BUZZ: I understand ACI acquired Day One® and United Systems®.
HEYN: That’s correct.  ACI acquired the assets of Day One and United Systems from Zaio on Friday, November 14th.  

BUZZ: How is the transition going?
HEYN: Very well.  Within hours of the acquisition the phone lines were transferred and we started taking calls.  Then our hardware team went into action transferring the systems that keep both our Day One and United appraisers operational with mapping and licensing.  We are fully transitioned now on both platforms and it was done with only minimal downtime, most of which was during weekend hours.

BUZZ: So you are supporting Day One and United Systems users.
HEYN: Absolutely.  They are our clients just like our ACI appraisers and deserve the same high-quality service.  We have former Day One employees on staff and retained former United Systems staff to help provide continuity of support.  Additionally, we trained our existing support staff on both the Day One and United platforms.

BUZZ: What about converting Day One and United Systems users to ACI?
HEYN: First, no one is being forced to do anything. We will, for the term of the existing service contract, continue to support our Day One and United users. By demonstrating our commitment to the well being of our new clients, we hope to earn their trust and future business--not through fear mongering, intimidation or coercion, but the old-fashioned way--do a good job for someone and they will want to do business with you. 

Second, we recognize and respect the fact that many Day One and United users have a loyalty to those programs.  While the programs, especially over the last few years, may not have received the refining and updating that their users deserved, they remained decent, serviceable platforms.  ACI intends to tap into our base of Day One and United clients to identify the most popular features of each program and incorporate those features into a single product line.

BUZZ: Will you be making the new 1004MC addenda available to Day One and United Systems users?
HEYN: Yes, our Day One and United clients with active service contracts will receive the 1004MC update in the Day One or United Systems format at no charge. Again, we support all three platforms and allow our clients to transition because they “want to” not because they “have to”.

BUZZ: What about those appraisers who wish to switch to ACI now?
HEYN: We have a variety of packages for appraisers who wish to make the move now, including a free transition package that, in addition to forms and sketch software, includes support and updates, eServices, and mapping.

BUZZ: Can ACI convert Day One and United files?
HEYN: Our report conversions, which can be performed one-at-a-time or in batch mode, are extremely clean and accurate.  Additionally, we can convert Day One and United office management and tracking systems, comparables data bases, including photos, and quick lists/pick lists of commonly used responses.
 
BUZZ: As a pioneer in the appraisal software industry, you must find this very interesting.
HEYN: You know, Joan, when I founded what is now ACI 30 years ago, I was just an appraiser with an idea and a 90-day note to the bank for $3,000.  I had no idea that the company would one day become what it is today.  One thing that pleases me very much is that after 30 years the clients still come first.  This acquisition exemplifies that attitude.  In the last few weeks I’ve watched our staff work some very hard, long hours to ensure that Day One and United Systems users receive the very best in terms of support and customer commitment.  We realize that we have to honestly earn the future business of these appraisers and we intend to do so, one client at a time.