You have likely heard the term “unified platform” tossed around in government or tech circles, but what does a unified platform really mean?
Working on a unified platform completely transforms what local governments can accomplish day-to-day. Think about it, without a unified platform for all of your government departments to collaborate on, government employees are left to manage interdepartmental communications, document sharing, project timelines, and more through outdated methods. When this happens, documentation gets lost, timelines have silos, and employees get frustrated.
However, with a unified platform, all government departments have a ‘home base’ where they can keep all authorized users up to date on current projects, appointments, application submissions, inspections, and much more. This allows for greater transparency between local government groups and their constituents, and makes daily processes even easier.
Table Of Contents: What To Expect
- Unified Platform Defined
- The Difference With a Unified Platform
- How A Unified Government Platform Works
- Benefits of A Unified Platform
Overview: What Is A Unified Platform?
Before beginning to discuss all of the useful benefits of a unified platform in local government, it is important to lay the groundwork of what a unified platform actually is. A unified platform normally refers to a single, integrated system that combines various functionalities into one singular database.
A unified platform aims to simplify complex issues, improve efficiency, and enhance the overall user experience by consolidating contrasting functionalities into one manageable system.
The key idea of this is to bring together different departments and functions into a unified experience for both users and developers. Some common examples of unified platforms include ERP systems (Enterprise Resource Planning) such as SAP and Oracle, that integrate various elements of standard business processes such as Human Resources, Finance, and supply chain management, into one cloud based platform.
The Difference A Unified Platform Makes
A unified platform can make a significant difference across various aspects of local government operations. The overall user experience is sure to be greatly enhanced compared to using multiple disparate systems. Here is a list of some of the key differences and benefits that a unified platform typically brings:
1. Streamlined Operations
Rather than managing and operating multiple separate systems, a unified platform consolidates functions into a single environment. This move greatly reduces complexities, helps to streamline workflows, and minimizes the need for manual data transfer or synchronization between different systems to take place.
Thanks to this, operational efficiency can improve, and your valuable employees can shift their focus to tasks that will help your local community (rather than managing numerous different systems).
Read our guide on Government Data Storage Types & Considerations here!
2. Improves User Experience
Constituents and government workers alike can benefit from a concise and consistent interface that allows for easy interactions. The consistency and accessibility afforded on these platforms allows for an easier to navigate experience, reducing the learning curve all around. Tasks that span across multiple government offices, don’t need to take months to complete, or seem so complicated.
Instead, users will have a single log in for one unified platform that will automatically share files, deliver notifications, and enhance scheduling in your office.
Read all about Why Government Workers Are Hesitant To Embrace AI here!
3. Productivity Increases
Working on a unified platform enables streamlined and automated workflows, reducing manual intervention and errors from government employees. Just think of how often government employees are waiting for their co-workers or even constituents to hand-off the correct documentation so they can complete their tasks.
All of those unnecessary slow downs while employees attempt to get a handle on interdepartmental communication are eliminated when every employee’s projects are automatically uploaded to a unified, collaborative platform. Users on a unified platform also have a single point of access for all tools and information they will need to work with, improving productivity right away.
Check out GovPilot’s Workflow Automation For Governments here!
4. Improves Worker Experience
One unified platform allows users to benefit from a consistent and user-friendly interface across all tools and applications. This makes training requirements for most government positions simple and even reduces the amount of training required, due to the uniformity of the platform and the simplicity it provides.
Workers in all departments will enjoy their ability to operate technology like government management software without all the headaches and learning curves. Workers are able to do less manual, tedious tasks and instead experience a simple and easy workspace that will keep all of their work organized, safe, and easily accessible.
Learn about our service: GovPilot Academy: A New Learning Platform for Government Professionals.
5. Simplifies Data Management
A unified platform can give centralized access to those who need it. This means that local government employees don't have to move between different sites and databases to find the important information that they need to make constituents' lives easier.
A unified platform can create a cohesive environment where data is centralized, consistently structured, and easily accessible. This shift to a simpler process will surely lead to improved efficiency, collaboration, and decision making within your local government!
Learn about Why Cloud Storage Is Safer Than Local File Storage here!
6. Safeguards Cybersecurity
One stop platforms for your local government can significantly bolster cybersecurity efforts. This integration makes sure that security formalities, access controls, and data protection protocols are applied across all of the different sectors of your local government.
By creating consistent security standards, your local government can alleviate risks associated with the security weaknesses created by working across many different platforms.
A Deeper Understanding: How A Unified Platform Works
Unified platforms are simple, because local government operations don’t have to be complicated. This is how a unified platform for government will transform your operations:
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Begins With Data Integration
A unified platform's main function is to consolidate numerous different government functions, applications, or sources of information that were previously independent into one main home base. This unity ensures that all of the necessary data is accessible from one main system, eliminating the need to utilize multiple programs and the risk of misplacing a document.
