DED Unveils ‘24/7’ Smart Services Channel

• DED Unveils Innovative Smart Services Channel Architectured on Cisco Technology Solutions at Gitex 2014
  ‘24/7’ will enable customers to complete business registration and licensing transactions at remote locations with help from experts

The Department of Economic Development (DED), Dubai, has announced the launch of ‘24/7,’ an innovative round-the-clock service point developed on the Cisco Remote Expert for Government Services (REGS) platform, in line with the Dubai Smart Government initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Cisco Remote Expert for Government Services helps project the best of modern government by taking the point of service closer to the citizen while making more services accessible for longer hours. The new service point, unveiled as part of the ongoing Gitex Technology Week, is a terminal where customers can do their business registration and licensing transactions at select locations, including face to face interaction with a government agent if further assistance is required. Currently on display in the Smart Government booth at Gitex, ‘24/7’ will be installed in the Dubai Mall in the first phase and expanded gradually to other locations.

‘24/7’ marks a milestone in bringing high quality government services to remote locations, with better efficiencies for the customer and the service provider. Customers can have a single window closer to them to transact business for longer hours while DED will have an innovative and sustainable channel for delivering its smart services.

“The guiding principle of ‘going smart’ is being able to offer improved experiences – in quality, convenience and efficiency. ‘24/7’ demonstrates our emphasis on providing customers with a better experience by combining our existing resources and state-of-the-art technology in a sustainable way,” remarked His Excellency Sami Al Qamzi, Director General, DED.

Customers can use the ‘24/7’ terminal to choose the service they require on the touch panel and get connected to a remote expert. The remote expert will guide the customer through the transaction.

Al Qamzi added that such fast and easy access to services and personalised experience will help reduce carbon foot print by reducing traffic flow to city centres while also enhancing transparency and Dubai’s reputation as a place to live and do business.

Al Qamzi added: “Taking government services closer to the public will meet customer expectations and help businesses and governments respond to the challenge of improving efficiencies. Dubai contributes substantially to the UAE’s competitiveness rankings internationally and the ‘24/7’ project will enhance Dubai’s ratings across some key parametres of such rankings, particularly with respect to productivity, innovation etc.”

Commenting on ‘24/7’, Mohammed Shael Al Saadi, Chief Executive Officer of Business Registration & Licensing (BRL) sector at DED, said the most significant feature of the service is the facility for real time interaction between the customer and the government employee.

“In addition to providing high quality service to customers at convenient locations the ‘24/7’ terminal also acts as a centralised source of knowledge on doing business. ‘24/7’ also presents a template for smart services by combining technology with a personal touch,” said Al Saadi.

“Cisco is fully aligned with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Smart Dubai vision and we are honoured to be working with the DED to make it a reality. Smart Cities enhance quality of life; entrepreneurs and jobs; and economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Together with DED we have created a powerful, integrated platform that incorporates top technology, applications and business models to deliver high-quality UAE citizen services remotely yet in a face-to-face interaction and also providing fast and easy access to expert government services thus increasing citizen engagement and satisfaction as they no longer need to travel long distances to government centers,” commented Rabih Dabboussi, Managing Director for Cisco, UAE.

The full range of BRL services now available on iPhones, iPads and Android applications will be accessible on the ‘24/7’ terminal.