Presented by the Government Contact Center Community of Practice, the awards spotlight the very best in government customer service in four categories: Teamwork, Technical Excellence, Customer Focus, and Overall Excellence. The judge's panel consists of three to four representatives from government and one from industry, and the judges individually screen all the nominations and then convene first to select finalists and then winners.
"We are very pleased to receive this recognition," said Stephen Fletcher, Chief Information Officer for the state of Utah. "In the final judging, Utah.Gov was the only state Web site to receive a Government Customer Service Excellence Award, and we are particularly honored by Utah's selection. We will continue our efforts to provide services that enable government to operate more efficiently."
The Utah.gov Web site exemplifies the very best in customer service. The state's official Web portal exists so that the citizens and businesses of Utah can interact with their government online instead of in line. With approximately 400 pages of content and links to every state government agency as well as links to city and county government sites, Utah.gov offers customers easy access to a wealth of relevant government information.
Additionally, Utah.gov offers more than 200 interactive online services that enable users to conduct business with the government over the Internet. Types of online services include, but are not limited to, searches, filings, payments, registrations, and renewals. Of course, navigating all these resources can be difficult, which is why Utah.gov offers its customers award-winning around-the-clock support by phone, email, or live chat.
Last year, Utah.gov's unique 24/7 Live Help online customer service program won in the Customer Focus category.
"2006 marks our fifth annual awards," remarked Daryl L. Covey of the Government Contact Center Community of Practice. "This year, we felt no site demonstrated technical excellence more than Utah's. By creating a portal, or doorway, around the labyrinth of government, Utah.gov has put a myriad of information and services at users' fingertips."
About the Utah Department of Technology Services
The Department of Technology Services was officially formed by Governor Jon M. Huntsman Jr., and the State Legislature with the passage of the Utah Technology Governance Act in 2005, which called for a major restructuring of the state's information technology services. Since that time, under the leadership of CIO Stephen Fletcher, the department has embarked on an unprecedented transition to bring all technology employees and resources for the state of Utah into one department to reduce costs, increase services, and more closely align technology with the business needs of the state.
About Utah.gov
Utah.gov is the state of Utah's official Web portal (www.Utah.gov) and was ranked first in the nation in Brown University's 2005 survey of state and federal Web sites. The portal is a collaborative effort between the state of Utah and Utah Interactive, LLC. It was built and is marketed, operated, and maintained by Utah Interactive, a Salt Lake City-based wholly owned subsidiary of eGovernment firm NIC (Nasdaq: EGOV).
Quelle/Source: Business Wire , 23.06.2006
