TSS Software Corporation was recently cited in the latest Independent Title Agent Survey published by October Research Corporation. In several categories, TSS was the highest-rated software provider among companies serving independent agents.

TSS’s flagship TitleExpress title and settlement software system achieved the highest ratings in overall customer satisfaction, ease of learning and use, value for the money, quality and availability of technical support, and the ability to deliver products in an increasingly electronic environment. The ratings compared the four leading national software brands.

Managers using TitleExpress gave it their highest score for being “well positioned to deliver products in an increasingly electronic environment.” The attribute that received the next highest score was “value for the money.”

The survey also showed that managers using TitleExpress are more likely than average to upgrade their current brand to a newer version of the same program.

“We’re quite pleased with the results,” said Barbara Miller, co-founder, president and chief operating officer. “They ratify the efforts we’ve made to provide our customers with a solid product backed by excellent customer support.”

In addition to TitleExpress, TSS offers systems for integrated document imaging (ScanExpress),
web-based transaction management (iOrderExpress), abstract data integration (AbstractExpress) and custom management reporting (ReportExpress).

“I grew up in this business as did most of our staff, so we have developed our products and services from a real world, user perspective,” said Ms. Miller. “Our products and services have grown with our company, so we can provide software solutions for any size organization along with the superior customer service that we were recognized for in the title agent survey.

“We understand that title professionals need powerful, scalable software, but don’t have a lot of time to look for new tools,” she adds. “This is why TSS provides the perfect blend of technology and customer service.”

TSS has retained more than 98 percent of its customers during the past 12 years. Quality and availability of technical support is cited as a major factor in explaining why most new customers are referred by existing customers.

The company’s new offerings such as its RealExpress platform for third-party service provider integration will continue to position TSS as a leading independent provider of software technology to the title industry.

“We know our new .net functionality is going to provide our customers with a significant boost in delivering products in an increasingly web-centric environment,” said Richard Sochor, director of software development. “And we’ll help them every step of the way.”

AbstractExpress was developed for real property abstractors. It automates data entry and production of abstract reports. With TitleExpress, which is used by over 15,000 professionals in title and settlement companies nationwide, requests for title searches can be automatically generated and imported directly into AbstractExpress. AbstractExpress results can then be transferred back into TitleExpress.

Users of ScanExpress can image enable TitleExpress and seamlessly integrate scanned documents with TitleExpress orders. It virtually eliminates the need to search for paper files when a customer calls.

The company’s customer commitment includes on-site and on-line training tailored to users’ specific needs, as well as regularly scheduled classes at the TSS Training Center in Annapolis. These small, hands-on classes include Basic and Advanced Microsoft Word and TitleExpress; HUD-1 Concepts and Processes; TitleExpress Check Writing, Escrow Accounting and Reconciliation; and ReportExpress.

Other significant distinguishing factors for TSS are its comprehensive, but impartial, underwriter relationships. Unlike the vast majority of national title and settlement software providers, no title insurance underwriter has an ownership position in TSS Software Corporation. Thus, independent agents who are hesitant about relying on underwriter-affiliated title and settlement software appreciate the underwriter neutrality and broad underwriter compatibility inherent in TSS software products.