Picture this: It's the start of business on January 31, the last day to renew annual pet licenses. At city hall, a line is already forming at the clerk's window.
Harried pet owners clutch crumpled rabies certificates and partially filled forms, eager to get on with their day. Behind the counter, municipal staff brace themselves for a day of collecting forms, deciphering handwriting, explaining regulations, and fielding phone calls.
If this sounds familiar, your municipality still relies on paper-based licensing. You're not alone, but there’s a better way.
Why Paper-based License Applications Are Inefficient
For decades, local governments have asked residents to submit paper applications with cash or checks for licenses and permits. But this approach creates a ripple of inefficiencies that drain resources and can frustrate everyone involved:
• Incomplete submissions that require time-consuming follow-up
• Lost or misplaced paperwork
• Manual data entry and inevitable errors
• Seasonal bottlenecks that overwhelm small teams
• Missed deadlines that lower compliance and revenue collection
The good news is that licensing is a repeatable and predictable process, so it's easy to automate.
Case Study: Union Beach Dog Licenses Go Digital
Union Beach, New Jersey, a community of 5,562, was once caught in the same yearly scramble. Municipal Clerk Anne Marie Friscia knew the process consumed staff time and created unnecessary stress for residents.
The town implemented GovPilot’s Dog License Module, moving the process online. The impact was immediate:
• Smart Form Validation ensures required fields are complete before submission.
• Automated updates keep residents informed in real time, reducing phone calls.
• Integrated payments process fees securely.
• Cloud-based records eliminate lost paperwork and add digital audit trails.
• Instant license generation means applicants can have approved licenses immediately.
Results at a Glance
Since automating pet licensing, Union Beach has achieved 100% completed applications, zero zero lost paperwork, instant license processing upon approval, and reliable revenue collection.
As Clerk Friscia puts it: “The Dog License module has saved employees and constituents so much time!”
Beyond Pets: A Broader Transformation
Other municipalities applying this model across multiple license types see even greater results.
For example, Newark, NJ adopted GovPilot’s Marriage License Module. By moving marriage license applications and payments online, the city reclaimed 36 hours of staff time per month and cut average appointment times in half, from 30 minutes to 15.
Ready to Move Beyond Paper?
Union Beach and Newark’s successes shows what’s possible for cities and towns large and small. Whether it’s pet licenses, business permits, or marriage applications, automation can reduce errors, save staff time, and deliver better service to residents.
The right tools don’t even require a steep learning curve, especially with hands-on training and ongoing support. The result? Less paperwork, more efficiency, and happier constituents.
Explore GovPilot case studies to see how you can simplify and streamline your local government operations.
