SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Dec. 7, 2024 – Deutsche Telekom is actively driving digital transformation in German cities and municipalities through its Municipal Advisory Board. Formed five years ago, this initiative brings together representatives from diverse communities across Germany to share best practices and accelerate the adoption of digital solutions in public administration.
A Forum for Collaboration and Innovation
The Municipal Advisory Board serves as a vital platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, fostering digital progress in local governments. "We want to transport ideas and achieve an initial spark in digitalization," stated Gerd Landsberg, Chairman of the Municipal Advisory Board.
In November, the board convened in Bonn to address the critical topic of "Digitalization of Administration." The meeting focused on practical experiences and solutions, particularly relevant in the context of demographic change, skills shortages, and tight budgets. Fedor Ruhose, Head of the State Chancellery of Rhineland-Palatinate, emphasized the importance of consolidated digitalization management to support the digital sovereignty of states and municipalities.
Empowering Citizens and Streamlining Processes
"Citizens expect to be able to access administrative services quickly and easily, similar to online shopping," observed Landsberg. To meet these expectations, the board explored how digital processes can streamline simple, repetitive administrative tasks, such as dog tax registration. By automating these processes, municipalities can free up resources for more complex and consultation-intensive tasks.
The Bergstraße district, for example, has successfully implemented Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to automate recurring tasks like sick leave notifications. This initiative has significantly improved efficiency and reduced administrative burden.
Telekom's Innovative Solutions for Modern Municipalities
Telekom presented several innovative solutions designed to empower citizens and modernize municipal administration:
- Citykey: This smart city app provides digital citizen services, information about the city, and features like a defect reporter, enabling citizens to actively participate in improving their communities. Citykey is a modular solution that can be customized with city-specific content and emphasizes open source technology and interoperability.
- Generative AI: Telekom's generative AI solutions can answer citizen inquiries around the clock, support administrative staff in finding information, analyze data, and assist with project management. Unlike public AI services, Telekom guarantees the security of confidential data, including data storage in Germany. Municipalities can also upload their own documents to ensure the AI provides accurate and relevant responses.
- Semasuite: This AI-powered document analysis tool recognizes and analyzes data from various documents, understands context, and generates structured information. It can identify different types of evidence, such as photos and handwritten additions, and automatically transfer data into specific specialist procedures and formats.
- Digitalized Civil Service Law Processes: Telekom has fully digitized all processes related to federal civil service law for its own employees. The company leverages this expertise to support public authorities with process consulting, data protection for civil servants, and even the complete takeover of specific processes.
Looking Ahead
The Municipal Advisory Board will continue its work in 2025, focusing on network expansion and digitalization. By fostering collaboration and promoting innovative solutions, Deutsche Telekom is playing a crucial role in enabling digital sovereignty and enhancing the efficiency and citizen-centricity of local governments across Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the purpose of Deutsche Telekom's Municipal Advisory Board?
The Municipal Advisory Board provides a platform for municipalities to exchange ideas, share best practices, and accelerate the digitalization of public administration.
2. What are some of the key challenges addressed by the board?
The board focuses on addressing challenges such as demographic change, skills shortages, tight budgets, and increasing citizen expectations for digital services.
3. How does Citykey benefit municipalities and citizens?
Citykey offers a range of digital citizen services, information about the city, and tools for citizen engagement, improving communication and efficiency in municipal administration.
4. What are the advantages of Telekom's generative AI solutions for municipalities?
Telekom's generative AI solutions can automate tasks, answer citizen inquiries, analyze data, and support administrative staff, while ensuring data security and privacy.
5. How can municipalities learn more about Telekom's solutions for digital administration?
Municipalities can contact Deutsche Telekom or visit their website to learn more about their solutions for digital administration.