspectors to replace the paper-based inspection process with GovInspect, GovPilot’s fully digital, cloud-based inspection application which enables inspections to be conducted end to end on a mobile device. In doing so, inspectors, staff, and constituents can access up to the minute results. The team of eight inspectors took to the app immediately. With intuitive features, the inspectors, several of which deemed themselves “computer illiterate”, were able to learn the app in just one day.

An inspector who had just started to use his first smartphone, was able to learn the app in one day.
Several Departments were able to work remotely during COVID.

Results

5 Minutes

The time it now takes inspectors to write and send a violation notice with GovInspect.

80 Hours per Week

With GovInspect, the department of eight inspectors saves a total of 80 hours per week, no-longer having to manually re-enter paperwork every day.

One Day

Time it took for inspectors to learn the app and feel comfortable using it.

Universally Loved

Eight inspectors were able to learn quickly, ditch time consuming paperwork, and are all thrilled with GovPilot’s GovInspect app.

“The GovInspect app has saved a huge amount of time for us. All of our inspectors love using it - even the ones who would refer to themselves as ‘computer illiterate’. The app is simple, quick, intuitive, and effective.”

"GovPilot helped a number of our departments get through COVID by working remotely. It was great to be able to work from home and continue to provide services.”

Scott Egelberg

OEM Coordinator