This document discusses how local authorities can move infrastructure and applications to the cloud using a digital platform like Salesforce. It notes that Salesforce has been named the most innovative company multiple times and has experienced rapid growth. The document argues that a digital platform provides an alternative to separate "silo" systems and has ongoing investment in development. It presents a vision for how a digital platform could integrate all local authority functions and services through a single citizen portal, replacing fragmented existing systems. Key benefits mentioned include being mobile by default, having dynamic workflow, and reducing support overhead. It cautions that continuing to invest in old technologies will widen the capability gap and quotes a digital leader urging local authorities to take advantage of existing platforms now.

1. Colin Wales
Business Development Director
Arcus Global
© 2016 Arcus Global

2. What do we do?: Move
infrastructure and applications
to the cloud

3. The Digital Platform of choice…
• In 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, Forbes voted Salesforce
the World’s Most Innovative company.
• Fastest Growing Cloud Company Ever. Fastest
company to reach $5b revenue (until Tesla!)
• As of early 2016, it is one of the most highly valued
American cloud computing companies with a market
capitalization over $55 billion.
• More than 200,000 clients worldwide including Coca
Cola Company, Virgin Group, News International
(Sun/Times), Nikon, Vodafone, Toyota, Barclay’s…..

4. • SO WHAT?
• There are digital ‘platform’ solutions on the open
market that provide a genuine alternative to multiple
line of business ‘silo’ infrastructure.
• They have multi-million ££ development spend and very
short release cycles and include ‘plug-ins’ and native
connectivity as standard.

5. The digital revolution is
(finally) arriving in the
UK Local Authorities –
Our aim is to be at the
heart/front of it for
Planning and Building
Control Services of the
future
Local
Authorities
Citizens and
stakeholders.
Why are we here?

6. BC/PL
EH/TS
Licensing
RevsandBens
LoB…
ERDM (document management)
Other forms,
payments,
knowledge CMS
etc
Multiple integration
and connectors
‘Digital Platform’ (or NOT!)
CRM
£ £ £ £ £
£
£
£
£
How it has been for the last 25 years…..

7. Citizen
Portal
All channels C
R
M
B
E
E
S
T
S
W
A
S
A
S
C
E
T
C
Platform
Mobile Social Media
Mr J.Smith
Data Layer
How it could (should?) be…..

8. What is different about this way of thinking?
 There is sometimes a vested interest in maintaining legacy systems –
because there is no web or digital option available from the supplier, there is a
perceived higher cost or the pain of change seems too great.
 Most procurement exercises focus on the ‘price tag’ for the software, not the
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). If a 10% increase in spend in ICT delivers a
10% efficiency saving in a department with 5x the budget…………..
 The adopted strategy for many is to add a ‘digital envelope’ over existing
dated silo infrastructure. Web forms.
 This works up to a point as it does increase self service but it doesn’t
change the underlying structures that have inherently higher costs of
support.

9. What is it reasonable to expect from a
contemporary system?
• Mobile by default
• Accessible on any device and any operating system
• Permissions can extend to stakeholder groups
• ‘Chat’ as a standard feature
• Dynamic workflow
• Dashboard interface as standard
• Reporting fully integrated with a simple user interface
• Native plug-ins for social media channels
• Embedded content to guide users in legislation and advice
• Infrastructure free – little or no support overhead on routine
maintenance
• Flexible to change or modify at any time
• App store for value add components

11. A quote from recent digital leader
posts:
"How do you get to be 10 years behind?
“1 year at a time“.
Continuing to invest in old technology will widen your
technology and market capability gap.
“Platforms already exist, if councils don’t
take advantage of them now they will look
back in 10 years and think what might
have been.”
Martin Reeves (lead on digital at
SOLACE)