Dustyn Borghi | TargetSolutions

March 7, 2014

Deliver Custom Training Content with TargetSolutions’ Fire Department Software

Recent Platform Enhancements Include the Ability to Easily Add SCORM Courses to Certified Credentials

TargetSolutions features a collection of online fire training courses and applications built to help training departments operate more efficiently. Some might say, however, the real magic happens when the platform’s various applications mesh together for the delivery of custom content.

In the latest round of platform enhancements, TargetSolutions has created the ability to add SCORM courses to certified credentials. After uploading SCORM courses and attaching them to a certified credential, platform managers can then add a CE provider name and number to those custom courses.

“Departments and providers who have established provider numbers are now able to customize training that has already been certified by an accrediting agency,” said Software Engineer Manager Dustyn Borghi. “This gives platform managers the ability to tailor credit tracking for their organization. This type of custom training is becoming more and more popular. That’s why we wanted to open our credential engine to customized SCORM content.”

With TargetSolutions’ computer-based fire department software, platform managers can create content with third-party software (Articulate, Storyline, iSpring, etc.) and then deliver it to users through TargetSolutions’ SCORM engine. If they have a CE provider number, it’s now possible to add it to courses that have been created with an outside e-learning tool, however a CE provider number is not mandatory for delivering SCORM courses.

Delivering Custom Content with TargetSolutions’ Fire Department Software

Certainly, the ability to deliver SCORM content makes TargetSolutions even more valuable. But that’s just the beginning of TargetSolutions’ ability to deliver custom content. Whether it’s a test from Test Builder, a shared resource from Community Resources, or an SOP stored in the File Center, a platform manager can attach it to an assignment created with the Activities Builder and deliver it to personnel.

Here are some of the other ways departments are delivering custom content with TargetSolutions:

Custom Certs: Platform managers can attach departmental CE provider information to a activity that exists inside a certified credential with the Manage Credentials application.

Custom and Certified Credentials: Platform managers can create credentials to track and maintain specific certifications that are not certified (no CE provider number). These credentials can have any set of courses and/or activities a platform manager considers necessary.

Custom Tests: Platform managers can create and deliver their own automatically graded tests. Once created, these tests can be attached to any activity and assigned to users.

Files from Community Resources: Platform managers are able to import and distribute training videos, organizational policies, inspection forms, and more through Activities Builder.

Platform Solutions: Platform managers can utilize TargetSolutions’ ready-made activities that have been built to manage and track critical fire department training and tasks, including fire department ISO training hours, pre- and post-incident reports, inspection forms, drill ground training activities, and much more. These activities can be customized to meet your department’s specific needs.

“(TargetSolutions) allows you to add your own personal content and distribute it with the push of a button and get accurate reporting on who has completed it,” said City of Corona (Calif.) Fire Department Captain Jeremy Verderber. “We utilize it to send SOGs. We can create a new SOG and then send it out as an activity. They review the new SOG and check the box to submit it. It makes it really easy for captains to disseminate the information.”

Video-Based Training Presentations: With Activities Builder, departments like Verderber’s are able to easily deliver a video or PowerPoint presentation through an activity.

“We can have all the crew watch it,” said Verderber. “We load it, send it out as an activity, say ‘watch this video,’ and now it’s on there and anyone can pull it up and watch it.”

If you would like more information on delivering custom content with TargetSolutions, please click here or contact TargetSolutions at (800) 840-8048.

March 3, 2014

Perform a Needs Assessment to Determine the Right Topics for Your Fire Department Training

Featured Contributors

Blog by Jacob Johnson

Lieutenant with Pearland Fire Department in Texas

It’s natural for a fire service instructor to wonder if they are delivering the right firefighter training for their personnel. They may wonder if they are focusing on the right things. The answer is simple: As training administrators, we need to focus on what needs to be covered, as well as what our personnel are requesting us to cover.

This can be accomplished by performing a “needs assessment” for fire departments that center on training “needs” vs. training “wants.”

