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A long-term plan initiative for Auckland Council to do more with less, is reinventing how the council uses technology and purchases services, while also delivering better customer experiences.
The product of Auckland Council’s Long-term Plan 2024-2034, Group Shared Services was tasked with improving efficiency in back office services across the council group and enhancing customer experience.
At May’s Revenue, Expenditure and Value Committee, chair Desley Simpson applauded the division’s focus on smart solutions.
“We’re seeing technology and services that are smart for the council business at all levels – benefiting our ratepayers, delivering better customer service and building efficiency across the council group,” says Cr Simpson.
“We have a commitment to look at every decision and make sure we’re negotiating the very best deals by leveraging the scale of council and its CCOs, considering all the options and using the resources we have in-house.”
Ways we’re doing things differently
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Renegotiating key contracts – from property to new licenses, an unnecessary spend of nearly $18 million over 10 years has been avoided.
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Reinventing technology – new GIS aerial imagery will bring in an estimated $32 million to Auckland’s economy. The technology will also make urban planning and infrastructure easier, inform environmental conservation and increase accuracy for legal and planning purposes.
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Increased sharing of resources – we are providing Port of Auckland with access to group software, which saves about $140,000. Further savings of $130,000 has been secured for a Watercare IT licence.
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Delivering new tools faster and cheaper in-house, like the Vote Aucklanders website for the upcoming election and flood recovery data analysis saving $150,000.
Delivering benefits to ratepayers
Group shared services director Richard Jarrett said the division is striving to deliver measurable benefits to ratepayers, through everyday opportunities.
“We are looking at every new contract, service update, tool or technology across the council and the council-controlled organisations with a fresh eye,” says Mr Jarrett.
“In each case, we challenge ourselves on how we can deliver differently and better than before, and we believe it’s adding value for Aucklanders.”
