Success Stories

Scott D. Wollney, President of Avalon Risk Management, Inc. recently wrote that “Avalon’s business model relies heavily on technology. ProcessDATA plays an integral role in our development process. Throughout our relationship, ProcessDATA has been a valuable business partner. Their staff is always dependable, responsive and demonstrates a command of several IT applications and functions as well as Internet-related programming tools. In addition to the attributes cited above, I have always been impressed with their ability to review business rules, understand them and subsequently apply them to a given development project. This ability allows us to work together effectively and produce dynamic results.”

Avalon’s relationship with ProcessDATA began in 1998. Avalon was in its “start up” phase and needed a robust system to track client information and provide timely and accurate billing.

The CIO of Avalon realized that the technical expertise required was not immediately available within Avalon. As in many cases, word of month played an important role, and a “Friend-of-a-Friend” brought Avalon and ProcessDATA together. Through initial discussions, Avalon determined that ProcessDATA shared a vision that would fit well with Avalon’s progression plans. Both companies felt that the key to Avalon’s growth would be through the delivery of quality and innovative high tech solutions in the specialized insurance niche. Avalon’s leadership coupled with Process Data's dedication to producing a superior solution was the beginning of a perfect partnership. History shows that this was indeed the case.

As Avalon continued to grow, so did the partnership with ProcessDATA. When the need arose to add more sophistication and richness to the original application, ProcessDATA was called upon to develop the enhancements and ultimately create the “Excalibur” System which is used today. Excalibur is a robust enterprise-wide application that facilitates electronic file exchange, invoicing, imaged document search, AR/AP applications and other mission critical functionality.

When Avalon identified the need for a “point of purchase” application to support their clients’ issuance of U.S. Customs bonds, they again relied on a joint effort with ProcessDATA. Through the outstanding teamwork of Avalon and ProcessDATA, this application was developed and launched allowing Avalon’s clients to generate, print and transmit all information necessary to support this critical component of the U.S. importation process. In the Summer of 2002, the “Merlin” group of applications was expanded to include a Web-based Marine Cargo program for issuing Transportation Insurance Certificates and policies on-line.

Avalon Risk Management is dedicated to providing niche transportation markets with tailored insurance products that meet their individual needs. Their main insurance products are Custom Bonds, Cargo Insurance, P&C, E&O and trucking insurance. Their first priority is to maintain a high level of expertise relative to their chosen markets, specifically the logistics industry, and the role their products play in their clients' businesses.

Avalon is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingsway Financial Services, a Canadian holding company whose primary subsidiaries are insurance companies specializing in non-standard automobile insurance. Since going public in 1995, Kingsway has become one of the fastest growing property and casualty companies in North America and has a proven track record of profitability.

In an environment where the term “partnership” is used loosely, the relationship between Avalon and ProcessDATA truly meets the definition of the term. Avalon believes that their services truly sets them apart from their competition. ProcessDATA is a driving force delivering both their software solutions and outsourced IT services. ProcessDATA, Ltd, is a leading provider of Customized Software and Web Development solutions, and a leading provider of web portal solutions in the Chicagoland area with their portalCOMPLETE software product. In addition to portalCOMPLETE, ProcessDATA provides Custom Software Development, IT Consulting Services, IT Outsourcing Services, Database Applications and Administration, System Integration, Data Conversion, Handheld Software Solutions and Internet/Intranet solutions.

Advocate Home Care Services - A Success Story

Several years ago Ann Malinowski, the Director of IT for Advocate Home Care, had a Patient Case Tracking System that needed some improvements. The tool was not functioning to its maximum potential and it needed to be enhanced. With her staff stretched to the maximum because of Y2K requirements, and a lack of internal resource that had a strong knowledge of MS Access, Ann decided that she would need to outsource the work for this mission critical application.

With timing being everything, she remembered hearing about a former co-worker from another healthcare organization that had recently gone off on his own and started an IT Services and Software Development company. Ann remembered that Albert Jurkiewicz had a strong work ethic, good project management methods, outstanding coding skills, and a strong knowledge of MS Access and the healthcare industry. She had confidence in his abilities and she thought that he might be able to get the job done at a reasonable price in a short period of time. She dug up the business card from ProcessDATA Ltd. and gave them a call.

After they met, ProcessDATA presented what ended up being a reason proposal at an acceptable price in an acceptable time frame. ProcessDATA offered several alternative solutions and was ultimately chosen as the vendor of choice.

After the PCTS system was re-written and enhanced, this tracking system, which tracked patient information, care, therapy, staff, and other related information, was implemented and functioned far beyond the expectations of Advocate. So much so that the system is still being used today, years beyond originally planned.

Subsequently, when Ann was faced with similar needs for IT outsourcing, she called on the ProcessDATA expertise and experience to help her with other software projects and system initiatives. Knowing that ProcessDATA had a thorough knowledge of the healthcare industry, they would have the expertise that was needed for the delivery of successful IT solutions.

ProcessDATA has also provided Ann with some enhancements for interfaces to other vendor products and various other solutions. With a great deal of confidence Ann has recommended ProcessDATA to other departments within Advocate’s IT area. Now, with over a dozen additional projects the partnership of Advocate Home Health Services and ProcessDATA has strengthened and continues to grow.

Advocate Home Health Services, along with its affiliates, Advocate Home Care Products, Inc. and Advocate Hospice, provide a complete range of services, including: Respiratory Care Services, Chronic Disease Management, Pediatric Care, Hospice, Infusion Therapy and Pharmaceuticals, Home Medical Equipment and Traditional Professional Home Nursing.