Author: John Ratcliffe / Source: WIRED
It’s no secret that the federal government is way behind the private sector when it comes to modernization and technology. Because of these outdated systems, many federal agencies rank staggeringly behind the private sector when it comes to customer service.
In data collected last year, Healthcare.gov and USAJobs.gov were tied as the worst government websites for customer service.
The low scores resulted from a range of user issues, including the inability to get information, complete transactions, or schedule appointments with ease.Luckily, we can change this and bring our federal agencies into the 21st century.
While this problem isn’t new, it’s been far exasperated by emerging technologies like mobile payment apps and digital appointment booking services that people now use every day to pay their bills or make dinner reservations. For years, the federal government has been playing catch-up with the private sector to adopt online services that become quickly outdated, leading to failures like the IRS’ website crash on Tax Day this year.
When the federal government’s purpose is to serve the American people, lawmakers need to find ways to improve the citizen’s experience when they interact with their government. As times change, and as citizens’ needs transform, it’s our job to ensure we evolve the services we provide.
In today’s world, this means ensuring that when citizens engage with the government, that interaction mirrors other modern, cost-effective experiences in their everyday lives. With everything from hailing a cab, buying groceries,…
The post Reps. Khanna and Ratcliffe: It’s Time to Modernize Government Websites appeared first on FeedBox.
