Challenges

The City of Skalica manages a large number of interfaces and channels through which it communicates with citizens. From social networks, to the city's website, the resident web portal, and a dedicated mobile application.

Most of these are isolated solutions that are not interconnected, do not share a unified user database, login method, or management, or information distribution. As such, they are mostly single-purpose and do not provide other options for service development for the city's citizens.

Fragmented solutions have a negative impact on operational costs and disproportionately increase the demands on human resources within the organization, primarily due to the lack of connection to internal organizational systems such as project or process management, or IT support systems.

The main challenge for the city was to create a solution that provides residents with an easy way to stay informed about events at the city hall, cultural or sports events.

The creation of a service that allows citizens to access benefits for city events and can be used for multiple purposes, such as opening public restroom doors, accessing fenced waste collection points, or using it as a membership card in the city library, or even a parking card.

Goals

The goal of the project was to implement a multifunctional software platform that provides:

The citizena simple and familiar environment in the form of a digital card in a wallet on iOS and Android systems (Apple/Google Wallet).

It will provide users with current information about events at the city hall or notify them of upcoming cultural or sports events through "push" notifications.

It will offer citizens a simple way to overview and utilize assigned benefits, can serve as a membership card (e.g., city library), and can allow citizens to interact with the city's technical infrastructure - digital cards are mainly used for accessing benefits or as membership cards. This connection can facilitate citizens' access to places that were time-limited (opening public restrooms) or create entirely new services such as closing waste collection points.- increasing the comfort of residents. 

It will also be able to serve as a hub for online services provided by the city, including a portal for online tax and fee payments, as well as the upcoming purchase of tickets for events in the city.

City Office SkalicaThe project aimed to acquire a multifunctional and multi-application software platform that will be sufficiently open for integration with existing and future systems.

It will provide full management of the distribution and administration of digital smart cards for citizens, including management of the process and criteria for assigning benefits with integration to PoS terminals.

It will enable the city to implement project and process management, an IT support system, and a unified system for managing social networks and online ticket sales for events in the city.

Solution

The solution is built around the proven Odoo ERP, which offers not only a wide range of applications and the possibility of programming new applications but is also sufficiently open for integration with third-party systems (e.g., using API/webhook).

These features of Odoo ERP allowed for the rapid development of non-standard parts and accelerated deployment into operation.

The entire solution consists of three separate parts from three vendors:

Odoo ERP - main supplier 26HOUSE
comprehensive and multi-application platform

Digital card - subcontractor PassMachine
integration with the issuer of certified cards for Apple and Google Wallet

CG ISS - subcontractor CORAgeo
integration with the part of the local government information system that allows for easier registration and unambiguous verification of citizens before the automated issuance of cards

Implementation

The implementation in Skalica was divided into several phases to minimize disruption to the office's operations and to allow users to gradually adapt:

• Needs analysis
• Design of architecture and processes
• Development and customization
• Testing & user training
• Migration and go-live
• Support and optimization

The main element of the solution that the user interacts with is a digital card imported into the native mobile application Apple/Google Wallet. It does not require updates and does not "disappear" from the mobile device over time when not in use, so the city has a constant communication point with the citizen. The citizen recognizes the solution from other applications such as credit cards, discount cards in retail chains, etc.

In addition to the benefits, the solution is designed and implemented to be multifunctional, already for the mentioned connection to the technical infrastructure that allows the user to open the doors of public restrooms or waste disposal points. The system can also be used as a multipass - parking card, membership card, and similar.

SKALICA CARD

The citizen gained through implementation:

• a digital card
• benefits
• connection to technical infrastructure
• a hub for existing online services
• instant "push" notifications

The City Office of Skalica gained through implementation:

• comprehensive management of products and benefits and management of the digital card
• a system for project and process management
• an IT support system and intranet
• unified management of social networks/auditable communication
• online ticket sales
• AI virtual assistant

There are many solutions for benefit cards, but most of them are single-purpose, which did not suit us. 26HOUSE builds on the reliable Odoo software, and thanks to its customizations, we gained not only a platform for managing benefits and communication but also applications like project management, helpdesk, and many others that will reduce operational costs in the long run, but most importantly, improve the quality of services provided by the city hall to our fellow citizens.
Ing. Anton Bobrík, head of the Municipal Office of Skalica

Development plan

The successful implementation of Odoo ERP in Skalica was just the first step. The city quickly realized that the system is an investment in the residents, the local economy, and effective city management. It combines benefits for people, businesses, and the city office itself – in one comprehensive solution.

In the near future, the following is being prepared:

• Unification of all city websites under the Odoo platform, which will bring a unified visual, easier content management, and a better user experience for residents.
• Deployment of a helpdesk for citizens, which will allow for more efficient resolution of requests and questions from the public.
• Expansion of modules into other city agendas, so that as many processes as possible gradually move into one system.

The city of Skalica thus confirms that Odoo is not just a one-time solution to a specific problem, but a long-term strategy for the digital transformation of the city. Positive experiences from the first phase of implementation motivate management and employees to continue the project and elevate it to a higher level.

Links

Enomka | digital card of Skalica resident -https://www.enomka.sk

Skalica | city website -https://www.skalica.sk