Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority

Challenges

Brick Township MUA (BTMUA) had been using a billing and accounting software product that only ran on an IBM mid-range computer. It was expensive to maintain, limited in functionality, and offered no integration to modern technology. Being a sizeable and complex entity, the leadership at BTMUA decided they could no longer afford to operate on outdated technology. The time had come to look for a more modern, integrated solution that would increase efficiency and customer service capabilities.

Action

BTMUA interviewed several leading software ERP providers, held product demonstrations, and contacted references of similar size and functional requirements. In 2009, Edmunds was selected to provide BTMUA with their utility billing, work orders, cash receipting, and online customer access portal. In 2016, they transitioned to a fully packaged Edmunds ERP Suite. BTMUA currently utilizes ten integrated applications in conjunction with several mobile apps.

Results

Since implementing their integrated enterprise solution, BTMUA experienced greater operational efficiency, real-time management reporting, and has significantly improved the level of customer service provided to their ratepayers. Authority customers now have the option to receive their bills electronically and pay directly via ACH. They also have 24/7 customer web portal access to review consumption or payment history, reprint a utility bill, or request additional services. Aside from the convenience benefits, the newly implemented processes have saved time and money for both the authority and ratepayers. A favorite staff feature is the requisition system’s capability to see in real-time, on any computing or mobile device, how proposed purchases will affect their budget without entering redundant data by purchasing and financing personnel.