14 DAY TRIAL // With its latest platform, the Redmond company aims to build a bridge between governments and citizens. The Government Leaders Forum - Europe, in Berlin, was the right stage for the unveiling of the Citizen Service Platform (CSP). The CSP is nothing more than a new E-Government Platform, designed to make Microsoft technology intermediary between the interactions of citizens with governments. The platform essentially enables governments of all sizes to transition some of the services offered to citizens online.
"Technology can help local and regional governments increase efficiency levels and offer modernized services, but many are ill-equipped to meet citizens' needs due to a lack of funding, technical expertise or other resources. CSP arose from a series of projects among Microsoft, our partners, and local and regional governments. By incorporating past lessons and achievements, we will be able to provide these governments with technologies they can cost-effectively and easily deploy for the direct benefit of their citizens," stated Jean-Philippe Courtois, president of Microsoft International.
The Redmond company is making a collection of features and technologies available in order for governments to build customized Citizen Service Platforms. In this context, a Citizen Service Platform could in fact be constructed out of Windows Live, Office Live, Virtual Earth. Windows Sharepoint Services, Office SharePoint Server and Dynamics CRM. Such components would serve to set up entry level websites, but at the same time to sustain online services focused on citizen communications and, last but not least, a solution able to handle the management of single citizen records. A study commissioned by Microsoft to Capgemini indicated a clear need for a new infrastructure when it came down to the government-citizen relationships.
"There is clear evidence of, and need for, root and branch public service reform - citizens are demanding this so tax revenues must be stretched further. Public service providers must lead change by building a bridge of trust with their communities - and they are already starting that process. Technology that is flexible, affordable and scalable can go a long way toward minimizing costs and ensuring that more of the resources make it through the pipeline to the people who need it the most," said Graham Colclough, global vice president of Cities & Regions for Capgemini.