ALABAMA INTERACTIVE REPORT 2015
INSIDE Team Member Profile..................... 2 The Self-Funded Model: Providing You Value........................ 2 Alabama Interactive: Invested in Our Community........... 3
Message From the General Manager “T
he whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Aristotle’s message helps
Featured Services
A
labama Interactive (AI) is dedicated to helping our state government partners provide valuable information and services by delivering streamlined services at no cost to the state. Today, AI has partnered with more than
60 state agencies to develop and maintain close to 250 applications.
communicate the essence of an enterprise eGovernment program – several great agency eGovernment services makes for an
Award-Winning Websites AI’s Web design expertise received accolades in 2015, once again. AI part-
even better Alabama eGovernment plat-
nered with the state of Alabama on three websites and each received awards
form. In 2002, the state of Alabama stepped
from the Web Marketing Association’s 19th annual WebAward competition.
out as one of the leaders in innovation
The WebAward program is the longest-running annual website award competi-
and partnered with NIC to build a best-in-
tion dedicated to honoring the best sites in 96 industries while setting a high
class eGovernment portal. Over 60 agency
standard for all website development and marketing.
partners and nearly 250 online applications
Alabama’s official state website, Alabama.gov, received
later, Alabama Interactive (AI) is still growing
the Outstanding Website WebAward for its excellence
and delivering value. These 250 “parts” are
and visual creativity. This award marks the fourth for
certainly noteworthy in and of themselves,
Alabama.gov since AI completed its refresh in May 2014
but the real value is the “whole” created by
and its second consecutive WebAward. The two websites
the collective belief in efficient government.
AI developed in partnership with the Alabama Department of Conservation and
Many of the agency partners we work with
Natural Resources (ADCNR) received awards as well. The ADCNR official website,
today would not be able to maintain their
OutdoorAlabama.com, received the prestigious Outstanding Website Award
online presence without the economies of
for its redesigned features, while the redesigned Alabama State Parks website,
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Team Member Profile
The Self-Funded Model: Providing You Value
Interactive team for more than 10
W
years. He graduated from Auburn
Government avoids all upfront costs of developing online services as well as
University in Montgomery with
the ongoing maintenance costs by funding its eGovernment program through
an MBA in business informa-
efficiency fees paid by those who use the online services. A select number of
tion systems, and has a strong
primarily business-to-government services require a minimal per-transaction
R
obert Hines has been a vital member of the Alabama
Robert Hines
hen it comes to your state’s digital government program, there is one
element that is delivering value every single day – the enterprise-wide,
self-funded model provided by NIC.
You may be familiar with this model, but if not, the approach is simple:
background
efficiency fee. This fee not only supports the development and maintenance
in IT manage-
of the individual service, but together all fees from a few services fund a
ment, software
unified approach for the state’s entire eGovernment program. Revenues from
development,
all services are pooled and projects are built according to your state’s own
and security
digital government service priorities. Launching more revenue-generating
compliance.
services increases the pool of revenues, allowing for more services of all types
He began his
to be developed. Those online services with no revenue-generating ability are
career with AI in 2005 as a lead application developer, and was
provided to you free of charge. The best part is that the citizens and businesses you serve prefer to interact
promoted to technology opera-
with your agency online. In fact, according to a research study conducted by
tions manager in 2007 due to his
the University of Utah, 90 percent of businesses and 60 percent of citizens
hard work and enthusiasm. In May
prefer to interact with government online. Add to this, 64 percent of citizens are
2009 he was promoted to director
asking government to place more services online. Today, citizens and businesses
of development followed by his
expect the same level of online experiences from government as they receive in
promotion to director of tech-
the private sector. You have the ability to provide those online conveniences.
nology in June 2012. In his current
When you add more online services through the enterprise-wide, self-funded
role he manages the infrastruc-
model, your agency benefits by receiving state-of-the-art, mobile-first online
ture, security, development, and
services and secure payment processing. The businesses and citizens you serve
creative teams that support more
benefit with quicker, more accurate, convenient online government interac-
than 60 state agencies and almost
tions. And, overall, the entire state benefits from a comprehensive, best-in-class,
250 online services that enable
digital government services program that compares to, if not exceeds, that
Alabama’s citizens to conveniently
which citizens are familiar with in the private sector.
connect with state government.
How can you help ensure a strong digital government future for your state?
