Exploring Modern Technology Adoption in Government

Government agencies have long grappled with the challenges of integrating modern technology into their legacy operations. Despite the crucial role tech plays in enhancing efficiency, service delivery, and the citizen experience, the public sector has historically been slower to adopt new technologies compared to the private sector. This blog examines the current state of technology adoption in government, the benefits of digital transformation, and the value for the public sector.  

Slow Technology Adoption in Government  

Government has lagged behind the private sector in technology adoption due to factors like scant funding, increased public scrutiny, convoluted procurement processes, expanding regulatory requirements and more. This slower pace has often resulted in inefficient and costly service provision, and at many local agencies, the vision for digitalized government processes and services remains largely unrealized.  

Automating Disjointed or Rote Processes Brings Benefits Across the Board 

Adopting technology can streamline cumbersome processes, enhance public service accessibility and transparency, and allow government workers to focus on more complex tasks.  

This also allows workers to direct their energy to more strategic initiatives, which results in better outcomes for the agency. Automating rote, repetitive processes enables staff to prioritize higher-value tasks, establishing increased fulfillment for workers, too. This shift can improve public access to services and support employee retention across government agencies.  

Current Landscape of Government Use of Technology 

While many processes are digitized at local agencies today, it’s also true that manual tasks or disconnected systems are prevalent. Local agencies will commonly use technology to manage cybersecurity and privacy, communication and collaboration, and citizen access needs.  

Yet agencies may skip out when it comes to digital solutions like electronic plan review (ePlan review). Despite the time- and cost-savings associated with trading out paper or PDF review for ePlan review, some local agencies continue to use cumbersome processes—oftentimes because of the challenges securing budget approval or limiting internal policies and data silos.  

Forward-Thinking Governments Seek Out Digital Solutions 

Governments and organizations that are proactive recognize the modern tech trends around them and seek ways to leverage these for the benefit of both citizens and workers.  

One East Bay suburb sought out a digital solution for plan review after years of struggling with manual processes and duplicate work, which created a disjointed system for both staff and citizens.  

Local agencies adopt technology to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, improve performance, increase transparency, and support employee retention. 

Government agencies that adopt technology reshape the on-the-job experience of their workers. Technology can reduce the need for certain manual work, oftentimes eliminating all together tedious tasks like data-entry. One fast-growing city in Texas previously employed a full-time employee simply for archiving plan sets. Now, they’re able to focus on more strategic work with greater impact. With the right solutions, government agencies can reshape job roles and workplace dynamics for the better.  

Bringing technology to the fore of the workplace at local agencies has the potential to transform citizen service delivery and the employee experience for government workers.  

Embracing modern technology is essential for government agencies to enhance efficiency, improve public services, and create a more fulfilling work environment for their employees. As the public sector continues to adopt and integrate new technologies, it is crucial to do so thoughtfully, ensuring that these advancements truly benefit both workers and citizens. 

Avolve Reshaping ePlan Review for Jurisdictions 

Supporting governments to build out ePlan Review efficiency is what Avolve Software provides today for more than 300 customers globally. We deliver both connected ePlan review that is integrated into your existing permitting platform or a standalone system that has specialist workflows for larger more complex processes, specific to each department. 

Our range of ePlan review solutions ensures that you get the tool kit to support your requirements and enhances your way of working. We have three leading ePlan review solutions: 

ProjectDox

ProjectDox is an enterprise-ready ePlan review solution that can be utilized standalone or connected to your land use system. The advantages of ProjectDox are countless, from best-in-class review tools to specific workflows for building, planning, public works, fire, etc. that enable agencies to utilize best practice to enhance efficiency.  

At a large state capital in the Midwest, one jurisdiction was able to leverage ProjectDox as a process-improvement tool across City Hall.  

DigEplan Pro

Taking a more integrated approach, DigEplan Pro sits within your permitting platform, so it's entrenched within your existing permitting platform workflows. Offering a full set of Avolve’s best-in-class review tools, it is further enhanced with an automated audit trail, PDF manipulation abilities, and heightened identity management controls. 

After implementing DigEplan Pro, one large county in the Southwest enhanced visibility and removed bottlenecks in plan review. Thanks to these efficiencies and more, they’re now able to consistently meet their aggressive five-day review timeline for all residential and commercial projects.  

DigEplan

Want a solid ePlan review tool that has Avolve’s best-in-class review tools? Then DigEplan is your option. Fully integrated into your permitting system, it is a scaled down version of Pro, where you want benefits from the advantages of ePlan review, without the need for enhanced features. 

For one county in the Mid-Atlantic, DigEplan cut the review time in half. What used to take 10 days is now completed in 5 thanks to the efficiency and visibility DigEplan confers. 

Whichever ePlan review solution fits your needs, Avolve Software can support with a leading, best-in-class option. 

Why not take a look for yourself? Get in touch today and we’d be happy to schedule a demonstration!