By: Tina Gensler, Account Executive
Software solutions are only as good as their ability to adapt, evolve, and alleviate the pain points of their users. As a company led by practitioners with decades of experience in supervision, we understand how vital our users’ roles are within the justice system. But how, exactly, do equivant Supervision practitioners bridge the gap between what our customers in the field need and what our developers deliver to ensure we are providing a world-class solution every time?
It starts with an innovative process built on mutual understanding and a commitment to listening. equivant Supervision practitioners and developers are not siloed. Developers without practical experience are not generating ideas in a box. Instead, we work together to ensure our enhancements meet the needs of our customers from specification to installation. And, service and sales staff members are regularly in contact with customers and prospects—listening to their needs, wants, and pain points. This culture of deep listening and respect for the roles each person plays in the equivant Supervision ecosystem facilitates an innovative process through which software enhancements come to fruition. Approximately 2,000 hours of manpower fuel each equivant Supervision software release.
The Process
- Idea Generation: In general, a new idea for a software tweak or enhancement (in addition to regularly scheduled technical updates) comes from either an equivant Supervision staff member or a customer or prospect. If from a customer or prospect, the equivant Supervision staff member will help tease out the idea to find out why exactly it is needed and what it would make possible on the job. If from a staff member, the professional will collaborate with colleagues to explain the necessity and practicality.
- Specification Development: Once the idea has been greenlit by practitioners, developers, and leadership, all entities (including customers and prospects if it was an externally generated idea) collaborate on the exact product specifications. What are we doing? Why are we doing it? What will it look like? How will we get it done?
- Trial and Testing: Once the enhancement has been developed, it is internally tested before it is shown to the requesting customer or prospect for a walk-through. At this stage, customers, prospects, and staff members who were former practitioners get their proverbial red pen out to make modifications. There can be multiple rounds at this phase before the software enhancement is ready for prime time.
- Roll out and Implementation: Once the external and internal professionals are satisfied, the release or enhancement is rolled out publicly to those customers for whom it will make their jobs easier. Notices are also sent to prospects.
- Impact: There are three equivant Supervision software suite enhancements released each year, with countless modifications and tweaks made. Some of our most popular features—like text scheduling reminders within our case management solution and a variety of assessment modifications—have come from customers, prospects, and practitioners on the equivant Supervision staff.
The result? Practical enhancements for the people, by the people. For the practitioners, by the practitioners. Our staff has used the very same software they now work to improve in previous professional roles, so we understand what you need for the software to be accessible and effective in on-the-job scenarios. We also understand that our customers and prospects are our best focus groups and product innovators and listen to what they need to be more efficacious. The listening, collaboration, and drive to always be better and do better from the practitioner’s perspective is what sets us apart from our competitors. It’s what our customers leverage to gain efficiencies and peace of mind.
