Conference spotlights adoption of tech solutions in public management.

By THE STAR STAFF

State agencies and municipalities in Puerto Rico are accelerating the adoption of new technological tools to modernize public services, improve transparency and respond more efficiently to the needs of citizens.

That transformation process was one of the central themes discussed during the Granicus 2026 Client Conference, held over the weekend at the Marriott Stellaris Hotel & Casino, where more than 250 leaders from government agencies, municipalities and technology experts shared concrete initiatives that are already impacting public management on the island.

For two days, representatives from public institutions analyzed how the digitization of processes, the use of artificial intelligence and the development of new digital platforms are helping governments to offer more agile services, strengthen citizen participation and optimize administrative operations.

With 68 client municipalities and more than 20 commowealth agencies, Granicus brought together its government community to exchange experiences, present real cases of technological implementation and discuss solutions that respond to the demands of an increasingly digital environment.

“Puerto Rico is demonstrating that the digital transformation of government is not an aspirational concept, but a reality that is already changing people’s lives,” Granicus Chief Revenue Officer Amir Capriles said in his opening remarks. What we saw at this conference confirms that when technology is implemented purposefully, governments can respond faster, operate with greater transparency, and build stronger relationships with their communities.”

Among the topics discussed during the conference were new technological solutions designed to strengthen the efficiency of the public sector. One such solution was the Government Experience Agent (GXA), an artificial intelligence-based tool created to streamline interaction between governments and citizens.

Initiatives related to the development of responsible and sustainable tourism were also presented, in collaboration with Discover Puerto Rico, as well as strategies to modernize permit, certification and licensing processes through digital tools that reduce paperwork and improve operational efficiency.

The agenda also included a panel of mayors who discussed initiatives to improve the oversight of short-term rentals and strengthen municipal revenue collection through the use of technology.

The event also addressed strategies to strengthen citizen participation through real-time digital sentiment analysis tools, the development of electronic service portals, the optimization of adjudication processes and best cybersecurity practices for the public sector.

Municipalities such as Cataño shared their progress in digitizing administrative processes, including the management of public bids, reflecting improvements in efficiency, transparency and citizen service.