The City of Burnaby has been recognized with Municipal Information Systems Association (MISA) BC’s Spirit of Innovation award for successfully automating its BC 1 Call “Dial Before You Dig” process, providing faster, 24-hour service to customers while saving staff time and money.
The City received over 10,000 requests through BC 1 Call in 2021, a vital resource for contractors and homeowners which provides schematic information on underground utilities prior to breaking ground on construction and renovation projects. By automating this service, the City expects to save an estimated $500,000 over a 5-year period, while also freeing up staff to work on other important projects.
“Improving customer service for residents and businesses is a City priority, and this is a great example of an innovation that’s making it easier to do business in Burnaby,” said Mayor Mike Hurley. “Congratulations to our Geographical Information Systems team for taking the innovative step to automate this service, delivering significant benefits to our community in terms of safety, efficiency and cost savings.”
Before automating this service, each request took approximately 15 minutes of staff time to process. Now, callers are provided with information within 3 to 5 minutes, and the service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Each year, MISA BC recognizes municipalities for excellence in the field of information and communications technology. The Spirit of Innovation award recognizes the bold steps the City has taken in improving service speed and availability while simultaneously saving Burnaby taxpayers money.
Media Contact:
Chris Bryan
Manager, Public Affairs
Public Affairs Office
604-570-3616 | [email protected]