In today’s fast-paced digital world, getting things done requires being able to work whenever and wherever you are — especially if you're part of a small staff or busy municipal department.
Remote or hybrid work has become the norm in recent years, and communities of all sizes are tasked with establishing agile, distributed workforces to deliver essential government services.
The percentage of employed Americans who had worked remotely in 2020 doubled from 31 percent to 62 percent just weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2021, 27.6 million people primarily worked from home — nearly 18 percent of all workers, and more than triple the 5.7 percent who primarily worked from home in 2019.
Increasingly, municipalities need professionals who can complete tasks remotely, when and where they need to be done — whether it’s conducting an inspection just down the road or reviewing an important project while on vacation across the country.
The right local government software can empower remote teams with access to real-time property information, GIS-integrated maps, offline inspections, and so much more.
The New Reality and Challenges of Remote Work
Across all sectors, today’s employees want flexibility in their work arrangements. Many workers expect to be able to work from home at least part-time, and allowing for a hybrid or fully remote schedule can help attract candidates for hard-to-fill positions.
Even if employees are all based in one office, inspectors and community development professionals are often on the move, out of the office, which can slow down work and strain communication.
There are unique challenges that come with having a staff that isn’t all in one location — especially when trying to provide time-sensitive decisions and services for citizens and stakeholders in the community.
Without the right systems in place, remote teams can struggle to access the necessary files or share new updates about community development projects with other departments and officials.
All too easily, a lack of visibility into the real-time status of projects means government staff work with outdated information or struggle to complete work in the field.
How the Right Software Can Help
Local government software can be a powerful tool for remote teams looking to boost efficiency, improve communication, and streamline processes wherever possible.
By ensuring everyone works in the same system, regardless of department or staff member, municipalities can pave the way toward shared visibility and faster, more informed decisions in a timely manner.
Instant access to up-to-date property information, GIS data, and locally adopted building codes ensures employees are on the same page and eliminates confusion about the status of projects. This can be especially helpful when staff live in other communities or are out of town.
Citizens are kept in the loop every step of the way, getting automatic status updates about applications and inspections — and that means government workers can lessen their administrative burden and focus on what’s important to get done.
No matter where an employee is, they can complete their work right in the field with offline inspections software that works with or without an internet or cell signal.
Keep Up with Work from Anywhere
In the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District of British Columbia, a devastating wildfire season in 2023 destroyed 56 properties, including many secondary or vacation homes. The district relied on Cloudpermit’s local government software to enable property owners to apply for permits remotely and initiate the region’s recovery.
Jay McEwen, SLRD’s Chief Building Official, said Cloudpermit “truly expedited” approvals for this time-sensitive rebuilding.
Now, we can help our community move forward faster after such tragedies,” he said.
The cloud-based government software also helped the district enhance its hiring and retention efforts. Because everything can be done online, this shared platform enabled the hiring of remote staff and meeting high development demands.
Be Ready to Get Your Work Done from Anywhere
Modern local governments need to be ready to handle anything — including getting work done from anywhere.
With Cloudpermit, municipal employees and remote teams can get the flexibility, visibility, and control they need to keep serving their citizens without interruption.
Book a demo with us today to learn how our local government software can be your remote team’s best friend.
