HomeMy WebLinkAboutSBStat 2021 - Customer Service Q4SBStat | Customer Service
2 0 2 1 Q u a r t e r 4 | D e c e m b e r 1 7
C i t y o f S o u t h B e n d
Citywide Performance
Management
residents’ livesImprove
departmentsEmpower
servicesDesign dataFocus on
1
4
2 3
Meeting ground rules
1. No stupid questions
Use this space to ask and address difficult
questions safely
2. Data-driven decision making
Strive to make decisions based on whatever most
recent data is available
3. Relentless follow-up
Identify clear action items and owners after each
meeting
4. A bias towards action
Continuously seek to improve: our data, our ways
of working, etc.
SBStat 2021
Today’s Agenda
I. Project updates from previous Stat meeting
-Assistance Team Update
II. Deep-dive analysis & discussion
-Future of City Payments
III. Taking action
-Identifying clear action items and owners
IV. Celebrating our values
SBStat 2021
Customer Service Portfolio Summary
Status of SBStat projects in the queue for 2021
Project Brief Description Status
Streamlining Assistance Projects to increase uptake of programs + more
easily connect resident to resources
311 Equity Resident engagement and quantitative research,
followed by potential pilot activities in 2022
Post-call surveys New post-call surveying across 311, utility, VPA,
transferred calls
2022 Citywide Survey Finalizing city services survey
Call Analysis 311 + utility call Activity data summaries
Service Level
Agreement Updates
Comprehensive review of existing service level
agreements
Legend Project on schedule Project delayed Project cancelled Project under consideration
SBStat 2021
Streamlining Assistance
ProjectPartnersGoalStatus
UAP UtilityProcess/Program ImprovementIn-progress
Cross Enrollment and Referral Coordination VPA, Utility, DCITether together eligibility for all city-run
programs
Upcoming
CTC sign-up pushWhite House, other citiesIncrease CTC sign-ups for
non filers
Finished
Assistance TeamEEETeam of trained,neighborhood-based case managers
In-progress
Assistance StatVariousTrack/performance manage assistance sign-
ups
In-progress
SBStat 2021
Deep-dive analysis & discussion
Diving deep into a few key initiatives being undertaken to improve city performance
•Future of City Payments
SBStat 2021
The future of payments to the City
•Discussing the current gaps and goals for 2022 and beyond re: the future of payments
8
What is the problem?
Providing a suite of accessible, user-friendly payment options for all city
fees, fines, and bills.
Why is it a problem?
Cities service everyone and have to meet people where they are in
terms of resources, geography and skill. There are underbanked
populations, households without internet,transportation insecurity/lack of
public transit, customer preferences, scheduling constraints that make
certain payment methods from being inaccessible.
Problem Definition
SBStat 2021
Current State –Utility Payments
Method 24/7?Geographic
Accessibility
Cash?Challenges/
limitations
In-person (walk-in, drive through)No No Yes •Hours
•Staff capacity
•Transportation
•Language
Phone Yes Yes No •Hours
•Staff capacity
•Language
Online Yes Yes No •Access to device/WiFi
Mail Yes Yes Yes •Cost
•Planning
Auto Draft Yes Yes No •Unbanked
Dropbox Yes No Yes?
Anything to add/edit to the above?What else can we stay about current
state and customer needs/challenges?
Discussion questions
Should City teams move forward on executing the high
effort/low impact items? Why/why not?
Do you see any red flags in the options presented in this
slide deck?
Do we want off-site payment collection for just utility bills or
for all city services?
Are there specific metrics we want to drive improvement in
(i.e. customer satisfaction, online payments, etc.)?
