Software solutions can be a game changer for local municipalities. The right product can streamline operations for improved departmental efficiencies while increasing communication with citizens and providing greater operational transparency for all. If you’re in the market for local government software, but aren’t sure where to begin your search, start with these three steps.

1. Make a list of agency needs and priorities.

The first step in any product research journey is evaluating your agency’s needs. It might sound like an obvious first step, but formally sitting down to outline and prioritize your city’s needs can provide much-needed clarity further into the process.

Consider the challenges you feel you are currently facing and what features are most important to you in a software product. Some questions to ask yourself to start the process:

What is the biggest problem we are hoping to solve with a software solution? Different key players in the decision-making process might have different takes on what your city or department’s biggest challenge is. Getting input from multiple stakeholders can help to focus your search for a certain type of solution.

For department heads, if you are starting the search of your own accord, you are likely well aware of the issues and where you could use assistance, but if the directive is coming from outside the department or from a higher-up, you may want to schedule time to talk through the issues so you have a clear understanding of what your leadership wants.

What does success in overcoming this challenge look like to our agency? Defining parameters for success might look like establishing objective key performance indicators (KPIs) that can help measure effectiveness, whether it’s how many cases were resolved a month or the time from opening to resolution of a case.

What features are “must have” and which are “nice to have”? As you create a list, it might be helpful to rank and prioritize items in order to help focus your search.

How many staff members need access to the program? Do all staff members need full access? Some software products offer role-based access, from full edit to read-only. Utilizing different roles is a good way to keep costs down, too.

What is our budget, and where is the money coming from? Software products run the gamut in terms of pricing. Having a solid understanding of how much money your city or department has to spend on a new software product can be helpful in narrowing down options.

These questions are just a starting point. For more factors to consider when beginning your search, check out our post 5 Factors to Consider When Local Government Software Shopping.

2. Research and narrow your options.

Once you have your list of needs and priorities in hand, you can begin conducting your preliminary research. Most local government software companies have a wealth of information on their website that can help you begin narrowing down the field. As you peruse options, read through the available content on each company’s website. Check out their blog and the list of other cities the company works with. Case studies can also be helpful as they give insight into how real cities are using these products to solve actual problems.

As you read through the available information, do a gut check. Do you see any similarities between your municipality and those using this product? Is the company writing about topics and concerns that resonate with your community? Simply reading through online information often provides the first impression you need to help decide whether or not a product may be right for your city.

3. Schedule calls to learn more.

Online research is a great starting point, but sometimes there is only so much you can glean from the internet. If you have a couple options in mind but aren’t sure whether or not they would be good fits, move on to the next step of the software search process and schedule a call with each company. A Zoom call is a low-stakes way to learn more about a company’s offerings and pricings. By explaining your specific challenges and concerns with an actual representative from the company, you can get real-time answers and figure out pretty quickly whether or not a company is going to be a good fit for your agency or municipality’s needs. Most companies will also offer product demos during initial meetings, so you can see the software in action first-hand.

Comcate for Your Local Government Software Needs

Looking for local government software? Include Comcate in your search! As a company founded by local government leaders, Comcate believes in better government for all – and that municipalities deserve modern, affordable, flexible software. Today we help cities across the nation with products purpose-built for local government.

Schedule a Meeting with Comcate Today!

Learn how Comcate can help make government delivery simple, and offer a modern digital experience to help you increase transparency, efficiency, and performance across your departments. If you have any questions about implementing our software, please fill out the form below or call us directly at (415) 632-1248.

RECENT BLOG POSTS