EDITORIAL COMMENT
We criticized the CITY OF PICKERING website endlessly in the past couple of years. Finally, they listened. Though some things should still be changed, the site is much, much better than it was before.
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The City of Pickering
Pickering, ON, January 8, 2025
The City of Pickering is ringing in the new year with a refreshed look for its website, pickering.ca, set to launch on January 22, 2025.
The website refresh focuses on improving user experience and simplifying access to online services for residents, businesses, and visitors. It also incorporates updated content, a dynamic new design, and advanced web technologies for optimal performance, usability, and searchability across all devices.
Project Highlights:
- Streamlined Navigation: Reorganized menus and content structures, informed by user feedback and analytics, ensure quicker access to the most popular and essential information.
- De-cluttered Interface: A cleaner design with reduced content and increased white space enhances readability and overall user experience.
- Enhanced Search Functionality: A new Google Site Search tool improves accuracy and relevance, making it easier to find information.
- Modern Homepage Features: New tools and visual elements, including video banners and intuitive icon sets, elevate content presentation and user engagement.
- Improved Security and Efficiency: Secure single sign-on (SSO) for staff and advanced tools for content management provide a robust foundation for future digital improvements.
“We deeply appreciate the feedback and experiences shared by our residents, which, along with insights from Google Analytics, helped us prioritize user-friendly navigation and frequently accessed content,” said Mayor Ashe. “This refreshed website is a critical step in our broader vision to modernize City services and provide residents with efficient and convenient access to the resources they need, when they need them.”
The website refresh project is part of a larger digital transformation initiative aimed at enhancing the City’s online services, customer experience, and communications channels, and reflects Pickering’s commitment to delivering trustworthy and accessible digital services that meet the needs of its diverse and growing community.
Upcoming digital transformation efforts include:
- A Citizen Relationship Management (CRM) platform for improved resident engagement.
- Expanded eCommerce capabilities for streamlined online transactions.
- A Work Order Management System to address resident service requests efficiently.
- Multi-channel communication solutions, including live chat support.
Community input will remain a cornerstone of the City’s digital transformation efforts and residents are encouraged to stay tuned at pickering.ca for related news and announcements, explore the refreshed site on launch date, and share their feedback through the available online form.
