Tech

2.7 million citizens and businesses received e-Albania services from the removal of counters in May

2.7 million citizens and businesses received e-Albania services from the removal

Every new thing we face is somewhat of a challenge. So it was normal that, when the government announced that from May 1, 2022, physical counters would be closed and state services would go online, we raised questions like: How ready are we? Will we be able to get used to the new system? Will we be taking online applications soon? Will we be able to get the services on time? The concern has been great, but only in perception, as it seems that in practice the numbers prove the opposite: how citizens and businesses got hold of the virtual "counters" quickly. The time spent to obtain these services was shortened and above all, the financial cost (where we are all most sensitive!) was reduced.

But let's talk numbers to the end. The e-Albania portal offers 1,227 electronic services (answer to our concern about whether we will find all the services we need). 2.7 million citizens and businesses received services in e-Albania (proof that, despite the concern, we quickly got our hands on the portal). Within a year, 6.5 million electronically stamped documents were generated (proof that digitization was used to the maximum!). 8.5 million applications for services were registered. 195,545 applications for licenses, permits and customs authorizations for citizens and businesses. 4,027,626 civil status certificates with electronic stamp were generated, in Albanian and six foreign languages. On the other hand, the system has not only thought about foreigners in our country, but also about compatriots abroad,

But beyond the numbers and quantitative analyses, the qualitative analyzes also speak of a successful transit in digital services, which successfully faced great challenges such as the pandemic or cyber attacks. Pensioners and the most vulnerable groups of society received online service. Paper medical reports were eliminated, thanks to the automation of the doctor-patient-employer report. The teacher-student-parent ratio had the same fate, thanks to the digitization of educational services. Farmers also benefited online from the National Support Scheme. Procedures for businesses were simplified, for example, they can be provided with the fiscalization certificate within 60 minutes of application.

Nuk është çudi që, ndryshe nga shërbimet e kryera fizikisht, shërbimet online ecin më shpejt, pasi këto shërbime janë të aksesueshme jo më në 8-orarëshe gjatë 5 ditëve të punës, siç ndodhte me sportelet fizike, por 24 orë në 24, 7 ditës të javës. Pa ndalim. 58 sisteme digjitale ndërveprojnë në Platformën Qeveritare të Ndërveprimit që gjithë ky fluks kërkesash të adresohet në kohën e duhur.

Kur analizon gjithë këto shifra, vlerësimi që Shqipëria ka marrë për procesin e digjitalizimit nuk është aspak surprizë. Jo më kot vendi ynë u rendit ndër më të avancuarit në shërbimet digjitale nga Brukseli, në një raport të Komisionit Evropian. Edhe OKB-ja e renditi Shqipërinë të 8-ën në Evropë për zhvillimin e shërbimeve publike elektronike, kurse një institucion prestigjioz financiar si BERZH-i u shpreh vitin që lamë pas se vendi ynë është i pari në Ballkanin Perëndimor për transformimin digjital.

Nëse e tashmja është pozitive, e ardhmja do të jetë edhe më pozitive, duke pasur parasysh që programe të ndryshme janë zhvilluar e po zhvillohen për të rritur një brez digjital: në disa shkolla ka nisur kodimi që në klasë të parë, laboratorë TIK janë hapur në të gjithë vendin dhe një sërë projektesh synojnë edukimin digjital të të rinjve.

The present and the future have a common denominator: Digitization!