WHEELS, Inc., manages some 8,000 trips per day -- 4,500 paratransit and 3,500 fare-reimbursable transit trips -- using automation developed by Solution Systems, Inc., (SSI) in collaboration with WHEELS. With this system, WHEELS registers clients, reserves and schedules paratransit trips, verifies transportation charges, and collects and distributes reimbursements to carriers and individuals. SSI processes the data and operates the system on its mainframe computers. The successful development of this system suggests that any such system must take into account all program features, the complexities of daily management and activities, and the program's need for flexibility in dynamically managing change and growth. Transportation management must thoroughly define its needs for information entry, use, processing, recall, and storage. The computer supplier must respond by designing programs and procedures that can be enhanced readily over time, by providing for data processing and maintenance, and by placement of equipment that meets original and changing needs.
Abstract