Page 9 - Toolkit on digital transformation for people-oriented cities and communities - User Guide

Toolkit on digital transformation for people-oriented cities and communities

What is digital transformation in the context of people-oriented

cities and communities?

Increasingly, digital transformation is becoming a focus of strategic thinking and planning of
many cities and communities. It is about putting the emphasis on how digital services and
applications will change and “transform” citizens’ experiences and the way they live, work and
play in cities that will lead to improvement in quality of life and wellbeing, and the attainment
of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Smart cities and communities
rely on digital technologies and information and communication technologies (ICTs) to offer
innovative and integrated services and solutions to their residents.

Its need stems from the many challenges that urban areas increasingly face, including aging
infrastructures, inadequate public transport models, the lack of citizen participation, inefficient
services and bureaucratic processes, and climate change and migration trends, among others.
These challenges require municipal stakeholders to rethink the way that cities and communities
operate and deliver services, and grow smarter and provide residents and businesses with what
they need to thrive over the long term – all while reducing costs, increasing security, attracting
investment, and increasing viability.

Digital transformation is, therefore, the way forward for cities and communities to meet their
goals and targets, and create the cities and communities of tomorrow.

A smart sustainable city is defined as:

A smart sustainable city is an innovative city
that uses information and communication
technologies (ICTs) and other means to
improve quality of life, efficiency of urban
operation and services, and competitiveness,
while ensuring that it meets the needs of
present and future generations with respect
to economic, social, environmental and
cultural aspects.

Source: ITU and UNECE

Digital transformation is defined as:

The process of using digital technologies to
modify existing systems.

Source: UN-Habitat

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