BMC deploys SAP solutions to deliver mobile government

SAP SE has announced that India's Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has implemented solutions from SAP to automate and centralize public service offerings. 

Available in Hindi, the solutions will help BMC manage and streamline day-to-day functions, including issuing marriage certificates, birth and death registrations, city infrastructure development and open space management, including roads, parking, traffic signals, community halls and schools.

The solutions will also streamline permits, health services, water supply, lake conservation and tax collection, among other services. Bhopal's project is a milestone for the SAP Urban Matters program, premised on the idea that improving livability, simplifying government and nurturing local economies are key foundations for a city's long-term success. The announcement was made at the SAP Forum Delhi, being held on August 13 in Delhi, India.

"Our vision is to make our services accessible to every citizen in the language they speak and understand," said Tejaswi Naik, commissioner, Bhopal Municipal Corporation. "With the adoption of this technology, we are quickly transforming into one of India's first Municipal Corporations to formulate, promote and leverage technology at a grassroots level for the benefit of citizens in general and, specifically, the underprivileged."

In a first for SAP in the wider Asia-Pacific region, BMC plans to deliver citizen services through project "CityApp." Project "CityApp" aims to develop an SAP mobile app that will provide an easy access point for city services and will help citizens navigate through city services, stay informed and engage with their neighbors. Envisioned to be available on multiple leading mobile platforms, project "CityApp" is intended to simplify citizens' day-to-day interaction with the corporation on the mobile platform of their choice.

"This is an exciting time for India and the wider region," said Vivek Puthucode, vice president, Public Services in Asia Pacific Japan, SAP. "From transportation to healthcare, innovations in technology and citizen engagement are poised to transform our cities and improve lives."

With many new challenges facing urban areas today, the SAP Urban Matters initiative helps governments at all levels improve the lives of people by delivering smarter, more effective services. The program addresses and supports the fundamentals of good government by empowering public officials to be more productive, increasing community engagement and openness, driving innovation around government service delivery and improving urban resilience to help public safety and security.

"Across India, local governments are turning to innovative technologies to help them address the challenges of urbanization as well as rising citizen expectations for smarter economies and sustainable growth," said Mathew Thomas, VP, Strategic Industries in India, SAP. "We aim to help local governing bodies like BMC to accelerate innovation and connect directly with people and communities to deliver efficient governance."

Implemented in partnership with Deloitte, the solutions portfolio chosen by BMC includes the SAP ERP application, the SAP Enterprise Portal component, SAP for Public Sector solutions and SAP Mobile Platform. The software will provide BMC the right mix of technology solutions needed to automate and centralize end-to-end public service offerings in the city and achieve seamless integration of their citizen-facing services and back-office functions.