Investments in digital technologies, processes and services in the wake of the crisis

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In cities and municipalities, digitalization is seen almost exclusively as an opportunity (96 percent) rather than a risk (1 percent). At the same time, every third municipality (31 percent) considers coping with digital transformation to be one of the biggest challenges currently, alongside the corona pandemic. The financial situation alone (68 percent) and social issues such as housing (39 percent) and childcare (34 percent) are mentioned even more frequently. Demographics (32 percent) are on a par with digitalization.

Six out of ten municipalities (61 percent) see themselves as lagging behind in digitization, while three out of ten see themselves as pioneers (29 percent). 7 percent say they have missed the boat on digitization. In the wake of south africa gambling data the corona pandemic, more than half (53 percent) have invested in technology such as hardware or software, are currently implementing this or are at least planning to do so. The agenda in many municipalities also includes the digitization of processes (44 percent), such as electronic file management and digital council work, as well as the digitization of services for citizens and companies (35 percent), such as online applications.

In one in five municipalities, a digital strategy is not an issue at all
However, only 8 percent of municipalities are currently pursuing a central digital strategy, and 13 percent at least in individual sectors. The majority (56 percent) do not have a digital strategy , but are currently developing one centrally (33 percent) or sectorally (23 percent). One in five municipalities (20 percent) does not have a digital strategy and does not see it as an issue - this particularly affects municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants (24 percent). Municipalities see the main obstacles to digital transformation as being a lack of financial resources (75 percent) and a lack of know-how (58 percent). There is often a lack of digital skills in administration. Almost half of municipalities (47 percent) state that only a few employees have good knowledge of how to use digital tools such as video conferencing and document management systems. 4 percent even say that this applies to almost no employees. In 20 percent of municipalities, around half have good knowledge, in a further 21 percent this applies to most, and in 6 percent almost all employees have a high level of digital competence . In order to advance digitalization, municipalities are hoping for support from politicians, particularly in terms of financial resources (85 percent) and uniform guidelines and standards (76 percent). Four out of ten (43 percent) want professional advice. Less in demand are good practice examples (30 percent) and networking between stakeholders (22 percent).