Boosting council revenue with modern tech: key strategies & solutions

1st August 2024

How tech can improve your council’s revenue outcomes: a deep dive into Citizen Central & Payble

Local governments today often face complex economic issues. They grapple with funding constraints, diverse revenue sources, strict financial regulations, and reporting requirements while striving to fulfill their citizens' expectations with limited resources. For many councils, these issues have been resolved by harnessing technology to make revenue management more efficient by streamlining operations, offering hope for positive progress and sustainable economic development.

Gone are the days when manual processes were sufficient; they are too slow, error-prone, and hinder the delivery of superior services. By adopting the latest technology, staff can focus on more meaningful tasks, such as citizen engagement, rather than mundane data entry. This blog deep dives into how tech solutions, like Civica Authority, can enhance revenue outcomes and pave the way for improved service delivery and happier communities.

Role of modern tech in transforming revenue operations

Modern tech provides local government with new avenues for engaging with citizens, ensuring that their needs and preferences are at the forefront of government actions. Local governments can efficiently manage large transaction volumes by digitising and automating processes such as billing and payment processing, significantly improving operational productivity. This enables staff to shift their focus to strategic endeavours like planning and policy development.

Further more, the advent of new technology fosters a collaborative space for the private and public sectors to come together for a common cause—the well-being of the community.

Civica: Your ally in navigating challenges

With over three decades of experience, we've supported more than 1,500 councils and authorities across the globe with our innovative solutions. Our aim? To tackle the hurdles faced by councils head-on.

Civica partners with Payble

We've joined forces with Payble to bring local governments an unparalleled revenue optimisation platform centered around citizens' needs. Fully integrated, Authority Payments powered by Payble streamlines payments, saving both time and money for residents and councils alike. It digitally processes customer payments, syncs to Authority, and sends mobile notifications for upcoming and missed payments.

Not only does this platform cut costs significantly with its budget-friendly payment options, but it also reduces expenses linked to contact centers, letters, and debt collection.

It makes it easy for residents to pay bills from any mobile device with just three taps. It also provides clear instructions and custom guides to simplify complicated payments, resulting in happier residents and a more efficient council.

Citizen Central

Authority's new community portal - Citizen Central - is all about simplifying the lives of councils and residents. This platform is designed to streamline council services with the convenience of self-service options that take only a few clicks to complete. Whether it's requesting permits, making payments, or registering pets, Citizen Central makes it all a breeze.

The platform is accessible from any device and loaded with features that both councils and citizens will love, such as enhanced security, simplified identity verification, and smooth transactions.

Moving towards a new era for town of Victoria Park

Before using Civica Authority Payments powered by Payble, the Town of Victoria Park in southeast Perth faced challenges managing their direct debit process. Four staff members were required to be involved every month, and the council spent over half a day each month following up on payment dishonours.

With the automation of their direct debit process using Payble, the council expects to save 259 staff hours. Additionally, they can now offer credit and debit card payments and send automatic SMS reminders before payments are due.

Effective revenue management is non-negotiable for local governments in their quest to sustain essential services and fulfil community expectations. In this endeavour, tools like Citizen Central and Payble deliver a comprehensive solution for boosting revenue and fostering stronger communities.

These solutions provide the blueprint for councils to make informed, data-driven decisions and optimise resource allocation, ensuring they can weather financial storms and continue serving their communities efficiently.

Contact us today to learn how our solutions can help you transform your organisation.