Below are the most common questions we are asked about Black Bear Systems and Ursa Software. If you have more questions feel free to send us an email or give us a call at: (800) 439-1305

How long has Black Bear Systems been around?

Black Bear Systems. has been offering software solutions to local government since 1991.

Just to make sure I’ve got this straight, what is Ursa?

Ursa is a Windows-based, multi-user, software package designed to help your staff manage their workload and paperwork. It handles your Permits, Licenses, and Code Enforcement actions, as well as your Plan Reviews, Inspections, Inspections Scheduling, Fees, Receipts, Parcels, Owners, and Contractors information. It also has a section to track how much time your staff works on specific projects or tasks to aid you in any personnel reporting requirements you may have.

With all these features, why is Ursa so reasonably priced? Your competition can be tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars more expensive!

We have a different philosophy about software from most of our competitors. Twenty-five years ago if you wanted a word processing system you called a software manufacturer who sold you a $70,000 mini-computer with a word processing package set up just for you. These days, if you want a word processing system you probably go on-line and simply order the program that best suits your needs. Some of our competitors are a lot like that $70,000 word processor. Their systems require regular blocks of consulting, development, and training time. Consultant-style companies can spend weeks in your offices getting their systems installed and customized and your staff trained. They also have large marketing budgets to prepare responses to RFPs and provide on-site sales pitches. All of this drives the price of their systems up. We designed Ursa to work for the majority of small to medium sized jurisdictions, not New York City and Los Angeles. We concentrate on developing and enhancing our state-of-the-art products and providing you first-class service, not on expensive marketing. Since we keep our volume high and our overhead low, we can continue to add more functionality to our products and still keep our prices down.

Are you saying that one-size-fits-all?

No. Some jurisdictions benefit from the expensive consulting alternative. For example, America’s largest cities require a huge staff to just keep up with the paperwork. A consulting firm can make a real contribution by developing a unique, large computer system to streamline operations. But for most of us, the off-the-shelf solution is the best solution. We usually install new software on our own or call our local computer consultant to do the installation and then teach ourselves how to use it or take a class or two to help us get started. Either way, we’re up and running in a relatively short period of time and at a very reasonable cost. For the majority of jurisdictions Ursa is an excellent choice, meeting both their needs and their budget. And very importantly, since we don’t spend our time and resources focusing on one or two enormous clients, you don’t have to worry about receiving the service you deserve – YOU will always be our most important client.

How many clients do you have?

Over 1,200 local governments license our software products, and that list is growing all the time.

When you say “1,200 clients”, you mean “1,200 users”, right?

We mean over 1,200 distinct cities, counties, towns, school districts, etc. are licensed to use our software products. Our competitors sometimes use terms like “agencies” or “bureaus” to count multiple departments within the same city or county government as separate clients. We do not do this. As for users, we estimate that we have upwards of 10,000.

Are most of your clients in one region of the country?

Not at all. Our clients are located in 49 states and Canada (we have no clients in Hawaii.)

Can Ursa run on a network of computers?

Ursa comes out of the box ready to run on any Windows-based local area network. You may also install Ursa on peer-to-peer networks. Either way, with the Ursa Desktop package up to 15 users can access the program, and with Ursa SQL Server you can have 30 or more users. You may also use Ursa stand-alone on a single computer.

Is data stored in some “Ursa-only” system that none of my other departments or software can use?

No. All Ursa data is stored in Microsoft SQL Server databases. As Ursa is a Windows-based program you can share data with other Windows programs through basic cut, copy, and paste commands, and via SQL Server drivers that let other programs work directly with your Ursa data. Examples of some third-party programs you can use with Ursa include GIS packages, report writers, Tax Assessor and Financial Software packages.

Do I have to purchase a separate report writer program to make my own reports?

No. While you have the option of using Crystal Reports or other SQL Server report writers to write reports for use with your Ursa data, Ursa comes with a report writer & report writing Expert at no extra cost. This enables you to create sophisticated reports you can save to run again and again. In addition, Ursa comes with over 100 predefined reports, including a group of summary reports that show you your department’s work over any time period. You have the ability to modify these predefined reports to suit your needs.

Do I have to purchase a separate report writer program to make my own reports?

No. While you have the option of using Crystal Reports or other SQL Server report writers to write reports for use with your Ursa data, Ursa comes with a report writer and report writing Expert at no extra cost. This enables you to create sophisticated reports that you can save to run again and again. In addition, Ursa comes with over 100 predefined reports, including a group of summary reports that show you your department’s work over any time period. You have the ability to modify these predefined reports to suit your needs.

How much extra does it cost to issue my Planning permits? Or Track my Inspections? Or manage Plan Reviews? Or work in the field on Notebooks?

Nothing. Ursa contains the functionality you need. Many of our competitors sell their software in pieces that encompass a single task you might perform: like issuing Building permits vs. issuing Planning-type permits; or entering inspection data while in your office vs. entering it out in the field in your truck. This piece-meal approach allows them to charge you more money. We don’t do this. We provide you with a comprehensive, customizable program.

