As the coronavirus pandemic forces many people to stay home, the need for virtual public services is at an all-time high. Whether it's a marriage license, a building permit, or vehicle registration, many now prefer to do it virtually, rather than in-person, so governments have had to adjust.
Unqork, a no-code application platform, recently began offering virtual government services to help the public sector streamline its processes from a safe distance.
"It is absolutely more efficient to do it virtually," said Cas Holloway, head of enterprise at Unqork. Aside from the issue of safety, the digitization of these services is a convenient option for both government agencies and those who don't want to endure long wait times, he added.
Remote services became a critical need for many during the pandemic, and Holloway said it has caused an attitude shift among people who are beginning to realize that virtual meetings may be the way of the future.
"We think, coming out of this [pandemic], not only is it going to be a long-term feature of the way services are delivered, it's actually going to be in high demand by residents and businesses."
Holloway concluded that more people will begin to see it as a desired feature when they realize they won't need to stand in person with hundreds of others to get service anymore. They can simply log on, fill out their information, and meet with a virtual clerk. Unqork allows these bureaucratic processes to happen "with lightning speed," he said.
With many government offices remaining closed, virtual marriage licensing is one such service increasing in popularity.
To meet the high demand, Unqork worked with New York City to launch 'Project Cupid,' which brings the marriage license process completely online. Prior to this innovation, obtaining a marriage license was done in-person.
"You had to show up. You had to prove your identity, meet with a clerk, do a number of things," says Holloway. "We were able to basically take that process and create an online experience through any mobile device."
Once an applicant fills out the necessary information, they will be redirected to meet with a clerk virtually who can then issue the license.
Holloway said that the pandemic has exposed the need for "people need to get these services virtually, particularly now."
