National Innovation Award for NPDC

A vision to radically transform the customer experience in New Plymouth’s i-SITE has led to a national innovation award for New Plymouth District Council.

The interactive conversation tables at the visitor information facility at Puke Ariki, which allow visitors to personalise their searches for accommodation, cafes, bars and restaurants, activities and events and other services, have been announced as the winner of the ALGIM Innovation Award for 2011.

“We are delighted that our desire to use innovation and technology to provide the best possible customer service has been recognised,” says NPDC Manager Information and Communication Technology Kevin Glynn.

“The team behind the project brought their skill, talent and determination to it and they should be very pleased and proud.”

The tables have proved to be extremely popular with both staff and customers. They utilise Google Maps with layers of information displayed according to the user’s interests, share information with the website and use a common administration system that updates information on the tables and website.

“It has been fantastic to get out from behind a desk and really interact with our customers to give them the best possible service we can. Everyone who comes in here loves using the tables to find the information they need to enjoy their visit to Taranaki and the staff like using them too,” says Puke Ariki Team Leader Visitor Experience Karen Longstaff.

The technical project team from the Council worked closely with the i-SITE staff at Puke Ariki to radically transform the way customers were helped to find what they needed.

“We are delighted that the work done by the ICT team has been recognised in such a wonderful way,” says Manager Puke Ariki Fiona Emberton.

“The response from both staff and customers about the conservation tables has been overwhelmingly positive and they have been a great addition to Puke Ariki.

"We are now looking to capitalise on this investment by using the technology in other areas of Puke Ariki.”

The ALGIM Innovation Awards recognise and celebrate best practice within local government information technology and information management. They aim to encourage local authorities to be innovative and to exercise technological leadership through services to its community.

The awards also promote the image of local government ICT throughout the wider community.

The Association of Local Government Information Management (ALGIM) represents the national and international interests of the information, communication and technology (ICT) sector within New Zealand’s city, district and regional councils.