The Gold Coast has new ICT systems on the way, thanks to two new contracts with Fujitsu Australia and Infor Global Solutions. Image: Aristocrats-hat
Queensland’s City of Gold Coast has kicked off a major overhaul of its internal ICT systems in order to advance its ‘Digital City’ plan.
This overhaul means that the council has decided to procure a Local Government Platform ICT solution to support its major customer service, property and revenue functions, and to appoint an external Managed Services provider for the support, maintenance and supply of its ICT software and hardware.
And to get the job done, the council has awarded two separate contacts to two companies, based on a detailed cost/benefit assessment over a 12 year period.
In the Managed Services contract valued at $150 million, the council has hired Fujitsu Australia in a period of 5.5 years. Total financial benefits are estimated to be almost $180 million.
According to the council, the non-financial benefits of the managed services contract include: a ‘consumption’ based approach that enables the City to only pay for what it uses (rather than funding ICT assets upfront); partnering with an international consortium that is flexible and responsive to peaks and troughs in demand, and economic benefits including 100 new city jobs, valued at $38.8 million over 12 years.
To carry out the Local Government Platform solution, the council has hired the services of Infor Global Solutions, which will deliver the solution to support the city’s customer service, property and revenue functions which will replace 42 existing systems.
This contract will take place over a period of 10 years, plus 18 months design and implementation time with a council investment of $82.5 million, which includes the Infor contract valued at $61.5 million.
The council estimates that this solution will deliver $75.6 million in financial benefits plus significant non-financial benefits to the City.
These non-financial benefits for the LGP solution include: mitigating the risk of old systems crashing (up to 26 years old); vastly improved online services for customers, including a new online portal with increased self-service options and notifications; a fully integrated system – improving data sharing and information accuracy throughout the organisation; streamlined electronic processes – saving time and money.
It will also include mobile access for city officers to complete application approvals, compliance activities and inspections on site – with minimal requirements to return to the office to complete paperwork; the ability for City officers to raise service requests while in the field (as issues are identified); easily tracked service requests and customer applications from one department to another.
City of Gold Coast chief executive officer Dale Dickson said the transition to the new Managed Services model with Fujitsu Australia will take approximately six months and will be operational by around May 2016.
“The LGP implementation will take about 18 months to complete. This work will start in November 2015 with a target ‘go-live’ date of May 2017,” Mr Dickson said.
