DSPS offers new system for plans for elevators, commercial buildings on April 12

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The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services is switching to a new online submission system for commercial building plans and elevator plans starting in April.

The DSPS, beginning on April 12, will begin offering its new system for elevator and commercial building plans. The department started in 2018 to move groups of customers to the system, called Electronic Safety and Licensing Application, or eSLA.

To prepare for the change, the DSPS will not be accepting commercial building plans or elevator plans during the one-week period between April 5 and April 11.

“Modernizing our infrastructure is critical if we are going to serve our customers well and make the most of the resources we have,” said the DSPS Secretary-designee Dawn Crim. “We will be able to offer better customer service, and we will be working with greater efficiency and with more information. This is a big step forward.”

The new system offers a variety of advantages over the way this business is currently conducted, according to the DSPS. A user dashboard, for instance, helps customers track applications, and new self-service options allow customers to make payments and submit applications online. The system also automates some functions, such as fee calculations and check handling, so that staff can devote their time to complex tasks.

The DSPS has been planning for the switch to the new system for years. The agency worked with the consulting company Deloitte to roll out and refine the interface.

The department plans to offer a live, hour-long training webinar at 11 a.m. on April 2 to help customers prepare for the transition. Registration for the webinar is open now. It will also be recorded and will be stored, along with other resources, on the DSPS website.

The new interface will bring existing account information to the new system, although all customers will first have to register if they want to link information from the old system. New customers will need to set up an account to submit building plans.  The eSLA Customer Portal Login video provides a quick explanation of the process. Follow @natebeck9