Ursa includes everything you need to manage your Permit, Code Enforcement and Licensing tasks. Our Permits module handles everything from pre-application meetings to Certificate of Occupancy issuance. The Code Enforcement module, designed for nuisance-code management, handles everything from the receipt of the initial complaint to full Court proceedings. And our License module handles all types of License issuance – Business licenses, Animal licenses, etc. – and even manages your license renewal process.
 

So, all those features you mentioned are at no extra charge too?

That’s right. Plan Review procedures; Inspections tracking and Inspection Scheduling; Land Management with Parcels, Owners and Tenancy tracking; Financials management; Contractor management; Personnel time tracking and reporting; Report generation and definition; and Security and System Administration – it’s all included. We have over 16 years of experience working with more than 1,200 Building, Planning, Community Development, Code Enforcement and Licensing departments and Ursa’s incredibly broad functionality reflects this. We are always working to make our products better.

How many types of Permits can I have in the Permits Module?

As many as you like, and at no extra cost. Ursa comes with over 20 predefined permit types ready for you to use or customize, and you can create others to manage the information you need. With Ursa you have the ability to refine all permit types so that your screens show you what you want. Plus, you can personalize screens so you see a different layout of the information than your co-workers do, all personalized to exactly what each of your staff members needs.  

Can I change the content and appearance of Permits printed by Ursa?

Yes. You can edit the more than 100 pre-defined reports we include with Ursa or define your own reports from scratch. And these reports can be designed primarily for you to print or to view on-screen. You can even keep a report open all the time on an Ursa tab and it will periodically update as you and your co-workers work throughout the day – one glance and you know, for example, what the total Receipts for the day or week are.

And if your jurisdiction uses Crystal Reports (manufactured by the company Business Objects) you can also define reports in Crystal and then add them to Ursa’s menus.

How much does technical support cost?

When you buy Ursa you’ll choose from 2 technical support options – included with your purchase you’ll receive, at no additional charge, technical support for either a standard one-year period or an extended three-year period with any MAX package. After that initial period you can choose to maintain a technical support contract with us on an annual basis. If you have licensed Ursa Desktop the cost is $1500 a year; if you have licensed Ursa SQL Server the cost is $2500 a year. For more information on Ursa Package options give us a call at (800) 439-1305.

Our technical support is available via phone, fax, or email. The phone lines are open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Pacific Time and you can, of course, email us anytime. Our experienced technicians are here to help you with any Ursa usage question or problem you may have.

Will you help me get in contact with other users in my area?

Absolutely! We encourage communication between our clients. We will be happy to put you in contact with other Ursa users in your area. Simply contact us for the information.

Do you regularly update the program?

There are 2 types of updates to Ursa. First, we fix any problems that we find, as we find them. These updates are called “Maintenance Releases” and are available to you at no charge as long as you are entitled to our technical support services. About every 18 months to 2 years we release a new version of software for sale. These releases are called “Upgrades” and include many new or improved features. You can access Maintenance Releases on our web site, and we will automatically send you information about Upgrades with release dates and costs when they are available.
 

What if I want something outside the standard Ursa program or don’t have the time to design a necessary report?

With Ursa you can carry out many changes to the program right at your desk. Basically, you control what Ursa tracks, displays to you, and prints with no intervention needed from us. If you would like us to add a new feature to Ursa, or you would like us to design a report for you, no problem. We offer modification services at reasonable rates and are happy to provide no-obligation quotes. So give us a call at (800) 439-1305 and tell us about your requirements.
 

Can I bring my Assessor’s data or other information into Ursa?

Sure. Many Ursa clients want to fill their Parcels and Owners tables with data from their city or county tax assessor or their GIS data. This avoids a lot of data entry and brings current ownership data right to your desktop. You can also import past-years’ Permitting, Code Enforcement and Licensing data into Ursa from your old software system. You have the option of importing the information yourself or we can take a look at your source data and give you a no-obligation quote for the cost of bringing it into Ursa.

What if I want in-person training?

No problem. We offer instruction geared to your needs at your location or ours. And if you have a complex Ursa installation, we can help you analyze your workflow and implement Ursa in the most efficient way for your jurisdiction. Ursa is easy to use and learn because we want you to have the option of working on your own. But we are always here to support you should you need us. If you do take advantage of our training services you have the option of getting training in a independent session just for you and your co-workers or you can keep costs down by attending an Ursa Quick-Start Seminar held in central locations around the country. Contact us for schedules and costs.

And if you place your order for training at the same time you order your software package, we will give you 10% off the cost of your training!
 

So to sum up, why should I license Ursa rather than one of the other software systems I’m evaluating?

Ursa is a first-class, comprehensive, customizable system at an off-the-shelf price. It can help manage your entire operations from Planning, Permits and Inspections, to Licensing and Code Enforcement actions. You can set up all of your Permit, Inspection and License types, design reports, and tweak the system to track the information you want to see, all at a great low price. And we offer a 30-day money back guarantee to protect you. Multiple options for Training are available if you’d like to get a jump-start on the learning curve. And finally, our technical support is the best in the business!