A complete modernization effort
Snohomish County’s IT team has been on a mission to modernize and streamline their workflows. By leveraging FME, they’ve replaced outdated processes and manual tasks with automated solutions that save time, improve efficiency, and reduce downtime.
FME has become an essential tool for moving data between various systems, particularly SQL solutions. “About 80% of the solutions we’re implementing now are modernizations,” shared Donnie Owsley, Business Application Developer. “We’re replacing older methods like SSIS jobs or manual data transfers with FME to automate and simplify processes.”
Transforming court operations with automation
One of Snohomish County’s most impactful applications of FME is in its court system. Previously, staff manually downloaded schedules and case files from the state court system, a process filled with inefficiencies and errors. Using FME, this workflow has been transformed. Court schedules are now downloaded multiple times a day, processed, and displayed on wayfinding boards throughout the courthouse. With changes often made to court schedules, this ensures the public always has up-to-date information about courtroom locations and times.
In addition to improving public-facing services, FME also helps identify and exclude sensitive cases from downloads, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations while maintaining efficiency. If there is an issue with the state court system, FME notifies the team so they can address it proactively, ensuring continuity. These improvements have minimized downtime and enhanced the user experience for both court staff and the public.
Simplifying daily operations across departments
Beyond the courts, FME has revolutionized workflows in departments like HR and finance. The county uses FME to transfer new employee data from their HR system to an internally built database used for timekeeping. This daily automation eliminates manual data entry and improves accuracy. FME also integrates with PowerShell commands to proactively monitor 10+ internal and external services, reducing customer-facing downtime and eliminating the need for someone to manually maintain and check them for issues daily. In the assessor’s department, FME resizes high-resolution property images to save server space and prevent system shutdowns.
Empowering self-service solutions
The Snohomish County team has also used FME to enable self-service for 30 departments. For example, they developed a solution for third-party systems prone to errors, allowing users to restart the application or server themselves. This reduces reliance on IT support and minimizes downtime. Creating new workflows with FME is fast and efficient, with some automations built in under an hour. This speed and flexibility make FME an invaluable tool for addressing their operational needs.
Looking ahead: Expanding FME’s reach
Snohomish County plans to expand FME further, including centralizing workspaces handling sensitive data and leveraging FME to ensure compliance with privacy standards. They also aim to provide external users with self-service options to access public data, streamlining processes for both staff and citizens.
By adopting FME, Snohomish County has achieved significant operational improvements, from automating routine tasks to enabling real-time data access and self-service solutions.
