CORPORATE BROCHUREReal-time data capture technology and solutions

Education | Elections | Census

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Education | Elections | Census

BUSINESS PROFILE

DRS are specialist providers of automated data capture technology and solutions to governments, education, financial and commercial organisations all over the world.

Established in 1969 as a data capture bureau, DRS later expanded its printing and scanning services to include the design and manufacture of OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) scanners, selling them predominantly into the education market to capture student assessment, registration and attendance data.

This experience in the education sector, coupled with skills in producing forms optimised for scanning and electronic capture, led to further involvement in large-volume OMR projects.

As the company’s reputation grew, DRS became the name to trust for the delivery of time-critical, large-scale logistically challenging projects such as examination assessment, voter registration, elections and censuses. Today DRS not only provides forms and scanners, but also implements complete solutions in these markets both directly and via partners.

DRS floated as a fully listed company on the London Stock Exchange in 1994. Business growth has continued since then and the company now employs over 200 of the highest calibre people in their respective fields, delivering mission critical projects all over the globe.

Our dedicated teams have been instrumental in building this enviable reputation for DRS and contributing to the world-leading status enjoyed today.

For over four decades, DRS has supported awarding bodies, assessment authorities, universities, colleges and schools globally with its secure examination processing data capture solutions including:

• Online examination marking solutions• Examiner answer and mark sheets fully optimised for electronic capture• Printing, distribution and data processing of multiple choice answer sheets• Bespoke examination scripts production and processing• Technologies designed specifically for scanning examination papers• Data extraction from image services• Automated transfer of results and key performance indicators• In depth, flexible reporting

We are the proprietor of the longest established online examination marking service in the UK. Unitary awarding bodies and professional bodies have been using electronic marking to mark high-stakes, high volume general qualifications such as GCSE and GCE A level examinations since 2003. Electronic marking is now gaining acceptance in many regions of the world due to its proven benefits in marking quality, security, the removal of bias, improved administration and reporting of the marking process and better use of markers, both in standardisation and cost-effectiveness.

We continue to invest in e-Assessment solutions by expanding the offering to include the ability to manage e-Testing, item-level authoring and e-Standardisation.

Education

ADDINGVALUETO YOURORGANISATION

PORTFOLIO

Our election knowledge and expertise is global, with experience gained through the delivery of substantial projects at national level, in for example, Africa, the Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe and the Far East. The company caters for a variety of election types, delivery methods to provide end-to-end solutions worldwide.

Statutory and Non-Statutory Elections

We bring the benefits of speed, accuracy, transparency and security to national parliamentary elections, legislative or local council elections, employee or trade union elections.

In 2010 DRS was included on the Trade Union Scrutineers’ Statute, selected by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills as having the appropriate skills to assist with ballot and election projects.In 2012 the company provided the technology and expertise for the electronic counting of ballots for the Mayor of London and London Assembly elections – the third time since 2000 that DRS has done so.

Understanding your election needs

From capturing voter registration details through to processing complex combined elections, DRS has the experience to deliver large-scale elections – worldwide.

• Fully scalable, integrated multi-channel e-Counting and e-Voting technologies – opening up a wealth of election opportunities • Secure, high-speed, double-sided digital imaging ballot scanners with real-time electronic vote capture, counting and interpretation • Electronic computerised voter registration and open voter registration lists • Specialist project management team on hand every step of the way – ballot paper design, ballot paper production, full and comprehensive staff training, technical support, stakeholder briefings and technology deployment

Elections

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Education | Elections | Census

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Real-time data capture technology and solutions

Any census is a complex undertaking presenting many challenges, especially concerning the collection and dissemination of the data.

It is also recognised that every census project is different and that market requirements are constantly changing. DRS has therefore developed a genuinely flexible, adaptable approach which, combined with proven and innovative data capture methods and technology, delivers a successful outcome every time.From the very earliest planning stages of a census project and selection of the most appropriate technologies, through to project implementation, document scanning of enumeration/census forms, data processing and finally the export of the data to the selected census analysis package, our experience and skills guide clients through the entire process.

A flexible solution

As an independent organisation DRS is able to provide complete bespoke solutions, including:

• Customised Software (OMR, ICR, Barcode and Image)• Forms Design & Printing• DRS Scanners• PC/Server Hardware• Support Services• Consultancy• Project Management

Experience

DRS offers the benefit of experience learned from a growing portfolio of national population census projects around the world, including:

• Tanzania Census (2012)• Zimbabwe Census (2012)• Ethiopia Intercensal Survey (2012)• Zambian Census (2011)• Sudan Census (2008)• Malawi Census (2008)• Ethiopia Census (2007)• Nigeria Census (2006)

Census

GLOBAL PRESENCE

We operate in over 50 countries in three main markets; Education, Elections and Census. Our partnership approach enable solutions to be delivered for a wide range of high volume data capture requirements. This unique combination of skills, our technology and specialised printing and scanning services, provides clients with robust solutions for major data capture and processing projects.

