MHUG ConferenceLook at any news outlet talking about improving the way government works, and one single word features in every article – efficiency. From the smallest villages to sprawling cities, increasing productivity and creating synergies has never been more important. How can municipalities and communities work even smarter? Here are five trends in government technology solutions for 2025.
1. Put People First
Residents and businesses expect more from their local governments. Just as online shopping has made consumer products available 24/7, online permitting is keeping municipality doors open and allowing applicants to submit requests when it suits them.
Municipalities looking to attract thriving businesses and discerning residents use community development software to bring government employees and the community closer together.
2. Look to Cloud-Based Systems for Maximum Impact
Most local government bodies are moving away from paper-based processes and have invested in software products for construction permitting. The most effective systems are cloud-based solutions that can be scaled and upgraded as the municipality develops.
Cloud-based systems require little to no costly on-site maintenance as upgrades are handled centrally. They also tend to come with enhanced security features to ensure sensitive private information is kept safe. Cloud-based permitting makes it easy to share information between departments and avoids possible errors through duplication.
3. Choose Mobile-Friendly Platforms
Not every municipality employee spends their day at a desk. When it comes to licensing, permitting, and inspections, inspectors often schedule several appointments every day. Few have the luxury of returning to their office in between.
Mobile-friendly community development platforms allow inspectors to update data sets in the field without delay. Office-based co-workers receive updates in real time, allowing them to continue the process seamlessly.
4. Integrate Permitting with GIS
Integrating digital permitting with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) lets municipality staff visualize where construction is happening without time-consuming site visits. They can assess a project’s impact on its surroundings and coordinate responses with different departments.
Having easy access to the kind of real-time, location-based information delivered by GIS technology helps simplify land use, infrastructure planning, and zoning decisions, for example.
5. Prioritize Data-Based Decisions
Experience matters in rural and urban planning, but why not strengthen a community’s decision-making process by basing it on facts and figures? Data-driving decision-making works by generating insights from historical permitting information that allow today’s community leaders to spot application patterns and identify potential bottlenecks.
Leading municipalities use those insights and the combined experience of their workforce to allocate public resources, improve development strategies, and grow their communities more efficiently. At the same time, data-based decisions foster a greater level of trust between citizens and their leaders.
Conclusion
Municipalities across the country have embraced digital transformation. By making resident-centric decisions, choosing cloud-based, mobile-friendly technology, integrating software with GIS, and making data-based decisions, they’re building the foundation of a successful future for their community. Learn how FastTrackGov® (FTG) can propel your community into 2025 and beyond.