The Goal
Before transitioning to Social Pinpoint, the CVRD had been using another engagement platform, but they observed increasing costs and decreasing value. With the rapid pace of digital advancements, the CVRD recognized the need for a platform that not only offered traditional engagement tools but also incorporated innovative features. They sought a solution that could accommodate their self-service structure, where departments were responsible for their own engagement projects.
“Being perfectly transparent, we just saw costs going up and value going down. That was what initially what triggered it. We were not seeing our current solution keeping up with the industry.”
– Ingrid Sly, Digital Advisor
Upgrading and Migrating to Social Pinpoint
The CVRD’s journey led them to Social Pinpoint, a comprehensive community engagement platform that provided a balanced approach between traditional and innovative tools. The platform’s ability to allow communities to participate at their convenience was a significant factor, as it catered to individuals who might not have the time to attend face-to-face sessions.
“It was seamless. If there was a hiccup, the team communicated it immediately and dealt with it promptly. We could not have asked for a better experience to be perfectly honest. And that continues with the help that we receive day to day. It’s excellent. Top tier.”
– Ingrid Sly, Digital Advisor
“If we have a question, it’s so nice to be able to rely on a single human to get back to you. It’s wonderful. To have someone consistently looking at your content being like, ‘Hey, I noticed that you could maybe use this tool’, or ‘I noticed that maybe you want to format things this way?’, or ‘We have this new thing available’. Having that person to check in with is really helpful. Oftentimes my plate is too full or I missed something and that extra set of eyes is wonderful. It’s extremely helpful to have a contact who gets the back story, sees where we’re going, and knows where we want to go in the future.”
– Ingrid Sly, Digital Advisor
Expanding Regional Engagement
The most exciting aspect of transitioning to Social Pinpoint for the CVRD was the potential to expand their Engage Comox Valley platform into a regional hub for engagement. The CVRD recognized that their community consisted of individuals who had identities tied to specific municipalities and areas, but were part of a larger regional context. By utilizing Social Pinpoint as a regional engagement hub, residents could conveniently access engagement opportunities and information from various municipalities and electoral areas in one place.
Revolutionizing the Future of Engagement in CVRD
The CVRD’s journey with Social Pinpoint has empowered them to foster engagement across their region more effectively. The platform’s flexibility and innovative features cater to their diverse communities, including those with limited digital access and an elderly population. By embracing a hub-based structure, the CVRD envisions creating a central source of engagement that benefits not only their residents but also other regional governments.
“Having the ability to select projects and location as a filtering feature so that residents can see engagement that’s going on in multiple locations in one place, is incredible for us. It’s going to be be such a huge bonus.”
– Ingrid Sly, Digital Advisor
Comox Valley Regional District’s transition to Social Pinpoint has enabled them to address their engagement needs more efficiently, providing an inclusive platform for their diverse community members. With a vision to expand regional engagement, the CVRD continues to lead the way in embracing innovative solutions to foster connections and gather insights from their residents facing similar challenges.
