Municipalities face the dual challenge of keeping up with increasing demands for housing while navigating complex, often cumbersome, permit approval processes. The need for efficiency and speed has never been more critical, and the advent of digital and automated solutions offers a promising path forward.
Take the City of Kelowna, for example, which could soon become the first municipality in British Columbia to use artificial intelligence (AI) to expedite housing permit approvals. With the aid of a $350,000 grant from the Provincial Local Government Development Approvals Program, Kelowna is collaborating with Microsoft to develop an AI chatbot designed to automate permit applications and answer questions about the city’s zoning bylaws and official community plan.
This AI-powered system is expected to be a game changer for Kelowna, potentially saving frontline staff significant amounts of time—time that can be redirected to higher-value tasks. Ryan Smith, Kelowna’s Director of Planning and Development Services, notes the impact of this innovation, stating, “For some of our frontline staff, if we can save them 20, 30 or 40 percent of their time answering the same questions, it also increases consistency that allows us to redeploy them on higher value tasks.”
This kind of AI-driven efficiency isn’t just about saving time—it’s about improving accuracy, consistency, and ultimately, service delivery. For cities like Kelowna, the move towards automation represents a significant step in modernizing municipal operations to better meet the needs of their communities.
The Province’s Push for Digital Transformation in Permitting
Kelowna’s initiative is part of a broader trend within British Columbia to streamline and standardize local permitting processes. The province’s introduction of a new digital Building Permit Hub underscores the importance of making it easier and faster for homeowners, builders, and industry professionals to navigate the permit application process. This one-stop digital solution is designed to reduce red tape, cut costs, and, most importantly, speed up the construction of homes across the province.
The Hub, which went live in the summer of 2024, will initially pilot in twelve local governments and two First Nations communities, offering a standardized approach to building permit submissions. By automating key checks—such as application completeness and compliance with the BC Building Code—the Hub will help eliminate common challenges like incomplete applications and inconsistent requirements that often lead to costly delays.
How Elantis Can Help Municipalities Embrace Automation
Elantis Solutions is well-positioned to support municipalities in their journey toward automation and digital transformation. Our expertise in leveraging technologies like Microsoft Power Platform, Nintex, and AI allows us to deliver tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of local governments.
For instance, in partnership with municipalities, Elantis can help design and implement automated workflows that streamline the building permit process from start to finish. This includes integrating AI tools that can handle routine inquiries, automate application checks, and ensure compliance with local bylaws and building codes.
Additionally, Elantis offers end-to-end support, from identifying the specific automation needs of a municipality to implementing and maintaining the solution. Our approach is collaborative, ensuring that the technology not only fits but enhances the existing workflows of city staff, leading to improved service delivery and higher satisfaction rates among residents and developers alike.
As municipalities across Canada and beyond look to modernize their operations and meet the growing demand for housing, automation and digital transformation will be key. Elantis Solutions is ready to help municipalities embrace this change, offering the expertise and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of digital transformation. By partnering with Elantis, cities can not only streamline their permit application processes to be more efficient, consistent, and transparent but also unlock new efficiencies that allow them to better serve their communities in the years to come.
Case Study: Automating the Rebate Process for Clean Energy Vehicles
In 2011, the British Columbia provincial government launched the Clean Energy Vehicle (CEV) Program, a visionary initiative aimed at fostering the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and other zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) offering significant environmental and economic advantages. The resulting CleanBC Program was instituted to administer provincial incentives at the point of sale.
As the program grew rapidly, the escalating complexities of rebate processing led our client to partner with Elantis Solutions Inc. for an ingenious solution. You can learn more about it here.
Ready to Transform Your Municipality’s Licensing and Permit Process?
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