Software & Services of Louisiana Announces the 5th Year Anniversary of AIS™, their Assessor Information System for the Microsoft® Windows® environment!

Shreveport, LA – Mar 31st, 2006 – Maintaining public assessment records can sometimes prove to be a daunting task. With over 25,000 assessments in his parish, Natchitoches assessor Rick Hargis was looking for ways to improve productivity, accuracy and accessibility of public land information. Having been a client of Software and Services’ since 1980, Mr. Hargis was the first to sign on to install the new AIS™ product, when it was announced back in 2000. Since the general release in 2001, record keeping in Natchitoches Parish has never been more efficient. Mr. Hargis states “Our records are up to date instantly as soon as the property transfer is entered into the system. We no longer have to wait to see the results of title changes and are able to generate accurate parcel listings to review with our taxpayers at any time.”

Natchitoches is not the only parish that has recognized the value-added benefit of implementing AIS™. S&S currently services assessor offices throughout the state. “Combining a powerful Microsoft® SQL database engine with an intuitive user interface, AIS™ makes the process of entering and querying public records as painless as possible.” remarks Lorraine Ruddy, Operations Manager of the Assessor and Sheriff divisions at S&S. “We make every attempt possible to streamline the work-flow in such a way that any user, with basic level training, can immediately start to work. This makes for an attractive software package that continues to draw interest from parishes statewide.”

The team at Software & Services has invested extensive research and development into what parishes need most when it comes to a turn key software package. One particular package that has proved invaluable is Computer Aided Mass Appraisal, known as CAMA. “CAMA is a unique approach to revaluation at a quantitative level. Using the AIS™ integrated CAMA module, assessor’s staff can systematically analyze an entire subdivision’s worth of data at one time.” adds senior assessor market support analyst, Ron Petitt. The Louisiana Tax Commission mandates that property values be reassessed at four year intervals. Iberia Parish assessor Rickey Huval comments, “Using the AIS™ CAMA module, we’re able to analyze sales trend data and facilitate reappraisals very quickly… the days of tedious record keeping using pencil and paper are over.”

The mass appraisal module is only one of many that are available in AIS™. Also available is integration to digital mapping. At a glance, users can illuminate an electronic map of the parish to determine which areas have been assessed and which have not. Field persons are also aided by handheld computers loaded with a portable version of AIS™ called AISPort™. AISPort™ provides the user with a way to collect data about assessments while out and about in the parish. The information can then by synchronized instantly once the field persons return to the office.

Another high tech offering is web based searches. “This has been a huge success for us.” remarks Acadia Parish Deputy Assessor Nancy Hayes. “From the comfort of their own home, the public is able to search for details on their assessments. This is just another example of how S&S has helped us to enhance the services we offer our public.” Mrs. Hayes continues.

S&S continues to expand their market and their products. Ms. Ruddy comments “We’ve just welcomed aboard Webster and Sabine parish assessors offices to the world of AIS™, and look forward to providing these offices with everything AIS™ has to offer. Our goal is to remain the premier government software provider for the state of Louisiana, as well as enhance our offerings to further simplify the demanding job of parish assessor.” In striving to maintain this goal, S&S is also continually working with Microsoft® and recently achieved Gold Certified Partner status. As per Allison Watson, Vice President of the Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft®, this certification “means Software & Services has demonstrated superior levels of successful implementations, capabilities and certification. Microsoft® Gold Certified Partners are required to meet rigorous requirements for certification and expertise."

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Contact:

Lorraine Ruddy, Operations Manager, Finance & Tax Division
Software & Services of Louisiana, LLC
1120 South Pointe Parkway
Shreveport, LA 71105
Phone: 1-800-467-4477 ext. 142
www.softwareservices.net
lorraine.ruddy@softwareservices.net