Better websites: sharing content, applications and resources

 One impact of the budgetary crisis is that more and more organisations are realising the importance of self-service. Another impact is that most now see shared services as a solution to reducing costs. However, very few seem to put the two together.

The latest Socitm briefing (attached) suggests that many local public service websites are stagnating and failing to deliver the channel shift required of them. Sharing content, applications and resources with other websites – local, from elsewhere in the country, and national – could make your website much more worthwhile from the customer viewpoint. More customers would then use self-service channels, reducing your transaction costs, and you could also save money on web development.

Possible options include using widgets from Local Directgov, syndicated content from NHS Choices, shared applications for online consultation and possibly shared website personnel with another authority. My own view is that a move towards the new generation open-source content management systems would greatly help local authorities to share website improvements as well as save money on licensing and support costs.

Please reply to this email or call me on 0845 241 2770 if you would like to discuss how to move your authority’s web presence forward.