WeAreFrank! enables existing systems to communicate with new systems for the municipality of The Hague

Like most Dutch municipalities, the municipality of The Hague wants to work in a case-oriented manner. In order to adapt the IT infrastructure to this, they wanted to implement a Case Registration Component as a first major step, entirely in accordance with the principles of Common Ground.

The Case Registration Component forms the basis of the new structure, to which new task applications can be added step by step. After that, outdated systems can be phased out. Until a new task application has been implemented, the current systems must of course continue to function flawlessly. 

The advantage of this new structure is that as a municipality you can choose the best provider per task application. Where previously one central system was often chosen, this way of working gives you as a municipality much more freedom. The central Case Registration Component ensures that all cases (data) are registered centrally. The various task applications can use this.

However, there is a major challenge. Data exchange between the systems always takes place via APIs. The current systems usually have a different API structure or a different API protocol than the standard according to Common Ground. In other words, the existing and new systems cannot communicate with each other. This is a problem that almost all municipalities that want to work in a case-oriented manner encounter.

The Case Bridge is the solution

To solve this problem, the municipality of The Hague asked WeAreFrank! to develop the Case Bridge, which translates the data from the APIs of the current system to the API standards for working in a case-oriented manner. Thanks to the Case Bridge, the current and new systems can exchange data seamlessly. 

The entire project, including linking the new system, only took six months. The Case Bridge is therefore a fast but effective solution to make data work between old and new systems and to realize the next step towards working in a case-oriented manner.

WeAreFrank! was able to realize this so quickly because it uses the innovative open-source Frank!Framework. This makes it easy to link data without the help of specialist programmers and to put it in the correct format. The framework of course fully complies with the Common Ground principles.

The case of the municipality of The Hague

The first connection for which the Case Bridge of the municipality of The Hague was used was between Centric Leefomgeving and the new Case Registration Component OpenZaak. Centric Leefomgeving is a very extensive application for processing permit applications that is currently used by around 1500 civil servants. The realization of this project involved intensive collaboration with the municipality, Centric and OpenZaak. It is great to see that different parties can strengthen each other. This is one of the main reasons municipalities are working in a case-oriented manner.

Is the Case Bridge right for your municipality?

The project in The Hague shows how technological innovations such as the Case Bridge can contribute to transforming municipal services. By bridging the gap between outdated and new systems, WeAreFrank! played an essential role in helping the municipality to realize a new standard in citizen services, one that is in line with the modern expectations of both the government and its citizens.

If you'd like to know more about how the Case Bridge can help your municipality, contact us now!