New Master Series on Implementing E-Forms

By: Margaret Tassin, CFSP, CDC
Program Council, Director of Education

Beginning on Thursday, May 15, BFMA will present a six-part Master Series on Implementing E-Forms.  This comprehensive series covers everything from planning for the move to electronic forms, funding it, designing forms, working with IT and everything in between.  Join us for six stimulating presentations from authorities in the field with hands-on experience.

Session 1: May 15, 2008 - Chad Parks, Tessada & Associates
Stages to Plan for When Converting to E-Processes
You began with print forms.  Now you are ready to move up to e-forms.  But what level of e-forms are you really talking about: print-on-demand, fill-and-print, intelligent forms, e-forms with full database connectivity, e-forms with e-signatures or e-forms fully integrated into e-business processes?  Many companies choose to move gradually up through these ranks to defray technology costs and to ease corporate culture shock.  Learn more about the project planning requirements for each level and what types of resistance you can expect to meet along the way.

Session 2: May 22 - Jim Healy, FormRouter, Inc.
Selecting the Best Format for Your Project Scope
The forms and business process professional has a huge array of e-forms formats to choose from:  HTML, XML, ASP, PDF, Excel, Word, Flash and the list goes on.  Walk through this evaluation of the most popular formats to determine which is the best match for the type of e-forms you want to create, for the skill sets available to your team and for the future scalability of your project.

Session 3: May 29 - Duane Nickull, Adobe
Forms Gone Wild:  Electronic Forms Design Considerations
As data collection tools, e-forms aren’t simply the electronic counterparts of their static paper cousins.  What are user expectations with regards to e-forms?  What are some common errors made by e-forms systems designers?  What are some front-end and back-end design elements that can really make your new business processes sing?

Session 4: June 5
Working with IT to Create an RFP and to Define Responsibilities
In most cases, implementing e-forms involves interfacing with your company’s IT department.  Bringing them in at the early stages can help diffuse misunderstanding later in the project.  Learn about the components of an e-form Request for Proposal (RFP), the kind of expectations or reservations IT may have about them, and how to address those concerns.  Breakdown which elements of the project you may be able to handle internally either with help from the vendor or with proper employee training, so that IT is not overburdened and the project flows smoothly.

Session 5: June 12 - Liz Rogers, GlaxcoSmithKline, Inc.
Establishing a Reasonable Projected ROI
Transitioning to e-forms usually requires approval from upper management and upper management needs numbers in order to make a decision.  How much money can your organization save by adopting e-forms?  What are the real costs associated with paper forms processing?  What are the real costs associated with acquiring and implementing e-forms?  Where are the savings and how do you quantify them?  Learn to use real-life metrics for quantifying your projected savings.

Session 6: June 19
Efficiently Serving a Dual Paper/Electronic Environment
Most companies are not fortunate enough to be able to convert to completely electronic processes.  And most forms departments are not lucky enough to double in size just because e-forms were added to their responsibilities.  Learn tips, tricks and shortcuts for maintaining an interconnected load of paper and electronic forms.

Comments

[Rebecca Y]

I'm interested in possibly attending the "New Master Series on Implementing E-Forms." However, I cannot see where exactly these presentations will be held. Which city and state? Or will there also be a web conference/webcast/webinar? Since BFMA is presenting this series, does this mean the presentations are in Oregon?

[Margaret Tassin]

All the Master Series are webinars. The beauty of this is that you can stay at your desk and learn! BFMA uses Live Meeting technology and a conference call phone line to bring the speakers and their presentation to you.