Cape Town residents finally have a digital solution to assist in resolving service delivery issues and improving their communities.
My Smart City is a free mobile and desktop-based platform that is a one-stop-shop for Cape Town citizens to report service delivery issues, track reported matters, and mobilise fellow community members. The platform is available on Android, iOS, and on the web at www.mysmart.city.
The City of Cape Town has shown their support by allowing the My Smart City platform to connect directly to its call management systems. This connection will enable an effective and efficient two-way flow of information between citizens and the City of Cape Town.
“The My Smart City platform has been built to empower citizens and provide them with a single platform on which to engage service providers. The adoption of the platform by citizens will improve accountability and accessibility on service delivery matters and enable citizens to connect with city officials. The power of disruptive technology changes the status quo and gives a strong voice to citizens,” says Joao Zoio, CEO and co-founder of Acumen Software.
Phase 1 of the platform puts citizens in the driving seat to see service delivery issues resolved. Whether reporting a pothole, power, or water outage, logging a fire, or tracking the status of a previously reported matter, citizens can now inform on problems plaguing city infrastructure and receive status updates on their reports.
The platform allows citizens to securely register their details online via the My Smart City web, iOS, or Android applications to begin engaging with their municipality and other service providers. The user interface allows users to log, track and manage requests, issues, and faults in real-time.
Acumen Software, the platform developers, are no strangers to using digital solutions to manage Cape Town’s assets and resources. The software solutions company has an impeccable reputation for delivering solutions for global service delivery organisations. Their product is currently being used to manage maintenance activities for the My Citi Bus programme and facilities management within Cape Town.
“My Smart City is provided to citizens free of charge. Our platform is solution-focused, ensuring an integrated process from reporting an issue, routing it to the relevant service provider, and providing feedback to issue resolution. Ideally, we need to integrate the platform into the city’s call management systems for a seamless process. However, we have also established a dedicated Dispatch Centre to follow up on and monitor issue resolution, report back to citizens and close the loop on logged issues,” explains COO, Kennedy Mogotsi.
The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the emergence of digital solutions for everyday problems, with disruptive technologies changing consumer behaviours and patterns. The My Smart City platform empowers citizens in their communities, giving them a voice and a sense of ownership of their public spaces and places. It will ultimately become a single platform where citizens can access all service providers rather than having to use multiple apps currently required.
The platform aims to reach at least four million registered users in the next two years. The more users sign up, the greater the power to mobilise city officials and underperforming service providers.
Capitec and Sappi have invested in Acumen Software through their Imvelo Ventures and Andzani Pty Ltd entities, which has enabled the development of this disruptive tech platform. Powered by Acumen Software’s proprietary software, Forcelink (Mobile Field Services ERP SaaS solution), the My Smart City platform is set to revolutionise how citizens engage, communicate with, and hold their service providers accountable.
In the coming months, Acumen will roll out the platform to additional cities. Citizens will be able to use the platform to organise community events, sign petitions to solve local issues, source private services in their area, and connect with their local community members.
“The My Smart City platform is continually evolving. We will deploy additional features and functionality as citizens call for new features and offerings. The platform will interface with IoT devices and Open Data Portals to provide real-time relevant data to enhance citizens’ lives and interaction with their city. The beauty of this technology is it enables citizens to manage issues that affect them where they live and work,” says Joao Zoio, CEO and founder of Acumen Software.
The vision for Phase Two of the My Smart City platform is to become a job creation portal for vetted and validated private service providers such as gardeners, carpenters, pool maintenance providers, babysitters, tutors and more. In addition, an ‘In The City’ portal will showcase and connect residents to local sporting, social and community events.
My Smart City is calling on Cape Town residents to register and actively use the platform. Providing regular feedback and suggestions will allow My Smart City to be tailored to their needs.
Provided by Appcentric
