Implementing Innovative Community Services & Election Mobile App
Industry: Government – Municipal
Country/Region: Western Canada
Business Needs: Resident engagement in community events and programs & elections through mobile apps
IT Issues: Implementation and infrastructure of mobile apps
Background
A Western Canadian municipality with over 200,000 residents – an ethnically diverse growing and dynamic urban centre with a unique mix of residential, and commercial property, agricultural lands, industrial parks, waterways and natural areas. Our client’s economy supports over 135,000 jobs in various sectors and supports the greatest life expectancy in Canada (84.9 years).
Challenges
As the City continues to develop at a rapid pace, it is crucial to engage new and existing residents by enabling widespread, relevant information through mobile channels (including community events, programs and election details). The city required an innovative mobile application to provide:
- A multi-purpose tool for residents to discover what to do, where to go, and what is happening in the city.
- Free to download for residents and widely available – ie: iTunes and Google Play stores.
- An easy, accessible and modern resource for voters to find out more about election.
Approach
For direction, the city contacted their vendor TIBCO for recommendations of firms to lead the integration and infrastructure on the project. Due to our outstanding relationship with TIBCO and being a premiere integration partner, Groundswell was referred to lead the implementation.
Solutions & Results
Groundswell worked collaboratively and effectively with all stakeholders and vendors during the development process. The end-user applications were developed by a third party company and Groundswell worked closely with the application development team led the integration and infrastructure components.
The first application was Real-Time Events and Facilities Mobile Application Users have direct access to an interactive map with a complete list of all City parks, recreation, heritage and cultural facilities. Users are able to search the address, history, hours of operation, GPS coordinates of each location and access directions to get there. The application will also allow users to access a calendar of all events, programs and services.
Following the successful implementation of the Real-Time Events and Facilities Mobile Application, the city continued with a second phase, Real-Time Election Results Mobile Application. The executive wanted to enable the council and electorate and demonstrate the opportunity to expand more capabilities for the municipality. This interface is an easy to use, accessible and modern resource for voters to find out more about the city election, including details about where to vote, qualifications to vote and advanced voting We have been told by the client that the election participants including the mayor were all glued to their mobile devices analyzing election results as they happened the night of the election.
This was not originally included in scope but Groundswell made an investment in the client and went above and beyond as it knew how valuable this would be to the city. The team was able to develop and deliver the interface for the application quickly and effectively thus helping the city.
"This innovative app demonstrates the City’s commitment to improving access to key services across all digital platforms while increasing opportunities for citizens to more easily connect. I am very proud and excited (the City) is able to lead the way in this technological development.”
- City Mayor
