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EmployeeNet

Accela Cloud Migration Project

7/8/2026 Update:

June 26 marked the date for completing User Acceptance Testing (UAT). We thank all our wonderful UAT testers for taking the time to explore the new Cloud environment. IT will be taking all of your tickets and feedback into account as we work from now until July 23 to ensure a successful go-live.  

On July 10, we will begin an account creation freeze. This means no new accounts will be created in Accela between July 10 and July 27.

Work began this summer with the vendor, and we have accomplished the following:  

  • Configured 300+ business processes in the cloud environment and set up data transfer process
  • Developed cloud integration paths
  • Remediated 185+ reports to be WCAG (digital accessibility) compliant

Our team will work hard to ensure a clean migration process for our staff and customers. 

Timeline

 

  1. Cloud environment configuration and accessibility updates

  2. Transition all users to modern interface

  3. Cloud environment user acceptance testing by City agencies

  4. Accela Account Creation Freeze

    Prior to the go live, there will be a freeze on Accela account creation to support data/account conversion from our legacy instance to the cloud.

  5. Go live

  6. Post go-live support

  7. Consolidate the Site Plan Process Online

  8. Implement Enhanced Document Portal and Upload Plan

  9. Enhanced DigEPlan portal and Bluebeam integration

    During our discovery sessions with DigEPlan, we determined that the vendor is unable to execute the Bluebeam integration in the proposed timeframe and scale their sales team communicated to DPCED staff. We will re-engage with DigEPlan at the start of 2027.

Benefits

Moving to the Accela cloud offers several advantages, including:

  • Increased efficiency
  • Streamlined processes
  • Improved data accessibility
  • Better collaboration
  • Reduced infrastructure maintenance costs
  • Scalability to meet fluctuating demands
  • Enhanced security features
  • Ability to access applications from anywhere with an internet connection
  • Ability to access specialized government-focused features and compliance capabilities

What will change?

The public facing interface will remain the same and those using the modern or the mobile internal interface will not see any changes. The only notable change is the internal classic interface will no longer be an option in the Accela cloud platform.

Other notable enhancements:

  • Search enhancements
  • Enhanced logging   
  • Increased security   
  • New views for mobile workers
  • Improved data analytics and dashboard sharing  
  • Improved GIS integration and the ability to optimize routes for inspectors
  • Associate multiple parcels, addresses, and owners with development applications
  • Integration with M365 with the communication manager so that replies to emails will be captured in with the Accela record
  • Enhancement options with public facing portal, customers can put in an address and it will let them know what types of work is allowed on a property based on its classification and zoning

Note: Some enhancements will need to be configured and tested after the migration to the cloud is complete.

More Information

Our plan to move forward is to provide biweekly updates on the project. Please feel free to reach out to Glory Birdsong at GBirdsong@cityofmadison.com with any questions.

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