THE ENCODEPLUS STORY
Interactive Urban Planning Software
WHAT WE DO
enCodePlus is a one-of-a-kind, online content-management platform that streamlines planning and zoning practices and municipal code management with a fully integrated suite of tools that support collaboration, real-time self-publishing, interactivity and user engagement.
We simplify code management and codification, modernize zoning practices, enable seamless plan publishing, integrate GIS intelligence and useful planning tools, and empower users to track permit applications. The enCodePlus platform gives planners, zoning administrators, economic developers, managers, clerks, attorneys, and planning and engineering consultants an unmatched suite of powerful tools to simplify workflow and improve efficiency.
enCodePlus leads the industry as the only product of its kind.
WHY WE DO IT
As employees of planning consultancy Kendig Keast Collaborative (KKC), our team has first-hand experience as government employees, planners, attorneys, designers and economic developers. We have the rare insider’s understanding of the challenges municipal governments face every day.
Our own experience has shown us the difficulties of working with hard copies of thick documents stored in overflowing binders, poorly organized libraries, disjointed coordination among departments, and cumbersome planning research. It became clear to us years ago that our clients needed a way to digitize their voluminous paper-based zoning ordinances and municipal and county codes.
This idea was the seed that inspired the creation of enCodePlus.
enCodePlus Evolution
OUR FUTURE
The future holds exciting things for both enCodePlus and our clients.
All new features, applications and capabilities are driven by client demand. We keep our finger on the pulse of the industry and listen closely to our clients. They guide us directly to what’s next.
Plus, our commitment to leveraging emerging technology means we will continue to deliver new and exciting features and tools geared to streamline and enhance customer experience.
ENCODEPLUS TODAY
Growing product awareness, word of mouth and successful implementations across the country have driven the evolution of enCodePlus, resulting in growth from two to 12 employees, extending its footprint to five U.S. offices and expanding its client base to local communities in nearly every state and in Canada.
With modest roots in the early 90’s as a simple PC-based software product designed to digitize zoning ordinances, enCodePlus has evolved into the fully integrated, feature-rich, county and city planning and zoning management platform it is today. enCodePlus has emerged as the industry-leading planning and zoning tool of choice for local governments of all sizes, from small communities to larger metropolitan cities and counties.
ENHANCED FEATURES SERVED BROADER MARKET
This new insight drove the development of robust new features like GIS integration; collaborative drafting, editing and commenting capabilities; customizable planning calculators; unique project websites and WebPlan.
Local governments could now maintain, manage and update their own plans, codes, guidelines, specifications, and other such documents with this next-generation county and city website software. Flexible feature packages meant clients could select the features required to fill their needs with scalable support from enCodePlus.
The new flexibility and functionality appealed to cities, counties and municipalities of all sizes, with populations from 1,500 (or smaller) to more than a million.
ENCODEPLUS LAUNCHED
At first, enCodePlus focused on zoning and land-development ordinances, but product developers could clearly see the potential for serving a broader market. After intensive market research and consulting with customers, planning departments and industry consultants, the team methodically adapted to respond to the specific needs of these client users.
MIGRATION TO THE CLOUD
In the 2010’s, developers began to rebuild the system from the ground up to move the software to the cloud. This shift made documents more accessible from any location and allowed KKC to offer more efficient technical support.
Until 2013, users of this innovative tool had all been clients of KKC. Positive feedback and pressure from communities interested in using the software signaled that it was time to launch an even more robust platform that could serve outside cities and counties. enCodePlus was born.
EARLY HISTORY – 1990'S
Our team had both the unique industry experience and the technical know-how to develop new technology to address this issue for our clients. In the early 90’s, we created ZoningPlus, a PC-based, county and city management software program designed to enable local governments to easily put their ordinances on the web.
While ZoningPlus represented a giant step toward computerizing these important documents, the data was accessible only on the local computer on which it resided. Updates were clunky and providing support was difficult.
Advanced planning and zoning technology – made by planners, for planners.