AUB TO LAUNCH NEW CUSTOMER INFO SYSTEM AND DATABASE
ATHENS, Tenn. – Athens Utilities Board has been working for several months to transition its customer information database, as well as the computer system used for all of its back-office operations in accounting, and is ready to launch the new system.
Planning for the transition from old to new began in 2019 with reviews of several possible vendors to determine which one would best fit the utility’s need to serve the community. The new system will “go live” this week.
The decision was to use a system from Central Service Association (CSA), which is controlled by the utilities that use its services. Furthermore, it is not for profit.
“CSA is operated without profit and it functions solely for the benefit of its members, which are owners of the system,” said AUB’s Eric Newberry.
“That is exactly how AUB runs, as a not for profit entity dedicated to providing all that is needed at the lowest possible cost,” he said.
AUB is busy in the final stages of prepping the new system, and its employees, for the launch.
“This is huge, really, for AUB and for everyone involved. We have used the same billing and back-office system for decades, and moving to an entirely new system, while needed, is going to be a challenge,” Newberry said.
Because the system will be new for all of the organization’s employees, AUB’s Wayne Scarbrough said that the utility asks customers to be patient and to work with the people who are prepping to put the new software to use.
“Like most everyone, AUB employees give their best every day. Our folks have been training and learning the ins and outs of the system. But there are always surprises, always things that jump up and throw you for a loop,” he said.
“We hold ourselves to a high standard in seeing that you always get the service you deserve, and you will never pay for utilities you don’t use,” Scarbrough said.
“We may have bumps here and there, but we’ll work to smooth them. While the technology may be novel, the core of our business is our people who do their level best to serve our customers, plain and simple,” he said.
Newberry said that AUB’s employees worked tirelessly to get all of the utility’s data transferred and to prepare to work daily with the new software, and that training across the board for all employees has been essential.
“Our people have really stepped up. From our information technology group through our billing people and from cashiers to customer service, everyone has worked to make the new system right and to prepare for a smooth launch,” he said.
“In particular I want to thank our project manager on this venture, Michelle Millsaps, who is over our accounting system. She’s done a great job from the start to get us where we are today,” Newberry said.
