The Municipality of Petrijanec faced the growing challenge of meeting its residents' expectations regarding the speed and accessibility of information from local government—citizens wanted to be promptly informed about everything happening in their immediate vicinity, from planned construction works to cultural events, but traditional communication methods such as posters, local radio, or official bulletin boards were no longer sufficient to meet these needs. Recognizing this gap between residents' desires and the capabilities of existing communication channels, the Municipality partnered with Prolink to develop a modern mobile application that makes local government more accessible, transparent, and efficient—this digital tool is not merely a technological novelty but a strategic response to growing expectations for rapid information flow and simpler access to public services, designed for all generations, from young people who grew up with smartphones to elderly residents for whom the intuitive interface has enabled them to feel truly connected to their municipality's activities for the first time.
Real-time monitoring of local information and communal activities
Prolink placed at the application's core a notification and news functionality that provides citizens with continuous insight into current events and decisions of local significance—through this system, users receive timely information about communal works, such as street closures due to water supply network rehabilitation or planned green area maintenance, as well as cultural events like summer performances on the municipal square or sporting events such as small-sided football tournaments. All content is updated in real time, meaning that if an unexpected change occurs in waste collection schedules due to weather conditions or if water supply is urgently interrupted due to a pipe burst, citizens immediately receive notifications on their smartphones—this ensures complete and reliable information, transforming citizens into active participants rather than mere passive observers of developments in their community.
Personalized approach and health care through specialized functionalities
Understanding that each resident has different needs and interests, Prolink integrated an advanced personalization system into the application that allows users to select thematic categories of interest—a young family with children can thus choose notifications about sports activities for the youngest and cultural events tailored to children, while a pensioners' association might pay more attention to information about free medical check-ups or social gatherings for the elderly. Simultaneously, the application offers a specially developed feature for real-time air quality monitoring—a functionality of exceptional importance for sensitive groups such as asthmatics, allergy sufferers, or the elderly, who based on this data can make informed decisions about outdoor activities, for instance whether to plan a longer walk that day or rather stay indoors if pollution levels are elevated due to specific meteorological conditions.
Digital reminders and active citizen participation in community maintenance
To increase the efficiency of communal services and reduce the possibility of delays in meeting obligations, Prolink implemented a system of digital reminders that notify citizens through automated alerts about upcoming deadlines—for example, two days before scheduled bulky waste collection, users receive a reminder to place old items in front of their homes on time, while a week before the deadline for utility fee payments, a notification arrives preventing unnecessary late interest charges. At the same time, through the photo report function, the application enables citizens to directly participate in maintaining the safety and tidiness of public space—when someone spots an illegal waste dump in a grove, a broken bench on a children's playground, or faulty public lighting leaving part of the settlement in darkness at night, they can report the problem to the responsible services through a simple process of photographing and sending the location via the application, enabling faster and more efficient responses than ever before.
Two-way communication as the foundation of participatory democracy
In addition to passive information and problem reporting, Prolink incorporated into the application a proposal platform that enables genuine two-way interaction between citizens and local government—through this functionality, every user can express their ideas, comments, or initiatives, such as proposals for installing additional benches on the riverside promenade, organizing open-air summer cinema, or introducing new facilities in the children's park. This encourages the development of participatory democracy at the local level and gives citizens the opportunity to actively shape the vision and priorities of the community in which they live, while the municipal administration gains valuable insights into the real needs and desires of its residents—resulting in smarter decisions about budget allocation and projects that truly correspond to what people want and need.
Digital transformation of a small community with big ambitions
The implementation of this mobile application is particularly significant because it demonstrates how even smaller local communities can successfully carry out the digital transformation of their services—while much is often said about smart cities and advanced technologies in large urban centers, the Municipality of Petrijanec proves that smaller environments can provide their residents with services that until recently were reserved exclusively for metropolises. During development, Prolink paid special attention to adapting the application to the real needs and habits of users in rural areas, ensuring that the interface is intuitive and easy to use even for those who are not particularly tech-savvy, while simultaneously advanced enough to satisfy even the most demanding users who expect top performance and reliability from digital tools.
Why the municipality of Petrijanec chose Prolink
When selecting a partner for the development of this strategically important application, the Municipality of Petrijanec sought a team that not only possesses technical knowledge but also deeply understands the specificities of the public sector and the need for transparency that accompanies it—Prolog emerged as the natural choice precisely because of its holistic approach to development, where emphasis is placed not exclusively on technology but on creating a solution that will truly improve citizens' daily lives and facilitate the work of municipal services. Throughout the entire development process, from initial discussions to testing and implementation, Prolink acted as a partner who listens, understands, and proposes solutions that exceed initial expectations—while simultaneously ensuring long-term sustainability and the possibility of upgrading the system in accordance with the community's future needs, whether through the integration of new functionalities or adaptation to changes in legislation and technological standards. If you are considering introducing digital tools to improve communication with your citizens or users, whether you represent local government, a public institution, or a private company seeking to enhance relationships with your community, we are here to discuss the approach and scope that best suit your specific needs and goals.