1. Document submission and approval workflow:
   • Research specialists routinely request documents be sent by field offices for inclusion in case records. These requests were formally documented in the case management app.  Communication and submission of files was managed within email threads, with the research specialists responsible for uploading the submitted files to the case management record. The development team created a form where users from field offices can upload the requested documentation directly. The workflow sends an email alert to the requestor when documents are uploaded. The documents must then proceed through differing levels of review and approval depending upon the type of document being submitted. Upon final approval, the documents become a part of the official case record.
2. Tracking incoming requests to perform research
   • A newly formed branch of the organization sought the capability to capture, track, and report upon incoming requests to perform research and the reports they deliver to their stakeholders. Communication of such request was previously captured and managed outside of the case management system by email. The development team created a dashboard where users are able to visualize the different categories of task from reception, through disposition, to fulfillment. The dashboard enables users to drag and drop tasks into different statuses and updates in near real-time so that users monitoring the queue do not need to refresh the page manually. Color and iconography are used to convey task prioritization and which need most urgent attention. Automated email messages are sent to appropriate stakeholders when tasks reach certain milestones in processing. 
3. Performing searches on mobile devices
   • The development team employed .NET Blazor single page application (SPA) framework to deliver a responsive web application for searching case data on government-issued iPhone devices. Using the SPA platform rapidly delivered consolidated search results from multiple apps, visually highlighting which data element the search hit on for quick review of results.
4. Analyzing address data
   • The case management app stored hundreds of thousands of addresses pertaining to people and events. The development team integrated GIS technology to validate, visualize, and analyze addresses. The ESRI geocoding service was used to obtain geospatial coordinates for existing addresses. An ESRI mapping widget was made available for users to search for and select valid addresses when editing data. Analysis tools were developed in ESRI ArcGIS mapping software. 

Challenge 1 — This feature resulted in improved tracking of requests, faster review and approval of documents, and reduced workload burden on the research specialists collecting information.

Challenge 2 — The capture and tracking of tasks and reports enabled the users to better manage workload across available research specialists as well as reporting to leadership key metrics of the work products they produce.

Challenge 3 — The availability of mobile search enables thousands of users to quickly lookup data without requiring access their desktop computer. The simple and intuitive user interface enables users not familiar with the case management app to locate information without first needing to learn how to navigate and interact with the more robust search features of the larger application.

Challenge 4 — This effort resulted in more accurate location data and the capability to perform geospatial queries which could not be performed previously.