How the Right Municipal Software Boosts Efficiency

Municipalities know that how they deliver services to citizens and businesses is just as important as what they offer.

In towns and cities big and small, upgrading to modern municipal software has transformed the permitting process, improved local enforcement, streamlined planning decisions, and changed the steps to get things done.

Whether it’s mobile inspections that can be completed even without cell service or online portals that streamline stakeholder processes, there are many ways the best local government software can boost staff efficiency and citizen satisfaction.

Improving the process with modern digital tools can:

• Reduce administrative workload
• Foster better coordination
• Speed up processing times
• Avoid bottlenecks that cause delays and lost revenue

Why Efficiency Matters in Local Government

Local government professionals know that efficiency is at the heart of everything they do — and any slowdown, whether it’s onerous administrative work or time-consuming processes with paper or outdated software, is going to affect their job.

In many cases, inefficiency impacts crucial outcomes. Permitting delays inevitably lead to project delays, and scattered or mismanaged licensing can result in lost revenue and lower compliance. Staff burnout and citizen frustration are all too possible, too.

Separate platforms for building, planning, enforcement, and public works can unnecessarily complicate workflows and cause confusion.

There are many common bottlenecks that hurt your efficiency, including:

• Paper-based forms and manual filing
• Incomplete or inaccurate applications
• Scattered systems across departments
• Delayed inspections
• Poor communication with applicants
• Difficult access to property and permit data

Fortunately, the best municipal software today can resolve those issues and keep things moving in the right direction.

Real Results: How the Right Software Has Helped Municipalities

Many towns and cities have turned to the latest digital tools to boost their efficiency and streamline processes at every step — and the results speak for themselves.

From faster turnarounds to less time spent on administrative tasks, the benefits of better workflows and easier service delivery can transform even the smallest of municipalities.

Online Applications and Renewals

If citizens and contractors continue to apply for permits or licenses on paper forms, progress will slow — and that holds everyone back from doing their jobs.

Adopting a modern municipal software platform can enable online permit applications and renewals, reducing counter visits, phone calls, and the endless email back-and-forth that slows the process and creates confusion.

Cloudpermit’s software simplifies the application process by moving it online. In addition, the platform requires complete applications, and applicants can’t submit until they’ve entered every required detail and attached all necessary documents.

That’s greatly sped up processes in the City of Garnett, Kansas.

Since we get complete applications, it’s all there when you start your review, and you don’t have to stop and wait a few days for further information,” said Darin Wilson, Planning and Zoning Administrator.

Wilson said the changes to Cloudpermit have shortened approval times and provided a seamless process for citizens and staff.

It’s cut my time in half from doing it the old way,” he said.

In the Town of North Elba, New York, efficiency improved significantly after moving the permitting process online.

Cloudpermit has truly streamlined our permit process,” said Britt Waite, North Elba’s Building & Planning Department Clerk/STR Compliance Monitor. “Upgrading from on-premises software to the cloud has been like going from a horse to a sports car. Everything is so much easier now.”

By streamlining the process, staff regained time to focus on more important tasks.

We no longer have the constant interruption of people coming in to submit their permit applications or make payments,” Waite said. “Since everything is done online, we can focus more on our work.”

Mobile Inspection Tools

Inspectors work in the field but often spend time driving back and forth to the office to re-enter the photos and notes needed to complete their work.

A comprehensive mobile inspection app that works with or without cell or internet service fixes that problem entirely.

When I go and do the inspection on my iPad, once I leave, I’m done,” said Kevin Standridge, Chief Building Official of the City of Madisonville, Tennessee. “It completely eliminates me having to go sit down in my office and do this because once I document it within Cloudpermit, take my pictures, and complete that inspection, it’s done until the next one.”

Features like this helped Standridge boost his overall work efficiency from 60 percent to 95 percent after adopting Cloudpermit, giving him more time each day to focus on the most important aspects of his job.

It’s also enabled him to keep pace with an unprecedented level of community development in Madisonville, with more than 300 new homes and multiple commercial projects planned.

There’s no way I could do this boom in development without this software,” he said. “That’s a very strong statement, and that’s just the truth because there’s no way I could keep up with this.”

Configurable Solutions to Meet Local Needs

Every municipality is different, with unique needs and future goals — and that’s why municipal software must work for local users.

Cloudpermit’s online community development and public works software is configurable, allowing towns and cities to use the platform exactly as they need to get things done.

This initial setup paid off for Meriwether County, Georgia, when it smoothly transitioned to its new online software.

We didn't have to adjust to how other governments use Cloudpermit,” said Cassandra Sharpe, Director of Planning, Zoning, and Community Development. “Our software provider designed our online forms using our paper forms. So, now we use processes that work for our team in a more efficient way.”

Automation and Streamlined Workflows

Modern software’s built-in communication and messaging can reduce phone tag and email threads while creating a digital trail of interactions, making the process less confusing for everyone.

Automatic status updates to applicants and streamlined circulation for planners help save time that would otherwise be lost to administrative tasks — and can transform the work of staff in guiding development in their communities.

The right software should streamline workflows and reduce administrative tasks, enabling local professionals to focus on what’s important.

These improvements to the overall process enhanced code enforcement in Franklin County, Florida, and freed staff to focus on higher-priority work by reducing manual data entry.

With Cloudpermit, it generates a lot of the stuff for me,” said Cortni Bankston, Community Services Coordinator. “It makes it a lot easier, and it cuts my time in half.”

In Roscommon Township, Michigan, the improvements from adopting Cloudpermit have enabled Zoning Administrator and Ordinance Enforcement Officer Rob Christian to get more done.

It’s allowed me to be a lot more efficient with what I do and how I do it,” he said.

Code Enforcement Officer Victor Mazza said it’s made a night-and-day difference in his work for the Town of Searsport, Maine.

It’s almost like I tripled my manpower,” he said. “That’s the difference in efficiency. It’s literally like there are two more of me.”

Find Out How Cloudpermit Helps Municipalities Work Smarter

With the right municipal software, communities can reduce administrative tasks and focus on what really matters.