￼Government officials are working hard to make it a reality: the digital government.
Things become a lot easier when businesses and people can manage their affairs with the government digitally.
But what does this mean in practice? What is possible today and what might be possible tomorrow?
Let’s assume you’re an entrepreneur.
You own a restaurant.
Together with a partner…
Or two partners.
You employ staff…
And you have…
..a mother.
What if you’ve got something to celebrate and want to throw a big party? Outside, in a public space?
Then you’ll need permission from the council. Of course you plan your appointment digitally.
Often, you could also discuss your application online. Which saves you time and makes things a lot easier.
What if you plan to renovate? You’ll need an environmental permit from the local authority. Which you can also manage digitally.
You could access all the details you need at one single digital counter..
..as will your local authority official issuing the permit.
It´s quick and efficient. And there’s no need to leave home.
But what if you need a new ID? You can make an appointment digitally.
To apply for an ID, you need to go to the town hall yourself. They have to make sure they´re dealing with the right person.
And come back again to pick up your new ID?
That’s not necessary It´s becoming more and more common for IDs to be delivered to your home or workplace..
by a special courier who will verify your identity. Again, it does make life easier.
Increasingly the government is going digital. But what about people with limited digital skills?
Of course you could ask others to help you. But that may not always be possible.
It doesn´t have to be a problem. We don´t want people with limited digital skills to be left behind.
More and more people are finding their way around the digital world.
But what if you´re disabled in any way and still want to remain mobile?
Then you may want to use the community app provided by your municipality.
You can use the community app to make drop off & pick up appointments.
But you can do a lot more with this app, like contacting volunteer workers. To do small household chores or help you with your groceries.
This means you stay in control of your own life. With a little help from friends and family members.
Increasingly the government is going digital. To make things easier and more efficient, for both individuals and businesses.
It won’t happen by itself - lots of people are working hard to make this work. And we all reap the benefits!