The evolution of digital government is moving from complex, back-office-centric systems to a modern “Applicant-First Mindset”. While traditional systems like Accela Citizen Access (ACA) laid the foundation, the new Accela Public Portal represents a shift toward simplicity, accessibility, and agency autonomy. Recent hands-on sessions across the country, including a major gathering in Tampa Bay, Florida, have proven that agencies are ready to adopt this modern experience at record speed.
Accela’s Public Portal: From Implementation to Execution in Hours
One of the most significant shifts with the Public Portal is the speed of deployment. During a recent intensive session at the City Center at Hanna in Tampa, more than 12 agencies successfully completed their initial provisioning in approximately two hours.
Supported by Accela Product Managers and Customer Success leads, these agencies didn’t just “learn” about the software; they built it. By the end of the session, participants had configured:
- Branding & Layouts: Customizing colors, logos, and photos to meet communication standards.
- User Management: Streamlining how residents interact with the system.
- The Permit Picker: Simplifying the initial steps of the applicant journey.
As one attendee noted, the platform is “easy to administer and simple to use, which means training the public will be a breeze”.
Real-World Impact: Efficiency and Accessibility
The move to the Public Portal isn’t just about a “modern, sleek” look—though users agree it delivers that professional aesthetic. The transition is driving tangible operational ROI:
- Time Savings: Improved user management flows, such as self-service password resets, are saving agencies tens of hours each week.
- Mobile-First Design: The Portal is specifically optimized for mobile navigation, a critical requirement for modern resident engagement.
- Universal Access: Accessibility is a core principle, with the platform designed to enable conformance to WCAG 2.1 & 2.2 Level AA standards.
- Proven Reliability: In cities like Cleveland, where the Portal is already live, users are submitting records with ease and experiencing zero service interruptions.
A Product Shaped by the Community
The Accela Public Portal’s development has been a collaborative “white-glove” journey. Over the last six months, Accela’s product team has worked side-by-side with practitioners to refine the experience. This feedback loop has led to:
- Automated Data Migration: Tools that make the transition from ACA predictable and fast.
- Agency Empowerment: Moving toward a fully automated provisioning process that allows agencies to manage the migration end-to-end with no technical expertise required.
Adopt at Your Own Pace
Whether through regional user groups or individual setups, Accela provides field-tested playbooks and self-provisioning tools that allow every community to transition whenever they are ready. By putting practitioners in the driver’s seat, Accela is ensuring that the next generation of digital government is built by the people who use it every day.
