The AI Breakthrough in Civic Operations
Imagine a world where local government functions are not bogged down by paper, confusion, or bureaucratic backlog. No need to imagine any longer—two U.S cities, Salt Lake City and Minneapolis, have embraced a transformative AI-powered platform called Smartsheet that redefines their municipal operations.
Taming the Homelessness Crisis
Salt Lake City’s struggle with homelessness is no longer a daunting hurdle, thanks to Smartsheet. Community Engagement Coordinator Stephen Fanale leads a team determined to streamline response efforts. Yearly, thousands of issues report homelessness-related challenges, and the city is harnessing the power of AI to address them more efficiently.
The platform automates critical processes, assigning tasks and communicating with service providers seamlessly. “Every report brought more redundancy before we switched to Smartsheet,” Fanale notes. The results have been astounding, with time-to-action reduced remarkably from seven days to just two, saving over 450 hours annually.
Rethinking the Permitting Complexity
Minneapolis turned to Smartsheet to address another common nuisance—permitting. Bogged down by messy paper applications, the solution lay in digital transformation. Senior Business Analyst Scott Gehrig’s team has leveraged the platform’s features, transforming a slow, manual process into a sleek, automated digital workflow.
The benefits? Time spent on reviewing permits has halved, and manual entries are now things of the past. The city saves resources and reduces time wastage. “Permits now get approved swiftly and accurately,” Gehrig says, with over 1,200 processed in mere months.
Unlocking Future Possibilities
As AI evolves, so too does the capacity of platforms like Smartsheet. “Automation aids cities in advancing their functions and setting benchmarks for what’s achievable,” says Graham Stroman of Smartsheet. According to GovTech, many more cities may begin to incorporate AI-driven solutions, delivering advanced citizen services and overcoming administration woes. The future is here, these cities are just the beginning.
In an era where public sector challenges, such as outdated tech and security threats, persist, intelligent platforms provide a groundbreaking solution. The AI revolution in Salt Lake City and Minneapolis is a testament to how technology reshapes cities for the better, ensuring more efficient service to the communities they serve.
