Improve Planning Processes by Asking These 3 Questions

When working in planning, it pays to always be on the lookout for ways to improve processes, both for planners and the communities they serve.

Streamline, Empower, Modernize: Planning Through Technology

Here are three simple questions you can ask yourself to improve your planning processes internally and for residents.

1. Are Your Processes Transparent and Efficient?

Paper planning processes have a reputation for being cumbersome, burying planners and contractors alike in paperwork and red tape. When seeking to improve your processes, you should ask if any of these stereotypes ring true for your organization. Modern planning is clear from end to end, with community members and planners able to see where in the process their requests are at any given moment and make informed decisions. A digital solution will ensure clarity in your planning processes with features like a navigable UI and online access, while also providing tools for planners such as actionable performance insights that can be easily shared across departments to break down silos and drive efficiency. This efficiency can pay dividends for planners and communities alike, with results like a 60% decrease in permit processing times.

2. Do Community Members Have a Sense of Agency in the Process?

Planning processes are ultimately meant to serve the community. Contractors and community members should be able to feel like they have a sense of agency in planning processes. If your planning process is still reliant on phone calls, office visits, and reams of paperwork, it is time to consider a new direction. A solution with a pre-application assistant to guide applicants through the early stages of the permit application process without the need for a phone call or visit to the permitting office can afford applicants this sense of agency. Online applications, inspection requests, and payments further this agency as they allow residents to perform these tasks on their own time. Add to that a mobile app, through which citizens can submit work orders at any time, and the community is suddenly more engaged than ever before, with hundreds of work requests coming in thanks to the app.

3. Are Your Processes Ready for the Future?

It is important not only to modernize processes but also to ensure they are ready for what the future holds. An easy first step is eliminating paper by adopting a digital solution to facilitate ease of access and reduce the environmental impact of paper-based processes. Choosing a solution with cloud capabilities also ensures consistent updates for security and stability, while also allowing for the retirement of on-premises servers. Moving from on-premises servers to the cloud also offers scalability, meaning a digital solution that can grow as the community does and meet their needs with the same efficiency. In addition to scalability, moving to the cloud helps create a resilient community that is prepared for natural disasters and provides consistent service to residents, no matter what may come.

Scalable, Configurable Digital Planning

When working to be able to say "yes" to the above questions, it helps to have the right digital planning solution: one that is scalable, powerful, and configurable. With Enterprise Permitting & Licensing on board, you can ensure your processes are not only serving your current community needs as best as possible but also that they will continue to do so, no matter what the future holds.

ABOUT THE CONTENT AUTHOR AND SPONSOR: Tyler Technologies

Tyler Technologies (NYSE: TYL) provides integrated software and technology services to the public sector. Tyler's end-to-end solutions empower local, state, and federal government entities to operate more efficiently and connect more transparently with their constituents and with each other. By connecting data and processes across disparate systems, Tyler's solutions are transforming how clients gain actionable insights that solve problems in their communities. Tyler Technologies' client base includes more than 15,000 local government offices in all 50 states, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, and other international locations.