In today's business landscape, customer centricity is crucial for the success of any organisation, and this is only heightened for local governments. 

As councils strive to deliver exceptional customer experiences and build long-lasting relationships, the role of an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solution becomes even more significant. A future-proof ERP system should not only streamline internal processes but also enable customer-centric strategies and operations. To ensure that your ERP solution supports customer centricity and prepares your organization for the future, consider the following checklist: 

• Customer-centric Data Management: A future-proof ERP solution should provide robust community data management capabilities. It should enable you to capture and store comprehensive information, including properties, development applications, pet registrations and more. Having a unified view of community data that is centred around the individual, rather than a property or address, empowers you teams to streamline community interactions, anticipate needs, and deliver tailored experiences.
   
• Integration with CRM: Seamless integration between your ERP and CRM systems is essential for customer-centricity. The integration enables a 360-degree view of citizen interactions, combining service requests, feedback, and communication data. This integration ensures that your teams have access to real-time community information, enabling them to provide personalized service and targeted engagement. 

• Service Request Management: An ERP solution with robust service request management capabilities facilitates efficient handling and tracking of community requests. It should enable you to manage request workflows, track progress, and ensure timely resolution. By streamlining these processes, you can enhance customer satisfaction and optmise service delivery. 
  
  
• Digital Services Integration: If your local government offers digital services, ensure that your ERP solution seamlessly integrates with them. This integration enables real-time synchronisation of service information, availability, and community data between your ERP and digital service platforms. It enables a seamless and consistent experience for your community across all digital channels and enhances operational efficiency.
  
  
• Analytics for community Insights: A future-proof ERP system should offer robust analytics capabilities for extracting insights from community data. It should provide intuitive dashboards, reports, and visualisations to identify trends, preferences, and behaviour patterns. These insights empower your teams to make data-driven decisions and develop targeted service strategies to better serve your community.
   
• Personalisation and Customisation: The ability to personalize community experiences is crucial in a customer-centric approach. Look for an ERP solution that allows you to configure workflows, reports, and user interfaces to align with your local government's unique community engagement strategies. This flexibility enables you to tailor the system to specific segments or community requirements. 
  
  
• Responsive and Mobile-Friendly: In today's mobile-driven world, a future-proof ERP system should provide responsive and mobile-friendly interfaces. It should enable your teams to access council information, perform tasks, and collaborate on the go. This mobility ensures that your employees can deliver exceptional services and engage with the community from anywhere, at any time. 

• Continuous Improvement and Adaptability: Choose an ERP vendor that demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement and adaptability. Look for a vendor that regularly updates their system with new features and functionalities driven by customer feedback and emerging industry trends. This ensures that your ERP solution can keep pace with evolving customer expectations and meet the unique needs of your local government. 
  
  

By following this checklist, you can select a future-proof ERP solution that not only optimizes your internal processes but also enables a customer-centric approach. Embracing customer centricity empowers your local government to deliver exceptional services, build strong community relationships, and stay responsive to the evolving needs of your community. 

To learn more about ReadyTech’s customer-centric Ready Community ERP solution, built specifically for local governments, go to www.ReadyCommunity.io.  

Get in touch with us today.