Municipal elections: an opportunity for cities to be more digital, more inclusive and more resilient

As local authorities par excellence, towns and cities are at the heart of the digital transformation that affects us all. Yet much remains to be done to take full advantage of the benefits of digital technology at local level, whether in terms of citizen participation, the construction of sustainable and resilient territories, or the internal workings of local authorities. The new term of office that lies ahead after the 2020 municipal elections is a tremendous opportunity to imagine and build cities that are more digital, more inclusive and more resilient: Syntec Numérique has published 9 proposals for future elected officials, with practical advice on how to get started and key figures.

1. Strengthening day-to-day relations with residents

Digital technology can be used to make communication with local authority users more direct, simpler and easier to understand, thereby helping to strengthen the link between the citizen and the city and develop participative democracy. Local authorities can:

• simplify procedures by digitizing services;
• streamline the user experience by setting up a single point of electronic access to these services;
• strengthen participatory democracy with civic tech tools.

2. Building a sustainable, inclusive and resilient city

Digital technology is a formidable vector for long-term development for territories, whatever their size or nature. Three levers for action are available:

• The development of a data culture within the local authority;
• Strengthening the local economic fabric;
• Regional planning.

3. Improving the management and operation of the community

Digital technology can be a long-term savings factor for municipalities, including in terms of infrastructure. It also offers new ways of evaluating public policies: it provides tools for measuring and analyzing, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the finances involved, as well as the use of services or infrastructures by city users. To achieve this, three conditions must be met:

• Strengthen the digital skills of employees and elected representatives;
• Manage digital transformation with dedicated governance;
• Financing the community’s digital transition.