(Oslo, 11 November 2011) Starting in the New Year, tens of thousands of users in almost 400 public sector organisations will have access to a new IT system for case management and record keeping that is designed to meet their future requirements. The new solution, known as ePhorte5, will reduce the time taken up by case management with about 20 percent. This is the conclusion of research carried out by EDB ErgoGroup to compare the new solution with the solution currently in use.

"This solution will change the way users carry out efficient case management in Norway, and will offer entirely new opportunities. With its seamless integration to other systems, choice of user interface, mobility and access to cloud computing, ePhorte5 will transport the Norwegian case management user into the future", explains Håvard Larsen", Head of the Solutions business area at EDB ErgoGroup.

The most widely used case management system in Norway

The ePhorte solution is currently the most widely used case management system in the Norwegian public sector. Almost 400 municipalities, public sector bodies and educational institutions use the current solution. The IT company EDB ErgoGroup has been working for some time on developing ePhorte5, a new version of the solution designed to meet future requirements.

This solution is now ready for use from the start of the New Year. The objective for the development of the new system was to create a state-of-the-art solution that will streamline the processes involved in case management and improve efficiency, addressing areas such as flexibility towards other systems, wide choice of user interfaces and mobility, as well as compatibility between case management by different public sector bodies. In addition, the solution incorporates cloud computing and meets the latest requirements of the Norwegian Archive Standard (Noark). Particular attention has been paid to the security of the cloud-based services. All the data stored for "Cloud ePhorte" will be held in EDB ErgoGroup's Norwegian operating systems, and unlike many other cloud services, no data will be stored outside Norway. The solution will become available as a cloud service over the course of 2012.

"ePhorte5 opens up entirely new opportunities for the future of case management in the public sector. The new solution is a big departure from the current restrictions of interface and operating platform. No similar system in Norway offers these opportunities, and we are very proud of the extensive development work that has gone into our new solution, says Håvard Larsen.

More efficient case management

ePhorte5 will help to reduce the time needed for case mangement, and will reduce significantly the work involved in record keeping compared to traditional public sector solutions. This is the conclusion of research carried out by EDB ErgoGroup to compare the new solution with the solution currently in use.

"I know that many users of ePhorte are very interested and curious to see what the new solution will offer. I am confident that the solution we have developed will be seen as an efficient tool for the future that will simplify everyday tasks for case management users in the public sector. We intend to spend a lot of time over the coming months demonstrating ePhorte5 to everyone in the public sector who is waiting to see what the new solution will offer", explains Håvard Larsen.

Bringing together citizens and the administration of public services

ePhorte5 will make it easier for Norwegian citizens to be more involved in the process of case management when they need to contact public sector bodies. The solution will facilitate continuous dialogue between the citizen and the case manager, and the citizen will be able to access the solution at any time to monitor progress. In the same way, it will now be possible for other user groups from different public sector bodies to be integrated into the management of a case as required.

In addition, ePhorte5 will make it possible to digitalise the political process within a public sector body. Elected representatives can have electronic access to matters for consideration at meetings, and will be able to access electronic case management tools for this content. The solution will also give the media and the private sector access to documents that are publicly available pursuant to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act and Public Administration Act. As an example, journalists interested in a particular issue will be able to use the solution to "subscribe" so that they are automatically notified when relevant new documents become available.

A big departure from the restrictions of traditional user interfaces

At the moment, public sector case management is largely carried out using 'closed' systems that can only be accessed by logging in from a proscribed user interface at a particular type of workstation. The new solution offers a free choice of user interface. This means that users will be able to access and use ePhorte from Outlook, SharePoint, web-based interfaces and other typical office support tools. ePhorte5 can be configured to use Open Office as well as Microsoft applications. In addition, the solution can be configured for access from PCs, tablets (iPad) and smart phones (Windows phone, MANGO).

New opportunities for integration with other systems

ePhorte5 will offer entirely new opportunities for integration with other systems and for simplifying public sector record keeping. By interfacing with the information held in the various record keeping and technical systems used by a public sector body, the new solution will make it possible in the future for all stored information to be held in a single system.

About ePhorte5

EDB ErgoGroup supplies the current ePhorte system to almost 400 public sector bodies. ePhorte has been the leading system in Norway for public sector case management and record keeping for many years. Working in collaboration with its development subcontractor Gecko Informasjonssystemer AS, EDB ErgoGroup has now established ePhorte5 as the solution of the future for case management and record keeping in the public sector.

ePhorte5 represents an entirely new concept and a paradigm shift for secure record keeping in the public sector. The Noark5 core is a standalone component that can be used by any other system through a standardised high-level integration interface. The solution also incorporates interfaces for other requirements so that the case management user and manager can carry out their case management tasks in a simple and intuitive manner in ePhorte5 itself. The solution can be accessed through familiar desktop applications such as Outlook and SharePoint, through Web-based interfaces or through the organisation's existing systems. In addition, the solution incorporates a platform for developing new user-friendly functions and solutions. One example of this is mobile process support delivered through a mobile application developed for iPad and Windows phone.

For further information, please contact:

Håvard Larsen, Executive Vice President Solutions, EDB ErgoGroup. Tel: +47 930 81 013

Torgeir Kristiansen, Information Director Corporate Communications, EDB ErgoGroup. Tel: +47 901 27 909

About EDB ErgoGroup

EDB ErgoGroup ASA is one of the leading Nordic IT companies, with some 10,000 employees and annual turnover of NOK 12.4 billion. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and operates from headquarters in Oslo with major activities in both the Norwegian and Swedish markets. In all, the company operates from 135 offices in 16 countries around the world.