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November 28, 2015 - 10:30 AM
KELOWNA - The City of Kelowna is moving to bolster information technology and lessen the risk of future redundancy, data breaches and possible failure of key systems, says a new report.
Information services manager Rob Entwistle, in a report to council, says the department is moving ahead in four of 19 areas identified in its digital strategy, completed with the help of information technology consultant CGI in 2014.
Staff have reviewed over 100 software applications used by city employees, identifying 68 per cent of them as needing replacement or consolidation within five years.
Major projects in this area include financial, asset management, taxation, maintenance and recreation support systems.
A review of the City’s web platforms has highlighted the need to upgrade to a more progressive and flexible web platform, Entwistle says in the report, which describes a new web platform as a “key deliverable” of the digital strategy.
Staff are also upgrading data analytics capabilities, allowing them to gather detailed data in key areas and have developed a standard configuration for the city’s servers, to help with disaster recovery.
Analytics capabilties have been tested with three pilot projects, one involving the significant snow storm from last January and the others concerning attendance management and water supply.
In his report, Enwistile stresses the need for information services, increasingly at the core of other departments, to move from a support service to a full-fledged business unit within the city’s organizational structure.
Council will receive the report at its regular council meeting, 1:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30 in Kelowna City Hall.
To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015