HTE Expands E-Government Presence with Click2Gov Internet Gateway - electonic online services - Brief Article

Information Superhighways Newsletter, June, 2001

HTE Inc., a provider of enterprise-wide software solutions for public sector organizations and utilities worldwide, announced that the cities of Murray, UT, Kissimmee, FL, and Bend, OR, have activated HTE's Click2Gov Internet Gateway. This gateway links the company's software applications to the Internet, enabling HTE clients to offer their customers on-line access to services. Click2Gov is available for HTE's utility customer information system and building permits applications with more modules in development.

Citizens in Murray, located in Utah's Salt Lake Valley, will be able to review their utility billing and usage history and receive notification of their utility bills. David Larsen, Murray's management information system director, estimates that one-third to two-thirds of their customers will take advantage of Click2Gov.

"We did a survey two years ago and about 80 percent of those we asked said they wanted this type of service. We're excited to be able to expand our services and to give our customers access to up-to-the minute information," concluded Larsen.

The city of Kissimmee has purchased Click2Gov's building permits module, and Bend will be using the building permits and utilities products. Building permits allow users to apply for permits, schedule inspections, and check the status of applications on-line.

"Our customers Want to help themselves, and they know that doing so ultimately reduces their costs," said Steve Meyers, Bend's information systems manager. "Our citizens have been asking us to put our services on-line for some time now." Bend is one of Oregon's fastest growing cities.

"Most cities have had a presence on the Web for some time, but Click2Gov allows them to step up from just providing information to allowing real-time transactions," said Gil Santos, HTE's vice president of business development and strategy. "People are becoming increasingly comfortable doing business on-line, and are beginning to expect the same 24x7 accessibility from government as they do from businesses. Click2Gov helps government agencies respond to their customers' needs."