YARMOUTH — The Portland Press Herald recently ran an article about my company, Tyler Technologies, that contained many inaccuracies, inferring blame on our Odyssey court product for “software glitches” in other states, and falsely referencing “multiple lawsuits.” The story offered an incomplete and misleading picture of the facts, and we have outlined these in a letter to the editor. Rather than repeat them here, I believe it’s more important to counter the unfair and uncharacteristic portrait painted of our company.

Last December, a contract was signed between Tyler Technologies and the Maine Judicial Branch to deploy Tyler’s Odyssey® court case management software – a decision that will modernize and transform the courts’ current paper-based system.

Odyssey has an expansive national footprint and a long-standing record of successful implementations. It is being used in more than 600 counties across 21 states, covering more than 100 million people, including six of the nation’s top 10 counties.

Instead of focusing on the reasons behind the state court’s decision to replace its current software, and the benefits the state and its citizens will gain because of this implementation, the reporter chose to paint an unbalanced, inaccurate and sensationalized picture of our company.

More importantly, the article created unfair doubt about a project that has only just started and cast an unwarranted shadow on expectations for a successful implementation. Tyler has a history of successful projects with many other jurisdictions in Maine, and literally thousands of clients across the U.S.

Anyone who understands software implementations, especially large-scale and complex projects, knows there are always adjustments that vendors and clients make together.

That’s why a partnership between the jurisdiction and the vendor is so important. Tyler Technologies prides itself on, and is known for, being this type of partner.

We work with our clients to ensure that they, and their constituents, achieve the full value and benefits from the technology in which they have invested. We have every reason to expect this type of relationship and successful outcome with our Maine engagement.

Tyler recently announced several new projects that will have a positive impact on the greater Portland community. In March of last year, we announced plans to significantly expand our offices in Yarmouth with a four-story, 94,500 square feet addition.

Our expansion will allow us to double our local workforce to more than 1,000 employees over the next several years.

In January of this year, the city of Portland chose Tyler to implement an integrated ERP and permitting, licensing and regulatory software solution, helping the city automate and manage its business processes.

We are also committed to furthering STEM education with our schools. For the third year, Maine’s high school students will have an opportunity to try their hand at designing and building a mobile application that addresses a need within their school or community through Tyler’s Maine App Challenge.

The finalists win scholarships totaling $10,000 to support their continued education. More importantly, some discover a passion for technology that fuels a college major, an internship or perhaps a career in the Maine tech industry.

The Maine App Challenge is just one example of Tyler’s long history of fostering innovation in the state’s public sector – from the 150 Maine school districts with whom we work, to cities, counties and other government entities here and across the U.S.

Today, Tyler has offices in three Maine cities, and more than 650 employees in the state.

For the sixth consecutive year, Tyler was named one of the “Best Places to Work in Maine” in 2016. Tyler has also been a long-time partner of Educate Maine’s Project>Login, and we have supported numerous local nonprofit organizations through volunteerism and financial giving.

A Mainer myself, I am proud that Tyler has been an employer of choice in the Portland area for many years.

We pride ourselves on our reputation for building long-standing partnerships with our clients. We maintain one of the highest client satisfaction and retention rates in the industry.

Whether helping public servants work more efficiently, fostering interest in technology among students, or allowing citizens greater transparency and access to their local governments, we look forward to many more fruitful years of partnership with the great state of Maine.

— Special to the Telegram

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