An important aspect of building smarter communities is embracing technology that constituents are currently using. Why introduce new mediums for them to jump to when you can easily jump to where they are?

Enter texting.

It may seem like everyone has a smartphone, but in reality, only 58 percent of American adults do. 90 percent, however, have a cell phone. Imagine the possibilities of a local government communicating through texting rather than previous means of communication. Texting is effective regardless of income level and does not depend on internet access.

Texting communication can also go both ways – constituents can use it to respond to their jurisdictions just as easily as jurisdictions can communicate important updates to constituents.

By increasing communication through means that constituents and local government employees are already using, communities will enjoy a higher level of functionality on every level.