On May 1st, Kansas switched to a new multi-million dollar system for driver's licensing, tags, and titles, which involved closing down for a week to train employees and implement the new software.
More than a month later, the state is still in gridlock.
Patience wears thin with delays at driver’s license, tag offices | Wichita Eagle
Even with all the kinks mostly worked out, the state is processing at less than 50% efficiency over the old system. Couple that with the backlog of being closed down a week and the numerous software issues, and people are literally waiting all day for something that used to take 15 minutes.
This has effected my business as well. I recently moved locations and sent in an application to the KDR in Mid-April. My lease expired on May 31st, and I still don't have approval to do business at my new location. The application should not take more than 2 minutes to process. All they do is check that I had the zoning approved and I'm up to date with all of my taxes. I tried calling for weeks, but could not get through due to the "extremely large call volume". I couldn't even stay on hold, the computer would disconnect me. Finally, I got through last week, only to be told that my application had not been processed yet, and got transferred to a voice mailbox. That person has not returned my call. The punishment of operating at a location without approval could be revocation of my license, but do they expect me to shut down and wait? The landlord at my old location had already filled the space, so I could not go month to month.
The other issue is with titles. Currently they're letting everyone off with expired temporary and permanent tags because of the fiasco. The problem with that is many of my customers are from out of state. I have one that needs the title processed soon, otherwise they'll have an expired 30 day tag and I cannot issue multiples with this new computer system. I also cannot trust the state to get titles back really ever at this point, so I'm reluctant to sell some vehicles until this gets resolved.
The changeover of software was delayed 6 months because of issues, but they still couldn't work all the kinks out. Who do you blame? The company that developed the software? The State? Its so frustrating that I can't wag my finger at someone.
The business that does all of my title work for me has not been able to process a single title in the last month. Their business with a staff of 4 full time workers has completely shut down.