The most important question instructors face is what type of training should they deliver? They may wonder, “Should I focus on the basics or should I focus on advanced training?” Here is my stance: Are the basics of firefighting important? Yes, they are very important and much needed to survive in this profession.

The fire service, however, is prone to focusing too much on the basics and not nearly enough on the more challenging firefighter training or skills we need to improve. By completing a needs assessment for fire departments, you can use those results to determine whether you should be focused on the basics, or pushing into the more advanced training material.

My personal goal as an instructor is to give a firefighter training class that is challenging to my audience and makes a difference in their performance. If that goal is accomplished in every class, everyone is happy. Now, sometimes a simple building construction class is challenging to some members of the department. But at the same time, it is taken as a refresher for some of the other members and not really much of a learning experience. It’s important to remember training is all about learning and what new skills your students can extract and spread to the rest of their crew or department.

Unfortunately, many instructors don’t train enough themselves. They become so confident and comfortable teaching the “basics,” they become lazy and even begin to think they will look bad if they teach outside of their comfort zone. They may be afraid they won’t have all the answers to all the questions, or they may be challenged by someone more up-to-date, making them look bad.

We can’t let ourselves become “paper-stack instructors.” Meaning, we can’t become an instructor who piles up certifications (aka: a paper stack) and then forgets what we were taught, and even worse, didn’t bother to learn more.

In order to give a challenging fire department training class, which will truly benefit our students, we must take classes that challenge us and make us better – giving us the confidence and knowledge we need to be effective. After all, it’s on us, as instructors, to make firefighter training as impactful as possible.

About the Author

Jacob Johnson works for Pearland Fire Department (Texas) as a driver/operator. He has been in the fire service for more than 11 years. He has taught at extrication schools, recruit academies, and several suppression schools. His certifications include: FF Intermediate, Driver/Operator, Fire Officer 1, Fire Instructor III.

February 27, 2014

Easily Track Offline Training Locations, Instructors, and More with TargetSolutions’ Online Fire Training System

Company Blog

TargetSolutions often hears from clients looking to generate detailed reports on training information. For instance, one of the most common requests is how to track the number of hours an instructor has received during a period of time. Some platform managers will ask how they can capture various locations used during training.

But what happens when these questions are delivered electronically using multiple choice answers? That’s one area where report generation can get complicated. Fortunately, TargetSolutions’ online fire training system’s Component Completions report does the heavy lifting.

This tool allows departments to easily calculate data accumulated through multiple choices. Using the Activities Builder, departments can ask layered questions – like what were the various objectives covered during training (ropes, ladders, hoses, etc.)? After receiving responses, they can generate comprehensive reports detailing the different answers.

So the next time your state requests the number of hours completed by a specific instructor, or at a specific training location, and your users had multiple choices when answering the initial question – you’ll be able to gather that information with the Component Completions report to capture that data.

If you have any questions about utilizing this tool, please contact TargetSolutions at (800) 840-8048.

February 24, 2014

Enhancements Make File Upload Tool Inside File Center More Mobile and User Friendly

Company Blog

TargetSolutions has taken steps to improve its File Upload tool inside the computer-based training system’s robust electronic storage application called the File Center.

The upload tool is no longer flash-based, so it is compatible with mobile devices like the iPhone. Platform managers and users can now capture pictures during a training session – or any other activity – with their iPhone and then upload those images into the File Center to share with their department.

In addition, steps have been taken to enhance upload times and improve overall usability. The tool now features drag-and-drop functionality and an upload status bar that tracks progress during uploads.

Also, when uploading an Articulate or SCORM file, there is a new link to streamline the process. After a course is uploaded, you will still be able to enter additional information about the course.

“Recent enhancements to the File Upload tool were made to make the users experience better,” said Product Manager Misty Pratt. “Previously when uploading a file, a user wouldn’t know how long it was going to take until completion. Now, the progress bar lets them know. Also, the drag-and-drop feature is nice for uploading multiple files.”

