Vignette Corp. (Nasdaq:VIGN) today announced that Runnymede Borough Council will replace its multiple Web, intranet and extranet sites with a single portal from the Vignette(R) V7 suite to better engage with constituents and improve efficiency across the council. The implementation of Vignette(R) Application Portal and Vignette(R) Builder also will help Runnymede Borough Council meet e-government deadlines to deliver online services defined by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM). The best-of-breed portal will be swiftly implemented between January and April 2005, giving constituents a much-improved means of interacting with the local authority. The new robust Vignette solution replaces the previous public Web site, which was largely populated with static Web pages. The new site will more effectively allow citizens to identify and request services, view and comment on information such as current planning applications, and pay online for services and other charges such as parking fines.
"Offering greater choice to the public by delivering online services that truly facilitate interaction between constituents and the local authority is one of Runnymede's priorities," said Nigel Watson, head of Information and Communication Technology at Runnymede Borough Council. "By replacing our old, largely static Web pages with a dynamic Vignette portal we can deliver a whole new e-government experience to our citizens. Using the portal, the public will be able to enter into dialogue with the council to easily access the latest information that's important to them. We selected the Vignette solution as it delivers rich functionality that enables us to develop an intelligent Web presence with enough capacity to expand further in the future and to do this using the standards emerging from the ODPM-funded partnership program. We will also be able to ensure that our site is readily accessible for those with physical disabilities."
The speed of information delivery to constituents also will be improved significantly through the Vignette-powered Web site, as authorized council business users will create and deploy their own content, removing the need for technical staff to spend time coding data. Constituents will benefit by being able to access the very latest information. In a second phase of the project, they also will be able to securely gain access to personal data such as information on their Council Tax.
Efficiencies will be realized throughout the council as employees need only create information online once rather than duplicate it across the previous multiple Web, intranet and extranet sites. In the future, the new solution also will integrate with Vignette IDM document management software, which Runnymede Borough Council has used since 2000, to give employees and constituents easy access to a wide range of electronically stored council records. This will give staff ready access to electronic copies of correspondence with those receiving services from the associated workflow software.
"Vignette works with numerous central government departments and local authorities worldwide to develop scalable and robust information management and delivery solutions," said Mark Rattley, regional vice president for Northern Europe, Middle East and Africa at Vignette. "Runnymede Borough Council is an excellent example of a local council that will leverage Vignette software to improve efficiency and enable various departments to work more effectively. The way it communicates with its constituents will also dramatically change, as the Web-based portal becomes a reliable tool for the public to use for accessing information and requesting specific services."
About Runnymede
Runnymede Borough Council lies in the County of Surrey on the south bank of the River Thames. It has a population of approximately 80,000 and covers 30 square miles. The Borough is predominantly residential but does have a number of light industries. Within its boundary lies the historic Runnymede fields where King John signed the Magna Carta in 1215 while today the borough contains leisure facilities as diverse as Wentworth golf course and Thorpe Park. It is the Council's intention to provide an efficient, effective and positive service to the public and the Council's primary aim is to improve the quality of life for Runnymede residents.
Quelle: Business Wire, 05.01.2005