Last year alone, these services
Continue to uncover all of the online efficiencies your agency can offer. What
processed more than $1.8 billion
services are still provided manually through mailed paper forms or in-person
for the state of Alabama.
office visits? What new technology could benefit your agency? You have a
Robert enjoys spending his
partner in NIC that is ready to help you harness the latest technology and
spare time with his wife and
provide your constituents as many online conveniences as possible. And, help
their family’s most recent addi-
spread the word. Are there colleagues within state government who have not
tion – their son, Sterling. He also
heard of the self-funded approach and whose agency could benefit? Our local
enjoys being heavily involved in
teams are ready to help your state achieve the most innovative digital govern-
his community, playing trumpet,
ment services in the country. No budget appropriations, upfront funding,
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ongoing change request orders, or maintenance fees required. To make this successful, help us explore new online services, and we’ll take care of the rest. n
2 | ALABAMA INTERACTIVE REPORT 2015
Alabama Interactive: Invested in Our Community H
elping the communities in which we live is a way of life at NIC and it is no exception at Alabama
Interactive in the River Region. Here at AI we believe in a culture of service and continue to dedicate our time and resources to opportunities that allow us to get involved and give back to the Montgomery area. Throughout the
supplies of their own. Other nonprofit organizations
year team members have participated in wellness and
benefiting from AI’s volunteer time and donations include
charitable events benefiting local churches and organi-
Aid to Inmate Mothers, Christmas Clearinghouse, and
zations such as the Montgomery Area Food Bank and
Brantwood Children’s Home. All of these organizations
the Family Guidance Center of Alabama. In addition, we
provide safer, stable environments for mothers and chil-
volunteered and provided donations, both monetary and
dren, helping them to succeed in society.
nonmonetary, for events like the Montgomery Area Food
Finally, toward the end of the year, we kicked off the
Bank’s “We Spark Change” challenge. The portal team also
holiday season by participating in an event hosted by
focused on children and families within the community.
the Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless (MACH) to
For example, we volunteered our time and purchased
collect new and gently used blankets, coats, hats, and
school supplies for Montgomery Public Schools during its
other winter wear to be distributed to those less fortu-
“Stuff the Bus” campaign. This event assisted in meeting
nate. The goal of MACH is to end homelessness, and AI
the needs of children in the community who can’t afford
proudly supports this goal.
Featured Services | continued from page 1 |
Alapark.com, was awarded the Web Marketing Association’s 2015 Government Standard of Excellence award.
Convenience Added Online In February 2015, Alabama Interactive launched a convenient, user-friendly online driver’s license renewal application for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. This exciting new service allows eligible Alabama citizens to renew or replace their driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, or state ID card online. This service creates efficiencies for the agency and allows citizens to skip the hassle of long lines and wait times;
also have the option to download a
totaling more than $1.8 million in
customers can print their temporary
digital copy of their license to their
revenue for the state. The application is
license immediately upon payment.
smartphone. To date, the application
continuing to show promising growth
When renewing online, customers
has processed nearly 60,000 renewals
in the adoption of the online service. n ALABAMA INTERACTIVE REPORT 2015 | 3
100 North Union Street, Suite 630 Montgomery, AL 36104 (866) 353-EGOV(3468)
© 2016 Trozzolo.com
Message From the General Manager | continued from page 1 |
Team Member Profile
scale provided by the enterprise model. I constantly hear stories from citizens who are so
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grateful to have the opportunity to renew a professional license or pay for a permit online,
and participating in community
and it makes me feel good knowing no taxpayer dollars were appropriated in order to
events and church functions.
provide these online services. For more than 20 years, NIC has operated predominately under the self-funded
AI is dedicated to the state of Alabama and provides rein-
model, today operating efficient eGovernment in more than 30 states including
vestment in Alabama by hiring
federal engagements. We continually reinvest in the local community by creating local
full-time employees who are
jobs, contributing to state tax revenues, and giving back through community service
Alabama residents. All of our
projects. We don’t just fly in from a corporate office for important meetings; rather, Al’s
employees work in our office
employees live and work in the Montgomery area and we pride ourselves on walking
in downtown Montgomery just
alongside our partners from project inception through successful launch.
outside the Capitol complex.
On behalf of everyone at Alabama Interactive and NIC, l want to thank the state of
Robert and the rest of our devoted
Alabama for being innovative and forward-thinking over a decade ago and allowing us to
staff look forward to continued
share in the creation and growth of Alabama’s eGovernment program. I look forward to
growth in the years to come and
the years to come and to the continued progress toward launching several new eGovern-
helping Alabama remain one of
ment services to support a “whole” model for innovation, creativity, and efficiency.
the nation’s best in providing efficient services for its government partners and their constituents. n
Barrett Gilbreath