If you have any questions about this feature, please contact us today at (800) 840-8048.

February 20, 2014

Three Clients Take Home Special Awards at TargetSolutions’ Annual Firehouse World User Group

Company Blog

A few blocks down the street from the hustle and bustle of the annual Firehouse World conference in San Diego, a room full of TargetSolutions’ clients attended a special user group on Wednesday (Feb. 19). The room was filled with platform managers looking to learn more about the online fire training system’s tools for managing fire department training.

Three of the attendees were honored during the annual awards portion of the event for their extraordinary contributions to TargetSolutions. Chuck Montgomery of Glendale Fire Department (Ariz.), Jay Sumerlin of West Pierce Fire & Rescue (Wash.), and Charles Truvillion of Kern County Fire Department (Calif.) each received an award for their various efforts.

The Helping Hand Award

Montgomery was given the Helping Hand Award, which goes to an individual who goes above and beyond to assist TargetSolutions with the improvement of the platform. Montgomery’s department has been using TargetSolutions for more than 14 years and is one of the very first clients to implement the system. Over the years, Montgomery pushed hard for the creation of a course that would meet NFPA 1403 standards, which TargetSolutions released in late 2013.

The NFPA 1403 Live Fire Training Evolutions course reviews live-burn evolutions and emphasizes the importance of safety with state regulations, NFPA standards, and local policies and procedures established to maintain training effectiveness without compromising safety.

“The award to me is a very nice honor and acknowledgement of my efforts to make the fire world a little bit safer for operations,” Montgomery said.

The Technical Achievement Award

Sumerlin, who was one of the special guest presenters during the user group, took home the prestigious Technical Achievement Award for his dedication to building custom content and delivering it with the TargetSolutions platform. During his presentation, Sumerlin spoke about the powerful ways his department is using TargetSolutions to streamline training management and provide personnel with impactful, customized training.

Sumerlin uses various third-party applications, including Articulate, to create training presentations that feature voiceovers and photos. His effort to become proficient with the various applications for content creation made him the choice for this award.

“Technology is one of those things that I’ve always had as a passion – and it is kind of cool to be recognized for that,” Sumerlin said. “I really think it’s the time right now, in the fire services, to lean toward technology and balance technology with actual hands-on skills.

“We have to reach a younger generation. You have the old school fire service where everything has to be hands-on, and then you have the young people that are very tech-savvy. Being able to hold their attention is a transitional period.”

Like Montgomery, Sumerlin spoke about the value he sees in TargetSolutions’ online training courses, especially the NFPA library. “I really enjoy TargetSolutions’ (NFPA) 1001 and 1021 series,” he said. “I look forward to seeing TargetSolutions move forward and look at other NFPA (courses), and creating content for the fire service in particular.”

The Perseverance Award

Truvillion captured the inaugural Perseverance Award for his department’s dedication to fully implementing TargetSolutions’ fire department software and overcoming several challenges early on during the process. Today, the department is making great progress utilizing the system, Truvillion said.

“We can deliver (training) within Kern County’s 8,000-square miles, 46 stations,” he said. “The biggest issue is keeping our engines in their response areas and those kinds of things. And then consistency in our training – (TargetSolutions) just really does it for us. Being able to pull that data, to give those reports to our JAC program, or the college. As well as make sure we got everything covered for OSHA and ISO. I mean, it’s big.”

The User Group Workshop

In addition to the awards, TargetSolutions representatives used the special gathering as an opportunity to show off the online fire training platform’s latest enhancements, provide an overview of the EMS continuing education content and EMS recertification tracking tools, answer any questions, and provide tips and tricks for navigating the system.

Also, Jake Pelk of Central San Mateo County Training Division (Calif.) was a special guest presenter who spoke about his department’s ability to track controlled substances with TargetSolutions. One of Pelk’s goals is to become completely “paperless” and with TargetSolutions they are headed that direction. He also touched on the capabilities of Community Resources and the ability to utilize e-signatures for recordkeeping purposes.

