The public safety agencies were relying on a patchwork of aging and minimally integrated software applications, which include CAD/Mobile, law enforcement RMS, JMS, Fire RMS and ePCR applications, each of which had been procured from a different vendor.

Shortcomings of the core applications led to inefficient operational workarounds, redundant data entry, the use of third-party applications and stand-alone databases, including Microsoft Excel and Access databases, and hard copy documentation. Searches yielded inconsistent results, so the agencies had limited access to accurate information for tactical and strategic analysis.