Smartphones, clouds (the virtual ones, not the actual ones), social media, data—all buzz words and all terms we know. Except for being buzz terminology, these are also all part of the ‘The Digital Age’. Said to have started in the 1980s with personal computers, we now see it as a part of our daily lives to interact with our friends, colleagues, and communities online.

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What does digital mean?

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For local governments, going digital means taking an in-person or existing process and moving it online, using a website or digital tools like apps. Municipal government software enables local government employees to streamline functions that would otherwise have taken up time and energy (and thus cost them money!)

Let's think about what does going digital means for local government

• Payments for licenses, bills, or forms: accepting cash or checks as payment. Allocating an application number on all the relevant paperwork, depositing the checks, and filing the paperwork. Corresponding the application # with the payments and vice versa.
• Handling inquiries about taxes or utility bills.
• Sending out utility bills in paper copy.
• Managing reservations for municipal facilities (such as parks, pavilions, or municipal halls) while keeping the paper binder updated and blocking out dates filled out. Coordinating the check-in and out procedures for these facilities and reimbursing deposit payments, when it's all done.
• License or permit applications: email and telephone inquiries, coordinating paperwork going to various departments for their approval, and informing the applicant of the progress and the outcome of the application.
• Coordinating annual applications for dog licenses and sending reminders to the owners.
• Managing reports and relaying them to the correct department, like a burst pipe, pothole, or an electricity outage.
• Writing meeting minutes: With AI tools like ClerkMinutes, you can automate the process of recording, transcribing, and organizing meeting minutes. This not only ensures accuracy but also saves the Clerk from the tedious task of note-taking, allowing them to focus on the meeting itself. It also saves a whole bunch of time!
• AI search: Leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs), AI search tools now do more than just match keywords. They understand the context and intent behind queries, providing more accurate and comprehensive answers. This helps in quickly finding the right information, whether it's a specific ordinance, a past council decision, or policy details.
• VirtualClerk: Imagine a Clerk that never clocks out. With LLM-powered AI, residents can get their questions answered 24/7 on the municipal website. Whether it’s finding out the status of a permit application or getting information on local regulations, these AI-driven assistants use the information already available on the municipal website to provide accurate, timely responses, even after office hours.

Municipal management software, or "going digital", allows processes to be built into a streamlined workflow. This allows residents to conduct business on your municipal website or on the app outside of your normal business hours. 24/7! Residents can apply for licenses or permits after 5 p.m. from the comfort of their own homes!

For the Clerk or local government superhero (you know you are!), automated processes can enable you to:

• Continuously serve the community, because work can be done at all hours of the day.
• Spend time on more important tasks.
• Earn revenue for the municipality for a project within the community.
• Help you love your job again (because we know you actually do!).
• Save time by having reports easily accessible, which can be downloaded and passed to the Treasurer for reporting purposes.

What does going digital mean for local municipalities? It means you can meet your residents for whatever they need, where they’re at—online.

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