Efficiency at Scale: How Houston DRC Modernized Case Management With ADR Notable
More than 3,300 cases a year. More than 600 volunteer mediators onboarded. Case management that needed to work beyond county walls.
Houston DRC needed dispute resolution case management software that could connect its staff and volunteer mediators, support county reporting requirements, and make case information accessible beyond county facilities.
Its aging, server-based system was making that work harder. Reporting was manual, maintenance was difficult, and users with varying levels of technology experience struggled to navigate it.
Working with ADR Notable, the center brought intake, case assignment, and reporting together in one platform, reducing duplicate data entry and expanding access to case information.
When the System Becomes an Obstacle
Houston DRC’s previous system tied access to case information to a physical location: county facilities. Manual reporting and duplicate data entry added administrative effort, while maintaining the aging system created another demand on resources.
For a center handling thousands of cases annually, these limitations affected essential workflows and the people responsible for keeping cases moving.
“Our previous case management system was antiquated. We needed a system that our staff and volunteer mediators could use easily, that we could access beyond county facilities, and that supported our reporting requirements.”
— Steve Kreider, Executive Director, Houston DRC
The center needed a platform that could accommodate different user responsibilities and connect its core processes.
A Platform Built Around ADR Work
Houston DRC worked with ADR Notable to configure case management and reporting around its operational needs.
Intake, case assignment, and reporting came together in one platform. Role-based permissions supported the different responsibilities of staff and mediators, while expanded access meant case information was no longer confined to county facilities.
The transition also included weekly onboarding sessions to help users learn the platform and apply it to their work. Across programs, more than 600 volunteer mediators were onboarded.
That combination of configuration and practical support helped the center introduce new technology to a community with varying levels of technology experience.
Before and After: What Changed With ADR Notable
| Before ADR Notable | With ADR Notable |
|---|---|
| Case information could only be accessed inside county facilities. | Case information became accessible beyond county facilities. |
| Intake, case assignment, and reporting involved duplicate data entry. | Connected workflows reduced repeated data entry. |
| Reporting required manual effort. | Reporting was configured around the center’s operational and county requirements. |
| Users with varying technology experience struggled with the aging system. | Weekly onboarding sessions helped staff and mediators learn the platform. |
| The server-based system was difficult to maintain. | System maintenance became simpler. |
These changes addressed everyday obstacles in managing casework, coordinating mediators, and preparing reports.
Supporting Thousands of Cases and Hundreds of Mediators
At Houston DRC’s scale, usability matters across the organization. Staff need to manage daily operations, volunteer mediators need access appropriate to their responsibilities, and leaders need information for reporting.
ADR Notable brought those needs together through connected workflows, role-based permissions, and onboarding support.
“If I had to describe ADR Notable in one word, it would be efficient.”
— Steve Kreider, Executive Director, Houston DRC
For Houston DRC, that efficiency meant reducing duplicate data entry, expanding access to case information, and simplifying system maintenance while supporting an operation handling more than 3,300 cases annually.
What This Means for Other ADR Programs
Houston DRC’s experience highlights several questions worth asking about your own operations:
- Can staff and mediators access case information when and where they need it?
- How often does your team enter the same information more than once?
- How much manual work goes into recurring reports?
- How much effort does maintaining your current system require?
- What support would help your staff and mediators adopt a new platform?
The answers can help you identify where better technology could make the greatest practical difference.
Houston DRC addressed these challenges with a platform configured around its work and onboarding that supported the people making the transition.
See What This Could Look Like for Your Program
If your center is working around limited access, duplicate data entry, or manual reporting, let’s explore how ADR Notable could support your operations.
Request a personalized demonstration focused on your intake process, case assignments, mediator community, and reporting requirements. We’ll discuss your current systems and answer questions about implementation, pricing, and fit.
