SAP Public Services to Increase Government Transparency

by Andy Kendzie

SAP(R) Strategy Management Allows Local Government to Measure Public Value

SAP Public Services, Inc., a subsidiary of SAP America, Inc., today announced the City of Hampton has selected SAP software to more effectively track and manage municipal budgets and measure the impact of public-service programs.

City officials selected SAP over nine other software vendors in a highly competitive process. Cipher Business Solutions, LLC, will implement the SAP(R) Strategy Management application at administrative and executive levels across five city departments. The implementation is part of Hampton's effort to better define, measure and manage the effectiveness of operations, public-service programs and projects for its 146,400 citizens.

"We needed a system that would improve information sharing and collaboration between city departments, and promote the visibility of critical performance and program information," said John Eagle, assistant city manager, City of Hampton. "SAP understood our goal, showed us a road map for achieving it and offered a full complement of services to make it happen."

The city will use the new solution to quantify performance in critical areas, such as its 3-1-1 services center and municipal and public works programs. The solution will allow Hampton to track 3-1-1 call-abandon rates and wait time, as well as view productivity and capacity levels for municipal problems such as clogged storm drains and non-working traffic lights. It also will help maintain critical institutional knowledge, especially for long-term projects, to avoid the negative impact of a retiring workforce and employee turnover.

"Traditionally, public sector organizations have measured their technology investments by financial returns alone," said Pat Bakey, president, SAP Public Services, Inc. "But in today's environment, governments want to understand how new technology can maximize their public value -- which includes providing social and political returns as well, such as fulfilling policy initiatives and community programs for constituents."

The new SAP solution will also help Hampton officials identify and eliminate program redundancies, improve cross-departmental information access and collaboration to help prioritize and coordinate service delivery