State and local governments must meet the evolving expectations of their citizens—and that means leaving behind the era of long queues and endless paperwork. Governments that embrace digital solutions benefit from streamlined processes and enhanced citizen engagement.
The Accela Citizen Access portal serves as a digital gateway that extends government services to the public. Constituents can access the portal 24/7/365 from the comfort of their homes or offices, and from various devices. This innovative platform not only meets public expectations but also revolutionizes the way citizens interact with their government.
The Accela Citizen Access portal offers the following benefit to both citizens and government agencies:
- Increased Efficiency: By digitizing processes and offering self-service capabilities, the portal reduces walk-ins and phone inquiries. This approach allows agency staff to focus on more critical tasks, which translates to enhanced productivity and significant cost savings in service delivery.
- Faster Turnarounds: Quick processing of applications, proposals, and plan reviews fosters economic growth and development within communities. Accela’s solutions cut planning and building processes by at least 50 percent, eliminating bottlenecks often associated with government permitting and review processes.
- Enhanced Transparency: The portal provides total visibility throughout the planning and permitting processes, ensuring transparency for both agency staff and project owners. Real-time status updates enable stakeholders to track progress, which fosters trust and accountability.
- Improved Customer Satisfaction: 24/7 access and simplified application and renewal processes enhances resident satisfaction. Citizens appreciate the convenience of conducting transactions online without the hassle of physical visits or lengthy wait times.
- Stimulated Economic Growth: With the portal, agencies can automate manual tasks and expedite development processes, which contributes to the growth of communities. Faster permitting and licensing procedures attract businesses and investors, driving economic prosperity.
Unleashing Powerful Capabilities
The Accela Citizen Access Portal offers a number of capabilities designed to streamline interactions with government agencies including, but not limited to, the following:
- Online Public Portal: Upload permit applications, schedule inspections, and manage projects efficiently from any device, anytime, anywhere.
- Electronic Plan Review: Engage with builders on plan reviews to facilitate seamless collaboration and faster approvals.
- Application Status Review: Track the status of permits and applications and eliminate the need for frequent inquiries.
- Complaint Submittal: Enable concerned residents to file complaints online to ensure timely resolution of issues.
- Online Payments & Shopping Cart: Simplify fee payments with a user-friendly payment interface and offer flexibility and convenience.
- Third-Party Integration: Integrate with third-party wizard, chatbots, and virtual assistant products to enhance the user experience.
Accessibility and Compliance
Citizen Access is designed to be inclusive and compliant with the following industry standards:
- Multi-Language Support: Accela supports multiple languages including English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese, and Vietnamese to ensure accessibility for diverse communities.
- Mobile Responsive: Users can access the portal from a preferred smartphone, tablet, or desktop and receive a consistent user experience.
- Accessibility Standards: The platform is compliant with Section 508c and WCAG 2.1 AA standards, ensuring accessibility for all users.
Governments must embrace technology to meet the evolving needs of their citizens. The Accela Citizen Access portal offers efficiency, transparency, and convenience to both citizens and agencies. By harnessing the power of digital innovation, governments can truly elevate citizen engagement and pave the way for a brighter future.