“It was great to have so many different departments this year,” said TargetSolutions Account Manager Kegan Konrady. “I think the diverse group made the event more interesting. The conversation about custom content today was great. You see a lot of departments who are using custom content with TargetSolutions. When Jay Sumerlin went up and did his presentation on his hazard training, I could tell he opened a lot of eyes. As did Jake talking about controlled substances.

“I think the more you can get departments pushing custom content with TargetSoutions, the better. People are more likely to stay engaged when they see a copy of something they know or a person in the video from their department. That’s a great tool for training.”

About TargetSolutions

TargetSolutions delivers cutting-edge software applications, engaging online training courses, and world-class customer service. The company was founded in 1999 and today there are more than 2,000 organizations across the country using TargetSolutions’ innovative technology to solve their training challenges.

February 18, 2014

Situational Awareness on the Fireground for Incident Commanders and ‘the Inside Man’

Featured Contributors

Blog by Ed Hadfield

www.firetowntrainingspecialist.com

Situational awareness is a term we often hear about as a trait needed for our incident commanders. However, all personnel must develop their own situational awareness based on the task or objective they’re given. In this article, we will identify some very basic concepts of situational awareness based on the specific task or assignment as part of the overall fireground component.

Incident Commanders

As incident commanders, we are often tasked with assuming command of an active incident that has developed prior to our arrival. We’ve all experienced a second alarm from the bunk room based off reports from dispatch, only to discover it was a dumpster fire behind an industrial building, not a working fire in an industrial building.

We use this as an analogy to shed light on actions based on perception, not actions based on reality. Often we find individuals who lack situational awareness skills, base their decisions on a very limited view of the situation, rather than a global or comprehensive view. Therefore, the old “360 degree” philosophy becomes an important ingredient to our success model.

It is important for all incident commanders to capture a complete “360” of the structure. Having said that, one item of extreme importance is to capture the “360” yourself, or delegate to others and receive accurate feedback, within the first few minutes of establishing your action plan.

This continuous size-up of the structure and incident must become a component of the comprehensive action plan. However, adjustments may need to be made based upon the feedback you receive. Remember, the building has seven sides: the four exterior walls, the roof, the basement (if applicable) and the interior.

This view and information input will provide the basis to establish a comprehensive action plan. Often, due to the size of the structure, we rely upon our field personnel to provide the information to us as accurately and timely as possible. This is why structure identification and an understanding of building and rescue profiles are critical for all personnel on the fireground.

Given the dynamics of today’s fires and the events of extreme fire behavior that we operate within, the understanding of hostile event recognition and pressure as it relates to rapid fire progression is important information to be relayed to the incident commander. Particularly in high volume, big box and wide-rise type structures, where hostile events occur in the overhead at explosive levels that can create structural failure in the roof assembly.

Interior Situational Awareness Officer or “The Inside Man”

As a member assigned to the truck or engine, you will be tasked with a variety of objectives. Many of which require you to operate somewhat independently of the crew. Case in point, the “Inside Man,” or as I like to commonly refer to as the Interior Situational Awareness Officer. Yes, this is a mouthful, yet the concept is more important than the name.

In general, the “Inside Man” is responsible for bringing a blower to the door, pulling ceilings in the immediate overhead, coordinating the use of PPV with vertical ventilation, and working with the fire attack team to do search as extension or with his/her own company on secondary search or salvage operations. This job is really an important task for overall success. However, in today’s fires we must look at building upon this job and utilizing their ability to become a direct link between the changing dynamics of the interior and the Incident Commander; to provide him/her with accurate data to capture a better view of the situation than one from the exterior of the structure from a block away.

Changes would occur within the duties and responsibilities of the Interior Situational Awareness Officer. First, this individual would be responsible for conducting an exterior scan and size-up of at least two sides of the structure; primarily, the division or side where the primary attack team made access to the interior, and the division of approach.

