Released on: October 14, 2008, 10:33 am

Press Release Author: Document Data Solutions

Industry: Education

Press Release Summary: ACT looked at the companies that said they could provide what
they needed and decided to partner with Document Data Solutions (DDS) because of
their capabilities and service

Press Release Body: American College of Testing, now simply known as A-C-T, is
almost 50 years old and still growing. All we as parents know is that this is one
of the first test our children take to find where they rank in college placement.
Taking the test may be the simplest chore for getting into a college. After
spending some time talking to Derrick Parker, Manager of Distribution and Operations
for ACT, he stated that, "after they receive the test back is when most of the work
begins."
Their first priority is to ensure the integrity of the test is not compromised. No
student will sit next to someone taking the very same test. To that end, great
pains are taken to ensure this doesn't occur.
When all the test are returned to ACT's campus in Iowa City, Iowa, the real work
begins. In the past, all work was performed by hand. The team charged with the
processing these test would key in each serial number into a computer. When I asked
if errors could occur, Derrick's response was "I can't say for sure, but if a human
is involved mistakes are bound to happen. So I'm sure we had plenty of errors."
Phil Levitt, Assistant Vice President of Operations, was determined to automate this
process for two major reasons. The first was to eliminate errors from human input.
The second was to increase productivity by speeding up the process with automation.
Phil said, "When the crew had 50 to 60 tests to key in for a day, everything went
fine. It was the days that they had 1100 to 1200 tests to key in that caused
numerous errors." By applying a machine readable barcode, the test could then be
scanned in, which basically eliminated any human error. They needed to find a
vision supplier that not only could provide readers, but be able to process the
data. Phil found that working with DDS was a refreshing change. He needed a
company that could help design a system to meet his needs today, yet be open for
change in the future. Even after the equipment was installed and operating, Phil
was impressed with DDS's service support, "response was exceptional," said Phil.
When they needed support, DDS was there. Maybe not in the flesh, but DDS is
virtually there in seconds, not hours or days. Using DDS's "Service in Seconds"
technology, all ACT needs to do when they have an issue is to contact DDS with a
click of the mouse. In seconds, a DDS service support engineer is connected into
the DDS Vision system at ACT (with permission, of course) and can see what is
happening in real time.
Currently, all the test that are returned to ACT, in Iowa City, are fed onto a
conveyor and scanned in by a DDS Vision system. The software that comes with the
vision system sends the decoded information to ACT's Oracle database. Once they
complete that process they know what tests came back and more importantly, which
ones didn't. DDS provided custom designed software as a standard service in order
for the system to work with ACT's procedures. No two businesses are alike, nor do
all business's run the same way. Understanding this, Document Data Solutions can
customize its solutions to fit the needs of the customer.
Before your child actually takes a college preparation test, they receive an
admission ticket which allows them into the testing facility. These tickets are
sent to the student directly. Every envelope with a ticket is scanned by the DDS
reader and recorded to ACT's database. DDS's iDataRepair(tm) software verifies and
checks for any missing, duplicate or damaged mail pieces. Using iDataRepair(tm), the
operator can identify all documents that need reprinting. In the past, the laser
printer could have a jam and during the recovery process as many as 80 documents
could have been printed twice. It was next to impossible to fine the duplicates and
in some cases they were mailed. Not only does this mean additional postage and loss
of our profit, but more important, "it made us look bad to the end user," stated
Phil. Because the DDS system is networked, if a system (i.e. inserter 1) produces a
student's admission ticket at 10 AM then the same student is seen on system 2, one
second or one week later, the duplicate piece is stopped by the DDS system.
Although the laser printer can still produce doubles, the DDS system stops them
before they get into the mail stream.
ACT looked at the companies that said they could provide what they needed and
decided to partner with Document Data Solutions (DDS) because of their capabilities
and service. Now this isn't your run of the mill vision company. DDS had to really
understand ACT's flow and design an all encompassing system that truly met their
needs. DDS was able to take some of their standard software and with modifications
create a custom solution to fit ACT's environment. Robert Ellis (President of DDS)
said, "as with many of our customers, no two vision installations are the same."
Phil asked us to help them design a solution that truly met their special needs.
Many companies think vision systems and software are off the shelf and fit
everyone's needs. "This couldn't be further from the truth and that's why a lot of
vision systems installed from our competitors in the past are not being used today"
said Ellis. Even today, ACT is working with DDS on more systems but more important
will engage DDS to help design a totally new system to meet ACT's growing needs.
ACT and DDS have not only built a user/vendor relationship but they have built a
partnership. Document Data Solutions considers all of its customers as partners for
the long haul.


Web Site: http://www.dds-usa.com

Contact Details: Robert Ellis
Document Data Solutions, LLC.
Office (860) 350-2850
Fax (860) 350-2849
sales@dds-usa.com
www.dds-usa.com