Joint Council Project Recognised for Delivering a Customer Focused Website
Online, June 3, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Socitm, the Society of IT Managers in the public sector, publish the annual Better Connected 2013 report into the usability and performance of 433 local authority websites.
The seven Dorset councils (Dorset County Council, East Dorset District Council, North Dorset District Council, West Dorset District Council, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, Purbeck District Council and Christchurch Borough Council) deliver their web presence jointly under the dorsetforyou.com banner. In the report, the best performing sites like dorsetforyou.com have taken a top task approach that "simplifies, de-clutters and reduces the number of menus, as well as making things easier to use".
Dorsetforyou.com, whose website is powered by GOSS iCM (intelligent Content Management), were mentioned by the reviewers for their overall top task approach. The reviewers also praised much of the service information contained on the PC and mobile website: "The homepage offers a lot of direct links and the service pages are easy to use with a mobile." And regarding top tasks the reviewers stated: "It was straightforward and easy enough to use."
Dorsetforyou.com Board Chairman Paul Kent added: "The joint partnership website has already saved £2m over 4 years. But on top of the savings it is important to deliver excellent services online. The Socitm awards recognise the significant steps that the team and the partner councils, working with GOSS Interactive, have made providing excellent services, a top task navigation and content on our PC and mobile websites."
Rob McCarthy, CEO, GOSS Interactive added: "This isn't just about rewarding nice looking sites. This is about making it as easy and accessible for UK citizens to get all the information, forms and advice that they need from their council, quickly and simply, 24/7. In the process local authorities can potentially save over £1M each, which is a huge win-win in these difficult economic times. GOSS Interactive is already helping our clients deliver their future digital strategy, including mobile websites, in preparation for Better Connected 2014."
GOSS Interactive has been delivering GOSS iCM Web Content Management and website publishing software for over 10 years. Today it powers major corporations and public sector organisations' websites and is the market leader in use by over 60 of the 433 UK local authorities.
In the report over 76% of GOSS clients either increased or maintained their previously high scores. Additionally over 58% of clients have been rated amongst the highest in the country, receiving 4★ or 3★