For a number of years, the strong message coming from the Better Connected studies has been that getting the website right is fundamental to achieving major savings for the public sector.

‘Digital by default’ is public policy and a key response to the need for austerity. More and more service users expect it, but it requires two conditions for a successful implementation. First: get the supply side right. In other words, optimise the online customer experience. Second: tackle the demand side – promote and encourage the use of the online offering. This Briefing focuses on the first part of the equation.

We have the skills and the tools to help you achieve a website that delivers for your council - that is a website that gives real value in terms of the services it delivers to your customers and the savings it makes for the council. We cover all that is needed, summarised below:

For many councils, integrating the website with the back-office systems can be seen as complicated and expensive - in some cases giving rise to estimated costs of £1 million of more - but it doesn't need to be complicated or expensive.

The website is the kingpin of customer access to both information and services - whether it is for self-service by the customers themselves, or for use by staff in providing information or services to customers by phone or in face to face contact. All customer-facing services should be supported by the website.

The customer is deliberately placed at the centre of our approach to an effective website. Everything about the website needs to be focused on the customer's needs and on meeting these in the most cost-efficient way.

For a step by step guide, click on the diagram to see more detail

Creating an effective website for your council is not easy - and certainly isn't something you can leave to the IT service, or to corporate communications section to deliver for you. Creating a website that delivers real value to the organisation, and real savings in cost takes a corporate effort and requires the following essential elements:

Understanding your customers' needs, and indeed, knowing who your customers are, are both vital to a successful service delivery strategy.

Socitm Consulting has a range of tools and approaches that can help you with these.

Current volumes of transactions

Knowing how many transactions you are currently dealing with is a good starting point - this helps to identify:

Putting the customer at the heart of your strategy for becoming the Council of the Future is absolutely vital.