Cuyahoga County is stepping up its digital game to make sure its residents can access services and information more easily than ever before. The County's IT department has rolled out a couple of nifty tech enhancements aimed at streamlining the experience for folks trying to get answers on tax questions and navigate county websites. Users now have a new virtual assistant at their disposal, and there's an accessibility tool to make sure everyone can use the County's online resources.
Meet CountyConnect, the new virtual assistant, designed to quickly deliver answers to the most commonly asked property tax queries. "Progress in technology is progress for our residents and communities," County IT Chief Information Officer Andy Johnson said, as reported by Cuyahoga County's official news release. He believes that smarter tools are the key to serving residents better. This bot can chat in over 70 languages, aiming to quickly and efficiently address concerns without the need to keep residents waiting on the phone for answers.
County Treasurer Brad Cromes is quite stoked about the new virtual assistant. "As Treasurer, it is my goal to provide the best, most up-to-date services to our residents, and CountyConnect is a great tool that optimizes our ability to provide taxpayers with fast, accurate information," Cromes explained in statements to Cuyahoga County's news outlet. The plan is to eventually expand CountyConnect across all County webpages to fully integrate this digital help across the board.
The County is also ensuring that no resident is left behind when it comes to using its online services. An Accessibility Tool now sits on all County webpages to enable every user to customize their web experience to suit their individual needs and preferences. It’s packed with features for assistive reading, supports dyslexia-friendly formatting, and helps those with vision, motor, or cognitive challenges. Moreover, this tool is ready to communicate in 67 languages and remains available around the clock, a clear nod to the community's diversity and the County's commitment to inclusivity.
In a similar vein, Cuyahoga County workers are set to enhance their productivity with the adoption of Microsoft Copilot. The technology is designed to drastically cut down on routine, monotonous tasks so staff can redirect their focus toward customer service and community improvement. It's another step towards ensuring that County employees can deliver more effective services to the people they serve. The hope is that these advancements will carve out more room for problem-solving and service development, directly benefiting everyone who calls the County home.