Second, any identifiable structural collapse considerations, hostile events recognition factors, or roof assembly exposure would be immediately communicated to the I/C and companies operating internally. Additionally, Building Profile identification is key, and would include the age and type of the structure.

NOTE: This will determine fire spread and strengths and weaknesses based upon the building profile, and construction components and features.

Next, the conditions at the point of main egress must be taken into consideration and read, meaning reading the rapid development and increase of pressurization at the access point. All of which should be considered and communicated if recognized as a threat to the safety of personnel inside.

The use of a TIC should also be considered as a tool, to detect fire in the overhead and potential collapse in the area of main egress from the structure. While making that determination, it is important to identify the proper use of PPV. Remember, there are five recognizable elements in determining if PPV is appropriate or not. If any of these five exists, PPV should NOT be considered as the primary source of ventilation.

1. Imminent or confirmed rescue of a civilian or down firefighter

2. Unknown location of fire or inability to locate the fire by interior crews

3. Inability or lack of an adequate sized exhaust portal for PPV usage

4. Working attic fire or fire in an overhead concealed space that would impinge upon roof assembles features while personnel are interior the structure

5. Structure which is over-pressurized for the use of PPV or rapid fire development

All of the above considerations are generally seen by the Inside Man as they are performing their exterior task and job assignments.

The understanding of these elements allows this person to make adjustments to their action plan and provide a higher degree of safety for interior personnel with concise communications to the incident commander.

Once the Inside Man, or Interior Situational Awareness Officer, transitions to the interior of the structure, their job assignment and analysis of situational threats greatly increases. First, the understanding of the roof assembly features and the destructive effects of fire and exposure to fire on these features needs to be a high priority of this person.

In addition to pulling ceilings in the immediate overhead of the main access, point with a scan of the assembly both visually and TIC assisted, it is important for this person to identify the number of hoselines through the access point and the number of personnel assigned to the hoselines.

NIOSH Firefighter Data and Injury Report Data has shown that two or more hoselines through on access portal create a spaghetti like effect that will greatly increase the odds of personnel failing to egress out of a structure in the moment of a hostile event. Corrective action should be taken to minimize this potential.

Keeping hoselines pulled straight and tight, while providing ample egress portals will reduce the risk of injury and entrapment of interior personnel. The Inside Man’s ability to identify rapid fire development within the structure based on changing interior conditions, the reports from roof division as to progress and conditions of ventilation heat holes and firefighter access holes in common corridors or center hallways, along with the exterior size-up communications from the I-RIC companies determine the next course of action.

One simple task is to first determine the location of interior crews, then identify both accountability and air management of those personnel while sizing up the area in which actively involved in firefighting, search procedures or fire extension activities. Along with the normal assigned task, the Inside Man becomes the interior eyes and ears for the incident commander. Historically this has been tasked to a senior Company Officer assigned on a hoseline or an interior position.

However, with split-company operations in limited to zero visibility environments, the Inside Man can double the effective safety envelope by following the actions stated above for the Incident Commander. Also, those assigned to interior crews may be limited in their ability to identify critical safety factors previously discussed due to task overload.

Although, it may seem like a task overload situation for the Inside Man to accomplish all these objectives, bear in mind, it’s a simple algorithm to follow based upon FACTS, PRESENTATIONS, INPUT & INFORMTION, and TASK EXPECTATIONS AND OUTCOMES.

About the Author

Ed Hadfield has more than 26 years of fire service experience after rising through the ranks from firefighter to division chief. He is a frequent speaker on leadership, sharing his experiences within the fire service and also with corporate and civic leaders throughout the United States. For more on Hadfield, please check online at www.firetowntrainingspecialist.com.

