When it comes to supporting regulatory agencies, state IT departments and chief information officers (CIOs) play a vital role in helping select and implement a modern regulatory platform that caters to the needs of all stakeholders, both in the present and the future. This entails finding a comprehensive solution that not only fulfils the requirements of regulatory agencies and the boards and commissions they oversee – such as reducing administrative overhead or creating a better, more accessible licensee self-serve experience – but also ensure the solution aligns with broader statewide IT objectives like reducing data center footprints or improving data security.
Having worked closely with regulatory agencies across various states, Thentia has developed a deep understanding of the importance placed on selecting a licensing platform that seamlessly integrates into a state’s existing technology infrastructure, is easily configurable, and that’s extensible to support future scalability. Drawing upon our expertise, we present below four essential factors regulatory agencies should consider when selecting and implementing a modern regulatory platform to ensure a harmonious alignment with state IT priorities.
1. Seamless integration
As with any technology, it’s essential that a new regulatory licensing platform can integrate seamlessly with regulatory agencies’ existing technological infrastructure. That may include, but isn’t limited to, their data warehouses, identity management solutions, and other systems. One small but important example of this is ensuring that users can access the technology using a single set of state-wide login credentials that work universally across all platforms, rather than needing separate logins for each.
To ensure seamless integration, a good, modern regulatory platform should be non-proprietary, open, and extensible, so that it can integrate with existing systems. Among other things, that includes state-level monitoring platforms and processes to make it easier to manage your data, identity management solutions to make it easier to manage user access, and state-level payment providers to make it easier to manage transactions. To enable this, the right solution will offer published, documented, and easily accessible APIs, enabling integration while giving states the flexibility to bring in their preferred platforms and tools.
2. Future extensibility
Another important consideration is platform extensibility. Simply put, states need to ensure that their technology infrastructure can scale and expand as government and agency needs evolve or new requirements arise. For that reason, it’s important to find a platform that’s been built with scalability in mind, not only offering the features necessary to enable that, but also auto-scaling and load balance to ensure that resources are distributed efficiently and effectively.
In addition, states should look for platforms that offer multi-tenancy capabilities, allowing them to manage multiple clients or agencies on a single platform — an absolute necessity should they opt to become more centralized. The best platforms will also have a dedicated team of scalability experts who can provide guidance, support, and best practices to help states navigate any challenges they face as they scale.
3. Citizen self-service
Next, check for self-service functionality for citizens. Many of today’s regulatory bodies lack self-service capabilities within their application systems, meaning that the applicants and licensees using these systems can’t manage their documentation or information on their own. As a result, regulatory staff across various boards and commissions overseen by agencies must take on the added burden of gathering information, accessing documentation on an ad hoc basis, and consistently following up with licensees. Not only is this inefficient, it also further strains what are typically already stretched teams.
When equipped with self-service functionality, applicants and licensees are empowered to complete tasks independently and on their own time. In Nevada, for example, the Chiropractic Physicians’ Board implemented a cloud-based solution and moved 100% of license applications online, resulting in a 90x acceleration in the speed-to-approval for new license applications. The new system offered digital-first, self-service capabilities, which have simplified the application process for applicants and licensees while also dramatically reducing the need for regulatory staff intervention.
4. Low-code configurability
After acquiring and configuring a modern regulatory platform, most states also want to be able to make changes without having to rely on their vendor or IT for help. For regulators with a new licensing management platform, that might include being able to add a new rule, set the parameters for a new fee, or create a new custom report. Being able to make these kinds of changes independently is one of the keys to being agile while also ensuring that the solution is always precisely configured to meet the state’s unique needs. As such, instead of selecting platforms that are custom built, states should look for solutions that are low code and highly configurable.
Low-code platforms allow states and even individual regulatory agencies to make the changes they want to their licensing management platform without the need for extensive coding or software development. Instead, staff can complete what have traditionally been complex coding tasks through a simple drag-and-drop interface, saving them time, money, and frustration.
Choosing a modern regulatory platform with confidence
There are many factors that state regulatory agencies need to consider when evaluating a new regulatory licensing platform. Whether it’s how well the platform integrates with existing tech, how easily it can scale over time, or if it allows for citizen self-service or low-code configurability, each needs to be considered when choosing a solution.
