The NERIS transition is fast approaching, and proactive fire departments are already preparing for this major shift in fire data reporting. The new National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) is modernizing how agencies collect, share, and use incident data, but like any big change, full implementation takes time. That includes waiting for future NERIS releases, such as the secondary schemas.
In the meantime, your department still needs to document investigations, activities, and other department-specific data points that aren’t yet part of the NERIS core schema. So how can you maintain accurate, complete documentation today while still staying ready for what’s next?
By using RMS software flexible enough to capture the data you need now, while preparing to adapt as the NERIS framework expands. Here’s how that works in practice.
Built for NERIS – And Built for You
NERIS establishes a strong foundation for standardized national reporting, but it was never meant to limit local data collection. That’s where ImageTrend Elite comes in.
Our platform supports both the national NERIS dataset and the ability to capture custom data fields unique to your department’s operations. This means your agency can continue documenting investigation details, local performance metrics, and other department-specific data points not included in the current core schema, without losing compliance or visibility.
For agencies needing more detailed data, Elite also supports plus-one codes, which allow departments to add local granularity to existing NERIS values while staying aligned with national standards.
With Elite, you can:
- Add supplemental questions to document additional details that matter to your agency, such as investigation notes, property details, or prevention activities.
- Integrate workflows that mirror your existing investigative processes to reduce disruption during the transition.
- Preserve your local validation and visibility rules, ensuring that the data you rely on today remains accessible and relevant tomorrow.
This flexibility helps your agency maintain continuity while preparing for future schema updates.
Why Flexibility Matters During the NERIS Transition
Every community faces unique challenges. From urban high-rises to wildland interfaces, your data should reflect your reality, not just national standards.
When software limits what can be collected, agencies are forced to adjust their workflows to fit the system instead of the other way around. That’s the opposite of what modernization should mean.
At ImageTrend, we’ve approached the NERIS transition differently. Our technology was built with adaptability at its core, because local data matters. Whether you’re documenting investigative details or tracking region-specific information, Elite ensures your agency can maintain a complete, connected picture of its operations while contributing to the national dataset that strengthens the fire service as a whole.
It’s important to note that supplemental questions should be used strategically to fill temporary gaps for data elements not yet defined in the NERIS core schema. Developing too many at once can make future reporting more complex, so ImageTrend recommends a thoughtful, phased approach using Elite’s configuration tools and available guidance. This approach ensures agencies can collect the local data they need now while remaining prepared to align smoothly with future schema updates.
Building a Foundation That Can Evolve
The upcoming secondary schemas from NERIS are expected to introduce new modules and data structures, including areas such as investigations and health and wellness. But agencies don’t have to wait for those updates to begin capturing meaningful information.
With ImageTrend Elite, you can document and analyze that information today using configurable fields and supplemental questions where appropriate. When the secondary schemas are published, your existing workflows can be updated to include the new national fields. While supplemental question data cannot be automatically merged with future NERIS fields, Elite’s flexibility helps agencies adapt their configurations to align with the new structure and maintain data continuity as NERIS evolves.
That adaptability ensures your agency stays compliant with NERIS today while remaining ready to evolve tomorrow.
Tools and Training to Support Your NERIS Readiness
The NERIS transition isn’t just about compliance, it’s about continuity. As agencies finalize their configurations and prepare to go live, many are focusing on refining workflows and confirming their systems are ready for what’s ahead.
To support this, ImageTrend offers:
- Step-by-step configuration guidance in Help/University to walk you through setup and testing.
- Comprehensive NERIS technology FAQs covering configuration, CAD integration, reporting, and validation rules.
- Optional NERIS Education Packages for teams looking for hands-on instruction from ImageTrend experts.
With these resources in place, your department can approach the transition with clarity and confidence, knowing the tools and guidance are there to help you stay on track.
Move Forward with Confidence
The transition to NERIS represents more than a reporting change—it’s a shift in how fire departments capture and share information that shapes operations, safety, and community outcomes. While NERIS continues to build out its framework through upcoming secondary schemas, agencies still need to document the full picture of their work today.
ImageTrend Elite helps fill that gap by giving departments the flexibility to capture local and department-specific data, like investigations and prevention activities, while remaining fully compliant with the national dataset. That flexibility means agencies can move forward with confidence, knowing they have a sustainable way to collect and manage data that matters most, today and into the future.
For agencies finalizing their transition plans, ImageTrend’s NERIS Transition Page offers the latest FAQs, on-demand insider sessions, and tools to help your department stay ready for what’s next.
