You know the old adage, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it? Well that isn’t necessarily true when it comes software….
Plain and simple, software isn’t meant to be a static application. Instead, software adapts, updates, and integrates with other programs to ensure that the end-user is getting the most out of their purchase/subscription. However, municipalities around the world are relying on one-off bespoke systems that have not been updated for years and have little to no scalability. Each end-user is left with software that is a one-trick-pony, which leads to backlogs, inefficiencies, ultimately hindering any successful city management.
In all fairness, many of these systems were built with the intention of solving an issue for the here and now instead of the future. A large amount of these systems are from domestic contractors and were built for the end-user to carry out a very specific task. It was intuitive enough to operate at the time but has fallen short of being anywhere near as shiny and operable as newer offerings. The biggest issue with outdated software is budgeting. Cities have either spent too much or too little on their software. What results is an unwillingness to change thanks to the invoices and quotes most have received in the past.
However, proper software does not need to be expensive for it to work. Smartpolis offers a plug-and-play solution for municipalities. Smartpolis provides users à la carte selection, meaning they only pay for what they use. Smartpolis can scale each deployment based the individual needs of each municipality. What takes an operator 1hr hours to do could be automated by a system like Smartpolis, helping to alleviate the never-ending backlog of bureaucratic institutions. These old systems cost time and money because they occupy and suck up human resources. Smartpolis alleviates these headaches, so your teams can focus on what truly matters.
We won’t name names; however, we did come across a municipality that was using a heavily outdated work order management system. It was a glorified spreadsheet that relied on clerks to fill out and send across multiple departments. Needless to say, a few things would often get lost in translation. Their primary reason why they never considered switching to a new system was because they spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the one, they were currently using.  Smartpolis provided a quick demo of the AUTOMATED (that’s right, not manual!) work order management system and how cross department collaboration could be done with ease in one simple dashboard. No need for multiple clerks, no confusion, everything in one nice tight loop.
Usability, scalability, and affordability are the main concerns that any municipality should consider before seriously investing in any software. If you are tired of your old systems and want an affordable alternative or looking to take your municipality completely digital, please do not hesitate to reach out to Smartpolis.
