Sittard-Geleen modernizes its IT infrastructure within one year

The municipality of Sittard-Geleen has modernized its IT infrastructure using the Frank!Framework. In this case, we explain why the municipality chose the Frank!Framework and how it managed to successfully complete this project in half the time expected.

There are several reasons why the municipality of Sittard-Geleen needed a new foundation for its IT infrastructure. First, there were a few important changes in legislation that made it necessary to choose a new system. In addition, outdated systems had slowed development down to such an extent that it was really time for a strong new foundation – a foundation that makes future development much faster and more stable. The Frank!Framework also makes it much easier to replace outdated applications with less risk.

The Open Government Act (W.O.O.) and the Common Ground initiative are the two important administrative reasons why the municipality of Sittard-Geleen needed new infrastructure. The Common Ground initiative must ensure that applications from different government bodies communicate better with each other. According to the Common Ground initiative, data and applications must be separated from each other, something that the Frank!Framework was specifically developed for. The Frank!Framework is also open-source, which is now even mandatory for municipalities under the W.O.O.

The challenge

The municipality of Sittard-Geleen has more than 80 applications that communicate with each other via a system called Adeptia. Adeptia is a closed system, thus not open-source, where an Adeptia programmer had to be called in for every change. In addition, due to years of further development, it was no longer clear which connections there were. This made it particularly difficult for the municipality of Sittard-Geleen to replace current, outdated applications with modern, user-friendly and secure systems. 

It was clear that the municipality of Sittard-Geleen needed a significant technological upgrade. It had to be a system that is not only more user-friendly, but also easier to maintain and that provides insight into which connections exist. This would be a major step towards realizing a connected, responsive and citizen-oriented service delivery, in accordance with the W.O.O. and the principles of Common Ground.

Selection process

After a careful selection process, the municipality of Sittard-Geleen chose WeAreFrank! and their innovative Frank!Framework. They are not the only ones: more than 20 different municipalities, including the municipalities of Utrecht, The Hague and Rotterdam, had preceded them. The framework perfectly meets the requirements of the W.O.O. and also complies 100% with the Common Ground principles.

The Frank!Framework is open-source. In addition to the fact that this is mandatory under the W.O.O., this type of software offers several significant advantages. For example, the municipality does not pay any license fees, the framework is free to use and it can be modified by anyone. The municipality owns the code itself and no longer has an annoying vendor lock-in. This means that they can make changes themselves or can hire another company.

If the municipality is not satisfied with the service, it can easily switch. This freedom is a core value of WeAreFrank! and something that really appeals to the municipality of Sittard-Geleen. The municipality does not pay high costs when they make adjustments to the system. WeAreFrank! works with simple service contracts. This means that the municipality always has insight into the costs and does not encounter any nasty surprises afterwards.

The choice for the Frank! Framework marked a fundamental shift in how the municipality approaches its IT operations. By choosing a solution that is scalable, adaptable and fully open-source, the municipality positions itself as a forerunner in the use of advanced technologies for public administration. 

The implementation

As a first step, the Frank!Framework was made operational within the municipality's infrastructure. After that, the links from the outdated Adeptia system were replaced step by step with links in the Frank!Framework.

Now you may be wondering: what is the advantage of replacing one link with another? The Frank!Framework is a plug-and-play system, where links are created via a drag-and-drop system or simple low-code. Therefore, you no longer need experienced and expensive programmers. In addition, the municipality can choose to create links itself or put WeAreFrank! to work.

Daniel Langeveld of WeAreFrank! explains this success: “At WeAreFrank! we link systems, but our real strength lies mainly in decoupling systems. We provide insight into which links there are, which makes it easier to replace outdated applications.”

Results 

On a technical level, the transition from the outdated Adeptia to the advanced Frank!Framework meant a major leap forward in terms of data exchange and operational efficiency. After all applications were linked in the Frank!Framework, it became clear exactly how the systems communicate with each other. This finally makes it possible to replace old legacy systems with modern, user-friendly and secure applications.

Once the foundation was in place, the links were replaced so quickly that the project took only 50% of the planned time. Before we started, the implementation time was expected to be two years. However, the most important links were realized within a year. WeAreFrank! also remained well below the estimated budget of 100,000 euros.

The improved performance, stability and ease of use of the Frank!Framework ensure that the municipality's employees can start working with new applications. In the long term, this will directly contribute to increasing the quality of services provided to citizens, with which the municipality of Sittard-Geleen positions itself as a progressive and responsive municipality.

The combination of technology and good cooperation

The proven technology of the Frank!Framework has of course been important in the success of this project. However, the cooperation between WeAreFrank! and the municipality is a factor that should not be underestimated. Characterized by clear communication, mutual trust and a thorough understanding of the specific needs of the municipality, this cooperation proved to be decisive in realizing a smooth and successful technical implementation. 

And how did the employees of the municipality of Sittard-Geleen experience the project? “The cooperation is good, the communication feels good, and the information exchange is good. So in all respects everything went well.” It is clear that both the municipality of Sittard-Geleen and we at WeAreFrank! look back on this successful project with great pleasure.

Get started with the Frank!Framework

The implementation of the Frank!Framework at the municipality of Sittard-Geleen by WeAreFrank! illustrates how strategic choices in IT, combined with expert implementation and strong cooperation, can lead to better service provision within the public sector. Daniel Langeveld concludes: “This project is an excellent example of the effectiveness of open-source solutions and how they can contribute to operational improvements and cost savings.” This success provides valuable insights for other municipalities considering similar modernization.