As urban populations rise and development accelerates, some municipalities are facing an unprecedented construction boom. Managing this surge in development can be a double-edged sword. While new projects stimulate economic growth, these projects also put immense pressure on local governments to efficiently process permits, conduct inspections, and manage regulatory compliance. Without modern tools, municipal agencies risk falling behind, which can lead to costly delays and frustrated developers.

The Accela Civic Platform is a suite of cloud-based solutions that equip municipalities with the technology needed to keep pace with rapid growth. Agencies use Accela to streamline permitting and licensing, improve inspection processes, and enhance cross-department collaboration. The platform’s workflow automations can ensure timely and efficient project delivery, which helps cities and towns thrive amidst the construction boom. Let’s examine the six ways Accela can help municipalities manage construction and development:

Traditional permit processes can slow down development. Accela’s cloud-based platform automates building and planning functions to reduce bottlenecks in the permit approval process. The platform ensures faster review times and helps municipalities keep up with the increasing demand for new construction. By providing a 24/7 online system for document submissions, fee payments, and approvals, Accela makes it easier for developers to navigate the permitting process from anywhere, at any time, without the need to visit municipal offices.

One significant challenge municipalities face during a construction boom is keeping up with inspections. Inspection delays can derail project timelines. Accela offers digital scheduling and virtual inspections. This flexibility allows inspectors to prioritize and conduct assessments more effectively. Accela also offers GIS routing for optimal efficiency. These tools ensure that inspections are completed on time, so municipalities can meet the demands of rapid development.

Construction projects touch multiple departments, so coordination between municipal offices is essential. Accela enables cross-departmental data sharing, which streamlines communication between agencies and improves decision-making. Cross-departmental data sharing ensures that all departments involved in a project are aligned and informed, reducing delays and inefficiencies.

Municipalities must have the ability to review plans quickly and accurately in order to meet construction demands. Accela facilitates online plan reviews, which eliminates the need for physical document submissions. The digital plan review process saves time for both government staff and developers by ensuring plans can be reviewed, commented on, and approved without the back-and-forth of paper documents. The result is faster project approval and fewer delays​.

Project delays can slow economic growth and increase costs. The Accela Civic Platform helps municipalities maintain established project timelines. The platform’s automated workflows, transparent processes, and real-time updates help builders meet their deadlines. Additionally, Accela helps municipalities manage resources effectively, so all work is completed on time and within budget.

Constituents want transparency and accountability from their municipal governments. Accela provides insights and analytics that enable municipalities to track project progress, measure efficiency, and identify areas for improvement. The platform’s reporting dashboards provides the transparency needed to builds trust with residents and developers. In addition, the dashboard also ensure accountability across departments.

Accela offers the tools necessary to streamline permitting, inspections, and plan reviews. As an authorized Accela reseller, integrator, and professional services provider, 3SG Plus offers the professional and managed services required to ensure your Accela implementation aligns with your operational objectives. We provide consultation, implementation, user training, and post-deployment service and support to ensure you receive maximum ROI.

If you would like to learn more about how 3SG Plus and Accela can help your municipality keep up with new construction, please click the button below and fill out the form. One of our team members will be in touch.