Municipalities are at a digital crossroads. As public expectations for seamless, secure, and responsive services grow, local governments must modernize their IT environments to keep pace. For technical leaders in the public sector, staying ahead of emerging trends is essential – not just for operational efficiency, but for long-term resilience and community trust.
Here are five key IT trends that are shaping the future of municipal technology, backed by real-world examples and data.
Cloud-First Strategies Are Becoming Standard
It should come as no surprise that cloud adoption is accelerating across Canadian municipalities, driven by the need for scalability, disaster recovery, and remote access. 67% of public sector organizations in Canada reported cloud adoption as a top priority in their digital transformation strategy.
This municipality, for example, transformed document and records management with Microsoft 365, moving away from legacy on-premises platforms and modernizing user productivity. This shift also better enabled remote work and alleviated time-consuming maintenance for internal IT staff.
What You Can Do: Start with a migration readiness assessment. Identify legacy systems that are costly to maintain or difficult to scale, and prioritize those for migration. This session, presented by Elantis in collaboration with the District of West Vancouver, will show you how. It provides a practical guide to moving from legacy systems to Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Online, diving into the unique challenges municipalities face and sharing proven strategies to overcome them. overcome them. Watch here.
Security Is a Growing Priority
Cyberattacks on municipalities are increasing in frequency and sophistication. From ransomware to phishing, local governments are prime targets due to the sensitive data they hold and often have limited security resources.
For example, in 2024, Hamilton was hit by a ransomware attack that disrupted email and internal systems. While the city did not pay a ransom, recovery took weeks and required significant IT resources. The incident highlighted the need for proactive cybersecurity investments and incident response planning.
What You Can Do: Conduct a cybersecurity audit. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all systems, implement endpoint protection with tools like Microsoft Intune, and conduct regular staff training. Consider a managed service provider if internal capacity is limited.
AI and Automation Are Enhancing Service Delivery
Artificial intelligence and automation are helping municipalities streamline operations and improve citizen engagement. These tools reduce manual workloads and enable faster, more consistent service.
For example, the City of Winnipeg is currently testing an AI-powered chatbot to handle common 311 inquiries. The virtual assistant will help residents find information on commonly asked questions or citizen services like garbage collection, property taxes, and permits. This will reduce call volumes and improve response times.
Elantis recently implemented a Power Apps pilot for the City of Medicine Hat’s fair entry program. Again, this project has the potential to dramatically improve the experience for citizens accessing public services – and save staff time and effort.
What You Can Do: Identify high-volume, repetitive service requests that could be handled by a chatbot or automated workflow. Start with a pilot project and measure the impact on staff time and citizen satisfaction.
Open Data and Analytics Are Driving Transparency
Data-driven decision-making is becoming standard practice in municipal governance. Open data portals and performance dashboards help municipalities track progress, improve services, and build public trust.
Edmonton’s open data portal provides access to hundreds of datasets, from snow clearing routes to building permits. The city also uses performance dashboards to track service delivery metrics and share progress with residents. This transparency supports evidence-based decision-making and community engagement.
What You Can Do: Launch an internal dashboard to track KPIs in one department (e.g., public works or bylaw enforcement). Use the insights to inform planning and share results with the council and the public.
Digital Equity Is Becoming a Core Infrastructure Concern
As services move online, municipalities must ensure all residents can access them. Digital equity – ensuring fair access to the internet, devices, and digital literacy – is now a key part of infrastructure planning.
Vancouver’s Digital Strategy includes a strong focus on digital equity. The city has partnered with community organizations to provide free Wi-Fi in public spaces, digital literacy training, and access to devices for underserved populations. These efforts aim to ensure that all residents can benefit from digital services.
What You Can Do: Conduct a digital inclusion assessment. Identify gaps in internet access and digital literacy in your community, and explore partnerships with libraries, schools, and nonprofits to address them.
The Future Is Already Here
The next five years will bring rapid technological change – but also incredible opportunities for municipalities to improve service delivery, strengthen resilience, and build more inclusive communities.
Elantis helps municipalities across Canada plan and implement future-ready technology solutions – particularly those related to Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365. Whether you’re working to modernize legacy systems or you’re leveraging AI-driven insights, our team brings deep public sector experience and a collaborative approach to every project.
Let’s talk about how to future-proof your municipality.
