Digital administration thrives on data. It forms the basis for internal and external decisions, processes, and services. At the same time, many municipalities face a familiar tension: data is available, but its usefulness is limited. Disparate systems, isolated procedures, and manual interfaces hinder collaboration.
In this context, the concept of an (urban) data platform is increasingly appearing. But is such a platform truly the answer to the current challenges facing communities and public authorities? Or does the real leverage lie elsewhere?
Urban data platforms: useful, but not for every challenge
Urban data platforms typically pursue a clear goal: They aggregate large, heterogeneous datasets from diverse sources, process them, and make them available for analysis, visualization, or as open data. Often, the focus is on topics such as the environment, transportation, energy, or urban planning. Such platforms can make a significant contribution to addressing strategic questions. They help to make data centrally available and to reveal connections.
At the same time, experience shows that not every community faces the same starting point or pursues the same goals. Many challenges in day-to-day administration cannot be solved simply by collecting and visualizing data. The crux of the matter often lies elsewhere: How do municipalities gain access to the available data? What happens after it is made available? And which processes actually access which data?
Data diversity in the public sector: a brief inventory
Municipalities and public authorities generally don't lack data. Rather, it's scattered across numerous specialized applications:
Residents' registration office
Building and permitting processes
Human resources and financial systems
Document management
Other specialized applications
Each system fulfills its function. Problems arise when information is needed across multiple applications. This leads to typical challenges:
Isolated solutions without consistent interfaces
Media breaks between systems
Manual exports and duplicate data maintenance
Lack of context when using information
The result: Processes become unnecessarily complex, error-prone, and time-consuming. The central question, therefore, is less about where we store our data and more about how we can effectively consolidate existing data and use it where it's needed.
The Intrexx approach: Making data usable instead of just collecting it
This is where Intrexx's approach comes in: not only as a classic data platform, but as an application, data integration and process platform as well as a central hub, for example for the public sector.
The core of data management
Intrexx acts as a central hub for existing specialized applications. The leading systems remain in place, while relevant data is connected and consolidated. The goal is not to replace existing solutions, but to meaningfully integrate them.
Platform for data integration and use
Instead of simply collecting data, Intrexx enables its targeted use in applications and processes. Information from different sources is combined and made available in the respective professional context, for example, for employees, administrators, or managers.
Individual applications
Based on integrated data, additional applications and administrative processes can be flexibly created, tailored to the specific requirements of communities and authorities. Processes can be individually modeled, expanded, or modified without having to replace existing specialized procedures. Work steps directly access current information from various systems. This reduces manual data entry, avoids media breaks, and creates transparency, both within the administration and for citizens.
Context instead of data silo
A key difference from traditional data platforms lies in its focus: Intrexx does not store data for its own sake. The added value arises from context, from connecting data, processes, and roles within the organization.
Reusability as a key to sustainable digitalization
Another key aspect is the reusability of data and applications. Once integrated, information can be used in various scenarios:
in different administrative processes
for different organizational units
both internally and externally
This creates a flexible foundation on which municipalities can gradually develop their digitalization without having to start from scratch each time. This not only strengthens efficiency and quality but also the future viability of the IT landscape.
Data only reveals its value in the process
The discussion surrounding data platforms demonstrates that there is no single solution for all municipal needs. While urban data platforms primarily focus on analysis, transparency, and strategic evaluations, the real challenge for many communities in their day-to-day administration lies elsewhere. The crucial factor is not simply collecting as much data as possible centrally, but rather meaningfully linking existing information and transferring it into concrete applications and processes. Only when data is available where it is needed, within its respective professional context, can tangible relief and added value be achieved.
Platforms that integrate data integration, process design, and application development provide the necessary foundation for this. They enable communities to continue using their existing systems, design processes flexibly, and advance digitalization step by step. This makes it clear: the digital maturity of an administration is measured less by the quantity of available data and more by its ability to use it effectively.
