Digital transformation in Kranj can be a model

Digital transformation in Kranj can be a model

»Kranj's smart card project is unique in Europe and one of the few such ambitious projects in the world,« was heard at Tuesday's Slovenia Takes Leadership in Digitalisation event organised by the US Embassy in Slovenia and Visa.

Mayor of City of Kranj Matjaž Rakovec was the only mayor among those invited to the discussion on the challenges facing Slovenia and how digitisation can help, which was also attended by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr. Aida Kamišalić Latifić, Director of the Association of Banks of Slovenia, Stanislava Zadravec Caprirolo, Director of Bankart and member of the Digital Euro Advisory Group at the European Central Bank (ECB), Aleksander Kurtevski, Director of Visa for Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Slovenia, Catalin Cretu, Director of Public Affairs for the CEE region at Visa, Konrad Ślusarczyk, and Ajša Vodnik, Executive Director of AmCham Slovenia and President of AmChams in Europe.

»It is important to have a vision – we had one four years ago and have been actively on the digital transformation journey all this time. Now we are almost at the finish line of two really important projects: we are actively developing a digital data platform and a city card, the likes of which we have never had in Slovenia. We are currently testing it in a small group, the payment and identification functions are working perfectly, and behind the scenes we are working intensively to integrate access to as wide a range of city services as possible. In parallel, we will be developing a rating system, also with private providers, which aims to reward or motivate cardholders for their daily sustainable actions, in addition to the benefits they receive when using city and other services.

Why is it important to collect and analyse data on the city's processes and activities? Because it means that decisions to manage the city are supported by data, while also involving or involving citizens through proposals, votes, etc. via digital communication channels. This means more optimal city management and better city services, improving the quality of life in the municipality in general and also in the direction of sustainable development - equal or greater comfort with less consumption of natural resources and energy - through useful digital solutions.

Now we see that we made the right decision a few years ago: all the pieces are now coming together, the city card with the digital platform, Europe has also placed us in the 'club' of elite smart cities that can be a model for other EU cities, Kranj, as one of the 112 European cities in the Mission 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart European Cities by 2030, will also be a model for decarbonisation and digitalisation for other EU cities to succeed in achieving this goal at least by 2050.

I am convinced that a smart city card system like the one we are implementing will be an excellent reference for Viso and will prove to be a good practice for other cities and countries, in addition to a digital platform.

However, for all Slovenian cities and municipalities to become as smart as possible, cooperation at regional, national and EU level – to share knowledge, experience and good practices – is essential. Financial support from the state is also important; in Kranj, we have mostly financed our digital transformation projects ourselves. The good news is that Slovenia has as much as €750 million earmarked for digital transformation in the current financial perspective 2023–2027, and this can undoubtedly provide a major boost to digital development in the country."