Steps to Success

Muni-Link starts the project with a Kickoff Meeting where we invite all participants to meet and review project objectives from a high level which includes a schedule of milestones as well as defining different key roles. This is where our joint team is formed, both sides working towards a common goal, for your success in the Muni-Link Billing System!

Next is the discovery part of the process. This is where your dedicated Implementation Lead hosts several Client Profile Sessions to get to know your business and processes. We review your day to day operations in great detail to ensure that the functionality of Muni-Link is consistent with your exact requirements. Information gathered will include: mailing and printing tasks, banking requirements, credit card processing, import/export procedures and more.

The Implementation Lead will continue to work side-by-side with users as they enter some fundamental data into the Muni-Link system during the next phase called the Pre-Conversion Setup Session. This user-defined information will include: users, services/miscellaneous charges, billing rates and general ledger accounts.

Once data has been provided, the Muni-Link team will complete a field-by-field review of your current data to provide a mapping for the Data Conversion. With your feedback, all critical data points are accounted for and converted into the Muni-Link billing software.

Data Conversion Review and Training go hand in hand. Once the data has been converted, users will receive training on the Account Central function within Muni-Link. Once the user is able to navigate Account Central, we will provide a checklist of data to be validated. The user will then review the converted data and verify its accuracy.

Formal Training is divided into lessons based on features within Muni-Link. e.g. Account Central, payments/adjustments, billing, reports, etc. Specialized training is also offered and is organized based on the job responsibilities of each individual user.

In preparation for go live, Muni-Link emphasizes Customer Readiness. The client will have the opportunity to confirm and verify the following: converted data has been reviewed, training has been completed, implementation tasks are on schedule, forms to be generated by Muni-Link are correct, required reports are available and processes are operational and approved.

Since the billing process is typically the most complicated, the Go-Live date is scheduled immediately after a billing run has been performed in the legacy software. We have found that this maximizes the amount of time for live operations until the next billing run is required. However, each Go-Live will be unique to each client’s needs. During Go-Live, the following will be completed: convert data set to Muni-Link, perform converted data review including reconciliation of account balances, client sign-off, begin daily operations: payments, meter exchanges, finals, service orders, etc.

The Implementation Lead will work with the client to design a schedule for all critical tasks in the next business cycle. Tasks will include: applying penalties/interest, preparing delinquent notices, generating first billing, including reader interface and preparing month-end reports.

Your Implementation Lead will be available for each critical task defined for at least one complete business cycle. However, the support does not end there. A formal support transition meeting will be conducted where a transfer of knowledge from the Implementation Team to the Muni-Link Support Team is completed. From here on out you will be guided by the Support Team through calls, emails, live chat as well as monthly live/recorded webinars.

We are excited to begin this process with you!