08.05.13
75% of councils not ready for mobile – Socitm
Socitm has published a new briefing for councils to improve their use of digital and mobile engagement tools when interacting with residents.
Based on survey data from all council websites, the briefing shows that 23% of all visits to council websites are made via mobile devices, but that 75% of councils’ readiness for mobile was rated as “poor”.
The briefing highlights the benefits of online customer accounts and the importance of providing easily accessible email alerts. Socitm calls for councils to encourage a ‘channel shift’ from telephone inquiries to council websites, and to provide clearer ways to access information on local councillors.
Martin Reeves, chief executive, Coventry City Council, and immediate past president of SOLACE, said the report should be “required reading for every senior manager and chief executive in local government”.
He said: “It’s cheaper for us to do business online and it’s increasingly what our residents expect from us. We’ve been talking about improving the customer journey for people for years, now we have to combine this work with reducing demand for services as we face massive budget cuts.”
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