Digital Bürger apps: How to improve our service on site!

Digital Bürger apps: How to improve our service on site!

In recent years, digitization in the municipalities has boosted boost. Especially in Markt Schwaben shows how sensible citizen apps can be. According to Merkur Third of the residents installed the "citizens' app". This app not only enables citizens to book appointments, but also to report defects in public space. In particular, the simple use and the wide range of services offered are very well received, reports Mayor Walentina Dahms.

But Markt Schwaben is not the only community that relies on digital solutions. In the neighboring town of Kirchseeon, the "together - for each other" has been online for two years and is very popular with over 1500 registered users. Moosach also recently introduced the "Heimat-Info" app, which provides a digital event calendar and current community news. Around 50 groups have organized here to be active locally.

new possibilities for citizens

Digitization in the communities is increasingly perceived as a trend that not only improves the service for district citizens, but also relieves the municipalities. The district office even offers the "waste app", which not only shows location-related collection calendars, but also enables users to report defects in recycling islands directly. This type of direct communication between citizens and administration is received positively by many sides and should also reduce the workload in the town halls in the long term.

The advantages of citizen apps are diverse. They enable immediate availability of important information, promote citizen participation through surveys and discussions and increase the efficiency of the municipalities through digital inquiries and automated processes. As the technology and founding center , when introducing a new app, clear goals must be set for both the citizens and the administration address.

opportunities and challenges of digital citizen participation

The Covid 19 pandemic has significantly changed the way in which citizen participation works. Traditional formats, such as face -to -face events, had to give way. Digital participation formats were hardly used at first, but their acceptance rose over time. A study by the Berlin Institute for Participation has investigated how the relationship to the digital citizen participation has changed, especially in times of social discount measures. Community Digital Forum describes that there are now increasing acceptance for digital formats, although challenges, such as technical barriers and for example Data protection concerns.

For many communities, the step of digitization is an important signal towards the future. While you are currently looking around for a suitable software for your own app in Grafing, the example of Moosach shows that digitization is also associated with costs-around 240 euros for the app infrastructure.

Overall, it becomes clear that the trend of the citizens' apps in the Bavarian municipalities is very popular. The variety of applications and the ability to promote direct communication between citizens and administration could change the way we interact with each other in the future.