Many of us are all too aware of the significant challenges facing local governments. Trust in local government is currently at an all-time low. Meanwhile, data has become one of the most valuable resources in our society. Although resources (primarily funding and staff capacity) are limited, the need for robust data and analytics continues to grow. In addition, disruptions over the past few years have forced governments to implement new services and strategies, which in turn must be measured and evaluated for effectiveness.

Designed to lighten these burdens on local government staff, Polco’s Track Module (powered by GPAL) aims to make performance management more accessible to all. Particularly in the public sector, structured performance management is crucial for building trust and making informed decisions. 

To that end, Track consolidates and contextualizes diverse datasets, complete with historical trends, resident sentiment data, and comparisons to similar communities. This easy access to robust data can help public servants:

• evaluate service delivery and the corresponding community impacts
• understand community needs and key priorities
• assess the impact new initiatives are having on community goals
• improve residents’ quality of life
• demonstrate specific needs and results in grant proposals 
• engage residents in strategic planning and budgeting processes
• track progress on strategic goals
• build public trust by publicly embracing transparency and accountability
• show competency and effectiveness in their roles
• onboard new council or staff members quickly with community information
• make more data-driven decisions with confidence

Polco’s Track Module provides a wealth of information about each community’s strengths and needs, across all major facets of livability, to guide decision-making processes and empower leaders. With intuitive dashboards and hundreds of data points at your fingertips, you can see what is working well in your community and which strategies may need to be adjusted. 

The era of data-driven decision-making is here, and Polco believes that all communities should have access to the data they need. With the GPAL partnership and Track dashboard insights, we’re harnessing the power of data to help you build a stronger, more informed community and make tough decisions with confidence.