Author: Elena Talanker
Embarking on something new is typically accompanied by a mix of emotions — from excitement and high expectations to apprehension and concerns. This is how we are looking forward to 2024 for the Digital Commons platform development and support. It is natural to review and consider what was done previously to help predict what comes next.
Among our noteworthy achievements:
- National Recognition: Digital Commons platform received the 2023 State Government Experience Award, a testament to its excellence.
- Monsido Tool Implementation: Procured for all NC state government websites, driving quality and compliance.
- Platform Expansion: Welcoming the Museum of History, Department of Agriculture, DHHS Public Health Division, ABC Commission, Board of Barber & Electrolysis Examiners, and the Historic Preservation Office, to the Digital Commons family.
- We Are NC Gov 4.0 Conference: Highlighting accessibility, automated testing, and the importance of a thoughtful digital government policy for the state.
- Drupal Contributions: Including presentations at Asheville Drupal Camp in summer 2023 and DrupalGov Con in November 2023.
- Accessibility Commitment: Continued education and progress towards the adoption of a State policy on accessibility and usability standards.
The success of the Digital Commons platform hinges on collaboration and support from our diverse community of users. Much like Drupal's success, rooted in a robust open-source community, we collaborate with our Digital Commons Ninjas to foster innovation, share ideas, and enhance the platform to better serve our constituencies. We appreciate (and encourage!) your responses to the End of the Year Survey, which will help us understand your needs and aspirations. (The survey is still open if you haven't had a chance to respond.)
Your responses will inform our roadmap to outline things that are mandatory, reflect on customer requests, and add some crazy dreams to advance Digital Commons. Here is what we are currently working on or considering:
- Layout Paragraphs with Intuitive drag-and-drop interface: Making it easier for you to arrange content with a simple drag-and-drop feature.
- Improve image handling: Enhancing how our platform deals with images.
- Usability Testing with nc.gov Volunteer panel: Testing with real users to ensure the platform meets their needs.
- Expanded training options: Adding Digital Commons trainings to LMS.
- Monsido statewide dashboard: Providing a comprehensive dashboard with Quality Assurance, relevancy, and freshness scores.
- Exploration of AI integration: Checking out how we can incorporate AI to enhance your experience.
- Content syndication between DC sites: Making it easy to share content across different Digital Commons sites.
In conclusion, as citizens interact with the state websites, it's the Digital Solutions Applications Development and Services Teams that craft the digital ecosystem underpinning this interaction. They serve as architects, creating a virtual space where transparency, accessibility, and security seamlessly converge. The success of the state website platform is not merely a result of coding and design; it's a testament to the dedication and expertise of the Digital Solutions Team — the secret sauce ensuring the digital heartbeat of the state remains strong and steady.
Stepping into 2024, Digital Commons is at a really exciting point where innovation and service come together. Looking ahead, we're excited about facing new challenges and taking advantage of opportunities. We're building a digital future that's both forward-thinking and accessible to everyone. The journey with Digital Commons is just starting, and we believe the best is yet to come.