February 13, 2014

Ability to Deliver Pre-Training a Huge Benefit for Alachua County Fire Rescue

Company Blog

Kevin Wesley serves as a training captain for Alachua County Fire Rescue in Gainesville, Fla. With a department consisting of approximately 230 members, the training division of ACFR is tasked with managing training for a department that answers around 37,000 calls each year over 960 square miles of terrain. It’s a daunting challenge, but one that must be met with effectiveness, which is exactly what has transpired with the arrival of TargetSolutions, the industry’s leading online fire department training and records management system.

After some early struggles convincing management about the need for TargetSolutions, the department finally decided it was time to invest in the online fire training technology in April of 2012. At a time when the department was cutting back – Alachua County Fire Rescue has made considerable efforts to reduce its expenses by eliminating 20.5 administrative positions over a two-year period (2009- ’11) – Wesley has been able to ramp up the training program. The department’s decision looks brilliant now because it is able to do more with less – at a time when doing more with less is increasingly more critical.

Wesley can rattle off numerous benefits, but one of the most positive is the ability to “flip the classroom,” which is to deliver customized pre-training online before conducting didactic training. This new trend in the fire service helps departments focus on company drills and multi-company drills by giving personnel a head start before a live event takes place. For example, by sending out an electronic overview of ropes and knots, Wesley is able to save time when crews arrive at the training facility for the hands-on portion, he said.

“This was an advantage to TargetSolutions that we were hoping to take advantage of,” Wesley said. “I’d heard about that idea and was looking for a way to deliver pre-training. TargetSolutions has made it easier than I had anticipated.”

Prior to TargetSolutions, Alachua County was using an antiquated database for tracking employee training records. The system was “cumbersome, clunky and unreliable,” Wesley said. Retrieving data was difficult and time consuming. Simply put, the department needed a faster, more advanced tool to streamline training. That’s where TargetSolutions was able to help with tools for scheduling out, delivering and tracking training, including more than 250 hours of accredited Fire and EMS recertification courses.

“No matter what kind of training we do, there is now 100 percent accountability to record it, so if our crews do it, we can track it and document it with a reliable system now. That’s probably the biggest thing. It’s really allowed us to plan out our training year with confidence. Credential management has been huge. Before, we would have to look at an Excel spreadsheet to see when someone’s credential was expiring. With TargetSolutions’ credential alerts, we now get notification e-mails 90 days, 60 days, 30 days ahead of time. There is no more saying, ‘I didn’t know.’ There is no excuse for it.”

Kevin Wesley, Training Captain

The platform also paid dividends for Alachua County during its fire department ISO review, which the training portion was completed in less than 30 minutes because of TargetSolutions’ clean, concise reporting capabilities, Wesley said. Previously, the process would have required more than 600 pages of documentation and tons of patience.

“I was able to show all the records of our training to ISO,” Wesley said. “Almost everyone was near 100 percent in meeting their training requirements.”

About TargetSolutions
TargetSolutions delivers cutting-edge software applications, engaging online training courses, and world-class customer service. The company was founded in 1999 and today there are more than 2,000 organizations across the country using TargetSolutions’ innovative technology to solve their training challenges.

February 12, 2014

TargetSolutions to Host a Special User Group During Firehouse World

Company Blog

TargetSolutions is excited to host a special user group during Firehouse World on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

Each year the annual conference comes to TargetSolutions’ home town of San Diego, which provides an excellent opportunity to schedule a special gathering with clients and prospects. This year’s event is being held at the San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter (660 K Street – located next to Petco Park, north of the San Diego Convention Center) and is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

TargetSolutions will be providing attendees with an update on the online fire training system’s latest enhancements, delivering an overview of EMS courses and credentials, and answering questions about the fire department training platform. In addition, Jay Summerlin of West Pierce Fire Department (Wash.) and Jake Pelk of Central San Mateo County Training Division (Calif.) will be guest speakers.

Summerlin will be discussing how his department manages pre-incident planning with TargetSolutions and Pelk will give an overview of how his department tracks controlled substances with TargetSolutions.

A catered lunch will be provided. If you have any questions about the upcoming user group, or would like to attend, please contact us today.

