As citizens demand new services, many local governments have felt a push to consider new cloud apps, tools and infrastructure. Yet new research from Government Technology magazine indicates that this push may be just the beginning of a sweeping adoption of cloud technologies across the public sector. This insight comes through three infographics published on GovTech Navigator, the media and research company’s market intelligence site. In a 2018 survey of cities and counties researchers found that on-premise systems — like government owned and operated data centers — still far outnumbered local governments with outsourced, cloud-based data centers.  Among cities, 78 percent of survey respondents said IT systems were on premise;… Continue reading

Accela and Microsoft experts answer the hard questions around cloud migration

Government IT leaders today generally understand that modernization means moving to the cloud – yet concerns linger.Will financial savings justify the cost of a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) rollout? How hard will it be to migrate existing applications to the cloud? Will government see the uptime and reliability it needs? Does a SaaS solution adequately address government’s security concerns?Experts from Accela and its cloud-platform partner Microsoft tackled these and other concerns in the webinar SaaS in Government: Insider Insights to Cloud Success that featured Dina Frandsen, the principal solutions specialist for Microsoft Azure and Amber D’Ottavio,… Continue reading

How often do you take a large black market, flip a switch and turn it into a highly regulated one? When Colorado legalized retail sales of cannabis in 2014, license applications poured into the City and County of Denver. While city officials had spent months preparing, they still faced the mammoth task of managing the demands of a novel regulatory program that came with unforeseen, real-time challenges and a high degree of outside scrutiny. Responding to those demands involved a coordinated effort across multiple city departments utilizing industry-leading technology to streamline application intake, back-office workflows, field inspections and community engagement. As cannabis continues to emerge from the shadows,… Continue reading

Tags: cannabis, cannabis licensing, cannabis licensing application, cannabis licensing software, civic solution for cannabis regulation, Government Software, marijuana, smart cities

Late in 2014, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh announced the launch of Boston 2030, a 15-year strategy to create 53,000 units of housing across demographics and neighborhoods, and effectively plan for anticipated growth at a scale the city has not seen for more than 50 years. Boston isn’t alone in anticipating growth. According to Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, his city permitted a record $2 billion in development in 2014. Additionally, according to the U.S. Conference of Mayors 2015 Metro Jobs Forecast, all 363 metro areas in the U.S. will see future job growth. Meanwhile, the National Association of Counties (NACo) reports that job growth accelerated in 2014,… Continue reading

Tags: digital modernization, Economic Development, Government Software, govtech, Permitting, smart cities

Change is constant today with technology creating and reshaping industries. Government has to act faster, think smarter and scale regulatory systems on the tight timeframes of policymakers. Against this backdrop, a new study by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) explores this rapidly-changing regulatory landscape, delivering strategic insights from a survey more than 125 state and local government professionals. The research analyzes the impact of new and emerging regulations while also pointing to potential solutions and IT investment areas governments can use to manage change. Here are five of these standout strategies from the report that covers everything from the new cannabis market to the sharing economy…. Continue reading

Bridging the gap between the public sector, citizens and partners has never been more critical. In an age where productivity, security and transparency are at odds, it’s essential for local governments to facilitate citizen participation without adding to already strained budgets. Traditional government processes are outdated, lack online capabilities and shield workflows from the public. As a result, there’s little information or proper insight into workflows, resource allocation and citizen-request management—further contributing to the divide between the public and its government. Government employees know their actions impact more than their day-to-day and resolve to better engage with their fellow citizens. They need the best tools to help them streamline processes and address the public’s key grievances…. Continue reading

Tags: automation, digital tranformation, govtech, govthefuture, smartcities

Ask any contractor, and they’ll probably agree. The planning and permitting portion of a land management project has historically been a complex and time-consuming venture, riddled with inefficiency, manual processes and long waits for approval.For the average citizen (a.k.a. not an experienced contractor) trying to DIY a building project, it can be an even greater frustration. For the employees of city planning and other departments responsible for things like permitting, zoning and compliance, the sentiment is the same. Manual work, inefficient workflows and tedious processes keep governments from realizing cost efficiencies and best serving constituents.Fortunately, technology has helped eliminate inefficiency as cities adopt automated systems to streamline planning and development,… Continue reading

Tags: Building, building application, Building Permits, Land Management, Planning, planning application, planning permits

Over the last decade, emerging technologies have ushered in the need for governments to approach accelerated change and challenge in new ways. The impact of increased urbanization and shifting citizen expectations, combined with the ways technology is reshaping cities, is creating a call to governments and city leaders to evolve their role and shift their mindset around how to effectively govern into the future — not a simple task. The demands of the new mindset are twofold: a curiosity to identify the opportunities and challenges that a technology-enabled future holds, and a creative approach that seeks the right mix of tools and partnerships so governments are empowered with technology to meet new demands.Whether an elected official,… Continue reading

Tags: agile government, Governing the Future, govtech, govthefuture, smart cities, Smart City

The legalization of hemp at the federal level will provide new opportunities for food products and medications but also brings new regulatory challenges

Just before the close of 2018 the cannabis industry locked in another major victory with the passage of the Farm Bill that will, among other policy measures, legalize hemp cultivation and compel state and local governments to regulate a market estimated to hit $20 billion by 2022. The implications of the bill for local governments are significant, as it brings opportunities for additional revenues via business licensing and sales tax revenues, but also the inherent technical and political challenges found in regulating a new market…. Continue reading

Tags: 2018 Farm Bill, cannabis regulation, hemp legalization, hemp regulation, hemp regulation policies, regulating cannabis

Accela takes top honors for fourth year in a row as industry moves toward cloud solutions and off-the-shelf-apps

On Tuesday, Government Technology magazine (Govtech) recognized Accela for its contributions to cloud services and off-the-shelf apps in its annual Govtech 100 listing of innovative public sector IT companies. Accela is honored to be a part of the Govtech 100, that represents a compilation of 100 government IT companies that have driven modernization and service improvements for state and local governments. In an accompanying webcast that spotlighted the companies, industry trends and the factors driving the selection, Govtech subject matter experts credited Accela for its ongoing cloud and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) development as well as its effort to make enterprise solutions more accessible via simple,… Continue reading