SBStat 2021
Recap from Q2 Stat
Utility Payment Analysis
Key Insights
•Residents that pay utility bills with cash are concentrated on the western side of the City
•Residents using credit cards to pay utility bills dispersed throughout the City
•14% of residents pay utility bills with a direct link to a bank account
SBStat 2021
Summary of Inclusive Payment Options
ID Features Effort Impact Costs
1 A single webpage to act as a hub for links to various locations to pay dues Low Moderate Low
2 Payment drop-boxes Moderate Moderate
Moderate
•Upfront costs of equipment
•Admin logistics
3 Partnerships with pharmacies, drug store, etc.Low High Moderate
•Fees
4 Self-service kiosks distributed around the City High High
High
•Upfront
•Maintenance and
support costs for
kiosks
5 Full software-based centralized payment portal on one account High High
High
•Costs of portal software
City Payment Drop Boxes
Benefits
•Increases ways to pay, particularly when paired with centralized webpage
•Limited only to physical forms of payment
•Accessible 24/7 if placed outside
•Only paying for upfront costs of the drop boxes and installation
Considerations
•Clear communication and marketing needed that drop boxes are for payments only
•Not inclusive of permits or other applications
•Adds security considerations but most cities do not accept cash
•Some cities add signage of surveillance
•Logistics of collection and distribution
•Can lean on inter-department mail infrastructure for once it is collected
•Many types, styles, and price ranges
available for drop boxes
•Stand alone, wall mounted, drive-through
•Range from $200 to upwards of $1,000
•Some companies include customization
Drop Box
Vendors
Self-Service Kiosks
Benefits
•Maximizes ways to pay when paired with centralized webpage
•All forms of payment can be processed
•Cities leverage placement at government buildings and local stores/partnerships
•Residents can pay as guest or create account with saved payment method
•Multilingual options
•Potential for immediate processing and payment to dues
Considerations
•Digital security but not physical
•Upfront and continuous support costs
•Logistics of payment posting would change
•Come equipped with payment software solutions but would need to explore DFO integration for postings
•Physical money collection concerns
Comprehensive Payment Portals*
Benefits
•Allows residents to have an account for cross-city dues
•Can be paired with kiosks for companies that offer unified systems
•Residents can pay as guest or create account with saved payment method
•Multilingual options
•Immediate processing and payment posting
Considerations
•Only partially addresses ways to pay, but solves ways to find
•Upfront and continuous support costs
•All involved departments would need to go through implementation
•Explore DFO integration for postings
SBStat 2021
Summary of Inclusive Payment Options
ID Features Effort Impact Costs
1 A single webpage to act as a hub for links to various locations to pay dues Low Moderate Low
2 Payment drop-boxes Moderate Moderate
Moderate
•Upfront costs of equipment
•Admin logistics
3 Partnerships with pharmacies, drug store, etc.Low High Moderate
•Fees
4 Self-service kiosks distributed around the City High High
High
•Upfront
•Maintenance and
support costs for
kiosks
5 Full software-based centralized payment portal on one account High High
High
•Costs of portal software
ImpactLowHighLow HighEffort
Summary of Inclusive Payment Options
2
1
3
4 5
A single webpage to
act as a hub for links
Drop-boxes (No Cash Allowed)
Partnerships with
pharmacies, drug
store, etc.
Self-service kiosks
Full software-based
centralized payment
portal on one account
SBStat 2021
Available Data
Offering policy alternatives, data-based frameworks, and decision points to take action in improving the lives of South Bend residents
Utility Payments –All Payments
April -June 2021
Utility Payments –Cash Only
April -June 2021
Cash payments to cover utility bills make up about 4 percent of all payment types to the City. Residents that
pay with cash are concentrated in Rum Village, the west side (in between Western Ave. and Sample Ave.),
and in the La Salle/Lincoln Manor area in the northwest (around Lincoln Way West).
Utility Payments –In-person
April -June 2021
About 8 -9 percent of residents pay their utility bill in person at the Colfax location Downtown. In addition to
the hotspots on the previous slide, we see hot spots near IUSB and near Coquillard Park. Somewhat notably,
there is little relationship between residents that pay in person and proximity to the downtown utility office.