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Education | Elections | Census

Our core business is delivering success in time-critical, large-scale, logistically challenging projects such as elections, population census and examination processing. We implement complete solutions using our extensive expertise in document design, printing, forms scanning, software, logistics, project management and consultancy.

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Real-time data capture technology and solutions

THINKGLOBALACTLOCAL

Market demands and requirements change frequently, but it is DRS’ ability to recognise these and develop new innovative solutions that keeps the company at the forefront of technology and provides market leading solutions for its customers.

Its highly skilled and experienced R&D team are continually developing, testing and strengthening its range of products based on product and market trends.

CORE CAPABILITIES

DRS prides itself in its software development, with highly trained teams delivering tried and tested systems for the core products. Whether for Education, Elections and Census, the loyalty of DRS’ customers is testament to this.

Apart from the enhancement of the core products, DRS developers and programmers are frequently involved in customer projects, at ground level, so fully appreciate the need for successful, on-time delivery. Bespoke solutions are designed around the most rigorous quality assurance and testing techniques to maintain quality standards.

Products are assembled by the manufacturing division, where skilled technicians ensure the best components are sourced and quality is never compromised. The award winning PhotoScribe® scanners are testament to this. With strong sales throughout the world, they provide the basis of DRS’ data capture solutions processing millions of forms and scripts annually. Quality is essential for such performance and remains at the very forefront of the manufacturing ethos.

Research and Development

Manufacturing

Software Development

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Education | Elections | Census

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CORPORATE BROCHURE

DRS’ flagship PhotoScribe® PS970 series of OMR, ICR and Imaging scanners offer full duplex bitonal or greyscale image capture and can process forms up to 18” in length. They set new standards in data and image processing innovation and have been used around the world to process complex and time-critical exercises. These robust, real-time data processing readers are integrated with DRS’ examination, election and census systems and have been recognised with many prestigious awards including “Hardware Product of the Year” at the 2008 DM Awards and “Product of the Year” at the 2009 awards.

DRS’ qualified engineering and support teams ensure the technology is deployed in the most efficient manner and optimised for the best possible result. The teams pride themselves on their ability to provide the highest quality technical support to customers, distributors and partners, to ensure the environment and infrastructure are robustly configured for the job in hand.

CORE PRODUCTS & SERVICES

PhotoScribe® PS970 Series Scanners

Technical Support

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Education | Elections | Census

The Professional Services team ensures customers and partners get the expertise, advice and support they need during the implementation of their solution. They provide invaluable knowledge and experience to the customer when training and running the system.

The Print Division is a cornerstone of DRS’ business, producing over 200 million forms every year. It operates a fully equipped, secure, print plant that houses sophisticated print production technology and presses designed for use with specialist inks to produce forms printed with pinpoint accuracy. The division designs many types of specialist form, ranging from school assessment stock forms through a wide range of surveys, to highly complex election forms and multi-page census booklets optimised for real-time recognition and processing. Large volumes in secure packaging are not uncommon, and requirements often include shipment and delivery within tight timescales to many parts of the world.

The Bureau is an integral element of DRS’ full service offering and is used heavily by education establishments for securely processing national tests. With a first class reputation for quality, speed and efficiency, the Bureau works in partnership with public and private sector customers to establish the aims of their projects and advise on the best way to maximise results.

Equipped with the latest state-of-the art, award winning PhotoScribe® scanners, the Bureau’s secure services include mail-out, fulfilment, document indexing, document scanning and web imaging, as well as retrieval and guidance on imaging, recognition and validation techniques. The bureau is equipped to run 24 hours a day to satisfy our customers’ requirements.

Professional Services

Print

Bureau

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CENSUS

“DRS’ support from the start of the project, when the pre-census was conducted in 2011, to the main census in 2012, was absolutely fantastic. It was a very large project with a number of challenges throughout and all those involved at DRS contributed to ensure that the census in Tanzania was a success. It was a pleasure to work with the DRS Team”.

The customer, Tanzania Census 2012

CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS

Real-time data capture technology and solutions

EDUCATION

“DRS’ technology is very clear, and an easy system to use. I’m hugely impressed by how responsive and contactable the DRS team that work with us are”.

Hugh LesterAssistant Director(Business Development)WJEC/CBAC (Formerly the Welsh Joint Education Committtee)

ELECTIONS

“We chose DRS for their partnership approach and their ability to deliver a secure technology solution to the traditional counting of votes that could be relied upon to be fast, accurate and secure”.

Susan Crutchlow, General Manager for Scytl Canada

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DRS Data Services Limited1 Danbury Court

Linford WoodMilton Keynes

MK14 6LREngland

Tel: +44 (0)1908 666088Fax: +44 (0)1908 607668

Email: enquiries@drs.co.uk Web: www.drs.co.uk