Integrate all of your crucial government data onto a unified platform to eliminate the need for workers to operate multiple platforms, receive training for multiple interfaces, and manually share the data.
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Creates A Single Source of Truth
By having all data centralized on one platform, such as the government management platform provided by GovPilot, organizations can maintain a single, accurate, and up-to-date source of information, reducing errors and inconsistencies across offices.
It isn’t convenient or efficient for workers to have to search multiple platforms to locate constituent information, permit requests, work orders, FOIA requests, or vital documents. Beyond that, it’s inefficient for workers to manually send documents or files across platforms, when they could easily instantly upload their documents to the cloud for ease of collaboration.
Check out our blog on How Local Governments Can & Should Use the Cloud.
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Eliminates Unnecessary Systems and Applications
Unified platforms integrate various applications (CRM, ERP, HRM, finance systems, etc.) so they can communicate and work together seamlessly. By eliminating things like work silos and differentiated systems, unified platforms create a centralized hub for organizations that are looking to get away from slow inefficient applications.
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Fosters A Unified User Interface
Implementing a unified platform can help all parties involved. By providing a consistent user interface across all integrated applications, daily tasks and overall navigation of systems has never been easier. With the help of a unified interface, you can make the daily lives of your constituents and workers much easier.
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GovTip: What is SSO?
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SSO or Single- Sign On is a user authentication service that allows users to access all applications within a platform by using a single set of login credentials, leading to simplified accessibility and upgraded security.
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Automated Workflows
In 2024, it is a necessity to find areas where automation can be utilized. It is important to use the new technologies that continue to come about to our advantage. By automating workflows and getting mundane routines done with the help of AI, more time can be dedicated to discovering new ways to improve communities and constituent lifestyle.
Learn everything about Public Sector Robotic Process Automation here!
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Utilizes Third-Party Collaboration Tools
A goal for any group is to have effective collaboration and teamwork. Shared workspaces such as sharepoint and google drive allow teams to collaborate on projects and other shared documents. A lot of these tools even have built in communication capabilities such as messaging systems, video conferencing, and email integration.
Read on about Generating Local Government Revenue Through Private Sector Partnerships here.
Benefits of Utilizing A Unified Platform
The benefits municipalities experience when they transition to a unified platform are almost countless as they improve all aspects of municipal office work. Read on to learn about some of the key benefits:
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Improved Interdepartmental Communication
Within many organizations, especially local governments, there is a large need for interdepartmental communication. With the help of unified platforms, employees can collaborate and share data seamlessly. This can lead to a more integrated and overall productive work environment.
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Improved Efficiency
Integrating unified platforms into your everyday use can reduce the complexity of managing differentiated software. Workflows and processes can be streamlined, leading to improved operational efficiencies when all government tasks and projects are managed in one place. Coworkers can seamlessly complete their portion of a task and check their coworkers progress, too.
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Reduced IT Costs
An underestimated benefit of the usage of unified platforms is the lower costs associated with it. When you are using one cohesive platform rather than numerous different ones, you can utilize less of your valuable resources, and allocate them to areas in your community where they are needed most.
Check out our Local Government Information Technology Software here!
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Enhanced Citizen Services
When managing numerous different departments from Clerk's, to the Department of Motor Vehicles, it may feel hard to know where to begin when you need help as a constituent. With the help of unified platforms government officials and employees have a single point of access to assess various services and direct them to the correct constituents.
This will speed up the timelines for constituents who are receiving governmental services and improve constituent well-being across the board.
Unify Your Government Operations
Local government officials ought to consider utilizing GovPilot’s unified platform to streamline efficiency and streamline workflows in their municipality. Don’t continue working on various platforms, confusing employees, and delivering slow services to constituents.
Local officials and government employees should book a consultation with GovPilot instead, for an opportunity to learn all about how our government management software can unify all of your municipal departments!
Unified Platforms FAQs
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How does a unified platform streamline government operations?
A unified platform makes it possible for government operations to become more efficient, streamlined, and effective. Operating on a unified platform cuts out all of the typical time-wasters and hold-ups experienced by local government workers and allows them to collaborate on work/projects seamlessly.
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Are unified platforms beneficial to all government employees?
All government employees are able to benefit from their operations being moved to a unified platform because it unifies all departments and makes it easier for them to complete work effectively without silos.
Read on:
- Best Public Sector Software 2023: Ways Governments Use Technology to Save Time & Money
- Government Continuity Strategy 2023: Procedures During a Crisis
- AI in Government in 2023 and Beyond: Bringing Artificial Intelligence to Your Municipality
- What is Azure for Government? Everything to Know
- What is Municipal Software? Understanding Government Software for Municipalities & Counties
- 7 Government Cybersecurity Best Practices 2023: Keep Data Secure & Prevent Ransomware Attacks
- 13 Benefits of Digital Transformation for Local Government 2023
