Speed and Skill Win

Qualified junior police officers sought

All applicants to the Saxony-Anhalt Police University of Applied Sciences must undergo a security check, pass sports and language tests, and prove that they meet the overall requirements for police service. Therefore, it is necessary to coordinate numerous appointments for the tests smoothly, quickly identify the best candidates, and inform them immediately.

Previously qualification data was evaluated in multiple Excel spreadsheets, creating extra work for recruiters, and delaying access to essential information. An intensive search found no suitable existing automated solution. As a result, the Saxony-Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, and its long-term partner SoftwareOne decided to jointly develop a modern automated program to manage the application process quickly and professionally.

A customized solution for applicant management

As specialists in application development and modernization, SoftwareOne has extensive experience in effectively replacing legacy applications, including process redesign and optimization. The Police University project started with a collaborative requirements workshop to define essential elements of the solution, and SoftwareOne then estimated the effort required to achieve the desired solution result.

A crucial objective was automating the entire application process to ensure that the candidate selection process would be error-free. The new and efficient application means that the University of Applied Sciences can better concentrate on qualified applicants and view the status of the process at any time while setting applicable deadlines. The new system also ensures consistent adherence to data protection, security, and all compliance requirements.

SoftwareOne relied on Microsoft technologies to meet the application requirements, including the latest Net framework, SQL Server, and the C# programming language. The solution integrates third-party elements to incorporate candidates' various test results. A connection to Office IT was also needed to automatically create a response in Word format when an application is received. Before sending, responses can be edited individually.

The efficient applicant selection process

The Saxony-Anhalt Police University of Applied Sciences has become a digital pioneer in application management. The "Applicant Database" project, which was launched in September 2020, is currently being finalized and already demonstrates its advantages in practice: The entire process is mapped, from recording mail or online applications to the external integration of aptitude tests, to feedback, to each respective candidate’s outcome.

The project has significantly optimized applicant communications. Deadlines are met, media breaks avoided, and compliance is always maintained. In addition, the necessary statistics for the federal and state governments are generated automatically, further simplifying workflows.

In the meantime, a follow-up project is addressing further requests, including various reporting functions for management. These will deliver an improved overview of applicant numbers, process duration, and a summary of career groups. Other requirements incorporate simplified handling of the solution. A maintenance contract ensures that the software is always up to date with legal requirements and updates and that any bugs that occur are quickly fixed.