Recurring Payments
April -June 2021
About 21 percent of residents complete their monthly utility bill payment through a recurring payment (or
autopay option), either a direct bank transfer or an automatic credit card payment. These residents are
concentrated on the north east and south east side of the side, correlating strongly with area median income.
Insights Summary
•Resident’s payment preferences
seem to be driven by their income
levels more than other factors (i.e.
proximity to downtown location, age,
etc.)
•About 8 -9 percent of residents pay their
utility bill in person at the Colfax location
Downtown.
•Cash payments to cover utility bills
make up about 4 percent of all
payment types to the City.
•About 21 percent of residents
complete their monthly utility bill
payment through a recurring
payment (or autopay option), either a
direct bank transfer or an automatic
credit card payment.
ImpactLowHighLow HighEffort
Summary of Inclusive Payment Options
2
1
3
4 5
A single webpage to
act as a hub for links
Drop-boxes (No Cash Allowed)
Partnerships with
pharmacies, drug
store, etc.
Self-service kiosks
Full software-based
centralized payment
portal on one account
Decision-making frames for the future of payments for City services
Equity
Financial
Literacy
Cost to the City
Accessibility
/ ease of
use
Context
Geographic limitations of the
City’s payment collection process
creates barriers for vulnerable
residents, which can perpetuate
civic distrust and poverty.
Considerations
1.Should the City accept cash
at off-site locations (i.e.
kiosks, etc.)?
2.Should the City use this as
an opportunity to improve
financial literacy?
Option #1
High Impact,
Low Effort
•A single webpage to
act as a hub for links
•Partnerships with
pharmacies, drug store,
etc.
Option #2
High Impact,
Medium Effort
•Place drop boxes near
City fire stations (or other
public, secure
spaces/facilities) for
residents to drop off city
payments (cash not
allowed)
•A single webpage to act
as a hub for links
•Partnerships with
pharmacies, drug store,
etc. (accepts cash)
Option #3
High Impact,
High Effort
•A single webpage to act
as a hub for links
•Partnerships with
pharmacies, drug store,
etc. (accepts cash)
•Install self-service
kiosks throughout City to
accept cash payments,
host in public facilities
•Full software-based
centralized payment
portal on one account
Discussion questions
Should City teams move forward on executing the high
effort/low impact items? Why/why not?
Do you see any red flags in the options presented in this
slide deck?
Do we want off-site payment collection for just utility bills or
for all city services?
Are there specific metrics we want to drive improvement in
(i.e. customer satisfaction, online payments, etc.)?
Prospective Project Pitch
Set the roadmap for 2022
Resident engagement on payment preferences
•Distribute low barrier survey to get resident feedback on
preferences for making city payments
•Potentially only target residents who prefer to pay with cash and/or
in-person
•Gain qualitative understanding of why residents prefer certain payment
types
SBStat 2021
Taking action
Offering policy alternatives, data-based frameworks, and decision points to take action in improving the lives of South Bend residents
Prospective Project Pitch
Set the roadmap for 2022
1. Water shut off process mapping
•Conduct process mapping and improvement workshops with
subject matter experts
•Identify pain points for residents and opportunities to improve
resident experience
•Identify decision points for executive team to make process
changes, if applicable
Prospective Project Pitch
Set the roadmap for 2022
2. Resident engagement on payment
preferences
•Distribute low barrier survey to get resident feedback on
preferences for making city payments
•Potentially only target residents who prefer to pay with cash and/or
in-person
•Gain qualitative understanding of why residents prefer certain payment
types
SBStat 2021
Celebrating our values
This section highlights exemplary work happening in the City to improve performance that may otherwise go unnoticed
SBStat 2021
Celebrating our Values
SBStat | Customer Service
2 0 2 1 Q u a r t e r 4 | D e c e m b e r 1 7
C i t y o f S o u t h B e n d