Can’t be done. And that’s not a bad thing (anymore).
Many cities are still trying to build the one big solution: an app that can do everything — service, information, participation, events, and so on. In theory that’s a good idea. It’s just that this one app for everything will never exist, or only in a far-off future.
So we ask ourselves: do you actually need this one app for everything, or is there another way? Yes! Because every city is different. Municipalities know their citizens and are better placed to decide how a city app should meaningfully complement citizen services — which functions need to be in it, and which don’t.
But what about the cost? Isn’t it a waste of resources to programme a separate app for every city? Absolutely not! Not anymore. Because technological progress now lets us build new apps quickly and cheaply.
That has massively changed the starting position. A dedicated app is no longer a huge investment, but a plannable, manageable project. We implement it: fast, cost-effective, and above all, tailored.
Here’s how cities around the world use their apps:
Bergedorf Now (built by us)
Local news, events, offers. This is where citizens find out what’s happening, where and when. That’s what gives the app real everyday relevance.
NYC 311
One-stop government at city level: the app is the central entry point for complaints, services, information and booking appointments.
Aarhus Citizen App
The app is integrated with various government platforms and lets people interact with administration, manage appointments, or retrieve personalised information.
Munich App
When’s the bin lorry coming? Who’s responsible for what? Where do I need to go? The app mainly provides orientation in the administrative jungle.
Bottom line: every app serves a different purpose. What matters now isn’t the technology, but the idea.
The future isn’t “one app for everything”.
The future is the right app for the right problem.
We’ll build it for your municipality!
What kind of app would you like to see?
You can find this post on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn%3Ali%3Ashare%3A7441465732351029248