In addition to the special user group, TargetSolutions will be presenting its fire department software during Firehouse World’s exhibit hours at the San Diego Convention Center. The booth (No. 720) will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20. Please stop by and say hello!

February 6, 2014

Generate Smarter Data with Test Builder Application’s Enhanced Reporting Capabilities

Company Blog

Have you been hoping to see more functionality added to TargetSolutions’ Test Builder application? If you have wanted to thoroughly analyze and query test data to gain a better understanding of how your personnel are performing, you’re going to love the latest upgrades to the online fire training system’s testing application.

TargetSolutions has released two new reports (Test Completions and Test Analysis inside Generate Reports) that enable platform managers to gather results for individual test completions, as well as retrieve a comprehensive analysis of any question answered by users in a test built with the Test Builder application.

With this detailed reporting functionality, platform managers are able to see the percentage of users who answered an individual question correctly, while also discovering weaknesses in test questions and commonalities in responses. Departments can gain a better understanding of where personnel stand by analyzing the data.

“Platform managers will now be able to more accurately gauge the effectiveness of their test questions,” said TargetSolutions Product Manager Misty Pratt. “It’s also a way to do post-test reviews with individuals to identify any knowledge gaps.”

After completing a test, platform managers can review completed tests with users, understand where they may need additional studying, and advise before the user retakes the test. The reports are generated in an easy-to-read format and can be printed in bulk.

“This tool is an amazing quantifier to know if I am writing the test questions correctly, and also to know if the EMS providers get the question,” said Ryan Grebe, who serves as EMS training coordinator for Orange County Emergency Services in North Carolina.

“Once I had a chance to really play with it, I have found several uses for this new tool. For instance, by using this tool we take huge leap forward in validating our exam, and other test questions. This leads us to make better tests that will truly evaluate the competency of the EMS provider so that they are more equipped to apply the knowledge. We then can use this to redirect our training efforts to things that will require more of our attention.”

If you would like more information on the enhanced reporting capabilities of TargetSolutions’ Test Builder application, please contact us today.

New reporting capabilities enable platform managers to retrieve a comprehensive analysis of any question answered by users in a test built with the Test Builder application.

February 4, 2014

Records Management System Tracks Mandatory Documentation During Hiring Process

Company Blog

Are you onboarding staff with endless stacks of paper documentation? Is storing that information in-house, in a file cabinet or desk drawer, taking up valuable space?

If so, your organization is like many others: At risk and in need of strategy to go paperless.

One of TargetSolutions’ most useful tools for risk managers is its New Hire Onboarding Solution, which combines the File Center, Activities Builder and Manage Credentials applications together in a powerful way. These online records management tools work cohesively to streamline the delivery and recordkeeping aspects of mandatory documentation during the hiring process.

TargetSolutions also features automatic alert notifications to ensure key stakeholders, including hiring managers and new employees, are on task to meet requirements. After receiving the electronic assignment with attached documentation – whether it’s a handbook, organizational policy, or anything else that needs to be logged – the employee can authorize with an e-signature, creating a paper-free tracking process. Even better, each assignment’s status can be monitored in real-time with completion reports.

Hiring managers will also take comfort knowing their employees’ training records are online. After all, paper is destructible, expensive, it takes up valuable real estate, it’s difficult to transport. The list of issues with the “old-school” way of doing business is long and lengthy.

“New hire onboarding information required at the time an employee starts can quickly become a mountain of unmanageable documentation,” said Kelly Zielinski, who serves as TargetSolutions’ Strategic Risk Business Unit Manager. “The misplacement of a signed document or unintentional damage to an original document can be disastrous for an organization.”

“Fortunately, TargetSolutions provides an easy-to-use records and information management solution that makes recordkeeping far simpler and less expensive And of course, our full suite of online health and safety training courses make it easy to get new hires trained and on the job fast.”

If you’re not already using TargetSolutions’ New Hire Onboarding Solution, contact us today to learn more.

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