Lagan launches online self-service tool for local government

Lagan, a Division of KANA, has announced Connect2Tell Web, the latest self service module of its award-winning Local Government Solution.

Connect2Tell Web enables government organisations to provide citizen access to existing services via the web, increasing speed of access and reducing the cost of service delivery.

Connect2Tell Web offers immediate benefits to local government organisations seeking to commence Channel Shift strategies in response to budget challenges and growing citizen demand for online access to services.

Many of Lagan's customers have implemented Lagan's self service module enabling them to realise significant benefits including:

Oxford City Council which has achieved savings of over £112k pa for one service line alone by shifting Council Tax payments to the web.

City of York which has shifted 93% of student Council Tax discount applications to the web.

City of San Francisco which has delivered savings equivalent to 4 full time employees.

Key features are:

· Business users can quickly web-enable processes through the use of a simple UI tool and no need for specialist IT skills

· Leverages sophisticated process templates enabling a consistent and rich citizen experience and minimising the cost of ongoing maintenance.

· Leverages existing processes and integrations. Connect2Tell Web complies with Lagan’s “single process, multiple channel” strategy, in that it web-enables existing processes and their associated existing integrations if present.

· Integrates with the existing GIS system. Web-enabled location-based processes require GIS to be presented to the citizen on the Web and Connect2Tell Web enables this with the support of various GIS systems including Open Street Map, ESRI and Google Maps.

· No need to upgrade. Connect2Tell Web works with existing Lagan systems (Version 6.1 and above).

The latest Local Government Marketscope report from Gartner published in 2010 marks the third successive time that Lagan has achieved the highest possible “strong positive” rating, the only company to achieve this.

David Moody, VP Solutions Marketing of KANA Software said: “Connect2Tell Web is part of a family of Lagan modules designed to respond to the challenges faced by our government customer base, particularly budget pressures and citizen demand for on-line access to services. In a time of austerity, public sector organisations across the world are under pressure to continue to provide front line services but with reduced budgets. Connect2Tell Web provides an important mechanism to help our customer base address these challenges.”