Being the first city in Canada to adopt smartphones and mobile applications to conduct building inspections has earned the City of Surrey a prize by the World e-Governments Organization of Cities and Local Governments (WeGO) in Barcelona.
Surrey won the Best e-Government prize in the services category. It was presented November 22.
“We’re honoured to receive an international award that recognizes our efforts to streamline our procedures and improve customer service,” Mayor Dianne Watts said. “The mobile building inspection program is an efficient way to do business, and helps ensure we are offering high quality service to residents, businesses and prospective investors.”
Launched last year, it allows Surrey citizens to schedule inspections using their smartphones, instead of calling or going down to city hall.
The city uses instant messaging to let residents with a scheduled inspection know when an inspector will arrive, and once the inspection is completed it sends updates and results via email.
“The new program was developed following a major review of the building inspection process, which is complex and often requires multiple inspections,” said Coun. Linda Hepner, who chairs the Mayor’s Red Tape Reduction Committee. “The application increases consistency and accuracy, and creates a more productive work environment.”
Coun. Marvin Hunt, chairman of Surrey’s investment and innovation committee, added, “Our new system improves communication, saves people significant time and cost by reducing the need to physically visit City Hall to conduct business and prevents people from having to wait around on work sites.”
