The eCitizen Portal - Integrating Government Services Online in Singapore

The Singapore government overcame several hurdles to make the portal project successful. Though the basic infrastructure for implementing the portal project was developed in quick time, the major challenge before the government was ensuring that the different government agencies used a common architecture for the deployment of various e-services so that they could be interoperable and compatible with each other.

Another challenge was to ensure the continuous availability of funds so that the project did not get interrupted due to lack of funds. In addition, the Singapore government had to address many issues raised by the electronic provision of services...

The Singapore government continued its efforts to introduce new services and improve the portal's features (such as navigation and search results). In May 2002, the government launched a new service known as Application for Passport Online Electronic System or APPLES.

Using this service, citizens could apply, pay and submit their passport application in one integrated online transaction. Thus, citizens now had to visit the passport office only once, to collect their passports. APPLES also helped government officers in many ways...