IN THE 1999 MOVIE “OFFICE SPACE,” there is an ongoing joke about Peter Gibbons not putting cover sheets on his TPS Reports, and multiple people reminding him or showing incredulity at him not doing that. The term is used by Gibbons as an example that he has eight different bosses to whom he directly reports. After “Office Space,” TPS report—which stands for Test Program Set in the movie, came to connote mindless office work.

In the title industry, TPS has an entirely different meaning. For title professionals, TPS stands for title production systems, which are essential tools to effectively manage and streamline workflows. With the many options available in the market, selecting a new title production system can be a daunting task.

Doing some research and comparing multiple systems to determine which one is the best fit for your business will make the decision easier. Look for systems that offer features and functionalities that align with your needs. Some key features to look for include document management, order tracking, billing and accounting, and reporting capabilities.

“Before you begin your search for a new title production system, evaluate your current workflows and identify any gaps or areas for improvement,” said Richard Welshons, Twin Cities manager for DCA Title/The Title Team and chair of ALTA’s Abstracters and Title Insurance Agents Section Executive Committee. “This will help you to determine the features and functionality that you require in a new system. Make a list of the tasks you need to complete in your daily workflow and determine how a new system can help streamline those tasks.

Deb Grace, director of business development for AccuTitle, said it’s important to have a positive relationship with vendor representatives. It’s also vital to know how quickly staff can be trained, the type of support provided during and after implementation, software flexibility to provide any modifications for special processing or reports and the ability for multiple parties to communicate within a file.

“A title company really needs to understand what it is capable of now and what services it would like to have in the future to improve processes,” she said. “Title companies should also explore whether they need a hosted solution or one that’s web based. Do you have your own IT staff to handle the server environment, or do you prefer to have updates and maintenance taken care for you?”