Cloud computing has optimized operations for private businesses, allowing them to scale at a more accelerated pace than ever before. Government organizations are also realizing the benefits of the cloud and making the move from siloed, on-premises backend systems to a more modern, up-to-date and secure cloud system.
The benefits for governments
Many government organizations are slow to adopting cloud technology, until they realize the benefits that switching to the cloud can deliver.
Examples of government services optimized on the cloud
IT infrastructure and services: The cloud can improve operational efficiencies by reducing hardware costs and server footprints. Also, security updates, system updates and upgrading to newer versions of software is made easier through the cloud, saving both time and money.
Shared services: Many government agencies often depend on the work of other agencies to be able to deploy their services and meet their goals. That’s why it’s smart for agencies to work together and share their IT services. Not only does sharing IT services improve communications between government agencies, but it will also reduce cost and time, making governments more agile and responsive.
Citizen services: By moving to the cloud, citizens can enjoy easier to use and access online services from all levels of governments. For example, citizens could monitor their utility usages from municipal governments, view their state/provincial medical records, or apply for a federal student loan and check on the status of the application. The cloud allows government organizations with limited resources to provide services, while giving citizens self-serve options that they are used to from private companies.
The case to migrate for Pinellas County Tax Collector’s Office
OnActuate is helping Pinellas County Tax Collector’s Office, a government agency responsible for the administration and collection of various taxes and fees within Pinellas County, Florida, move from Microsoft Dynamics GP to the cloud-based Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain (F&Sc).
The move to F&Sc will fulfill Pinellas County commitment of “customer-focused excellence”, by providing a system that will speed up business processes and reduce errors, which in turn will serve citizens of Pinellas County quicker. The County wanted to ensure that the new system still had a familiar look and feel to the Dynamics GP product, so it was wise to switch to F&Sc and keep within the Microsoft solutions suite.
3 steps to take before you move to the cloud
Before you make the decision to move to the cloud, it’s best to sit down with your team and lay out the foundation for the move. Ensure you take these steps to make the right decision for the project:
1. Explore all options to find the right fit.
Don’t count out all options and levels just because your current ERP was at a certain level. For example, many organizations realize that their current ERP was too small and didn’t keep up with their growth. While others realize that their ERP system was too bloated, too expensive and overall, not a good fit for their level of operations.
Microsoft offers both F&Sc aimed at more enterprise-level organizations with complex business needs, and a more streamlined version, Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC). meant for small to medium-sized organizations. Writing down a list of features you need and business challenges you want to address can help you determine which level is right for you, saving you the time, money and headache from having to switch when you realize your choice didn’t live up to your expectations.
2. Ask to see a demo of the test environment.
It might be difficult to grasp how the changes will look and if the product will meet your needs. Ask vendors to provide a proof of concept and a testing environment so you can physically see and explore areas of the software. Make sure you ask the vendor to also simulate real-life scenarios or business challenges that your organization deals with so you can truly understand how the software operates. This is what OnActuate did for Pinellas County, which allowed the organization to make an informed decision and get them prepared for the migration.
3. Choose a partner that can guide you in every step.
Selecting the right partner for your digital transformation can be a challenge. Your technology partner must not only be experts but be able to guide you with every step and make you, your team and your executives comfortable with the migration process. The first two steps can also be taken when you select the right partner because they can help you decide which ERP options are best for your needs and show you a testing environment of the software for you.
Need more tips on how to select the right partner? Download this tipsheet.
OnActuate is the perfect Microsoft-certified partner that can meet the three steps above. Our experience with helping several public sector organizations like the City of Columbus and Washington State make better use of their technology puts us at the forefront of tech partners serving the public sector.
Let us help you realize the opportunity the cloud has to offer by contacting us for a consultation.
