July 2024 Margate City Commission Meeting.
Margate is investing in its future with a new, efficient software service to save the city money.
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software helps businesses manage their daily operations by storing, organizing, and using data. During the July 3 meeting, the commission unanimously approved a three-year agreement with Aclarian LLC.
Aclarian offers modules that include general tasks for city government, including financial apps, announcements, code enforcement, human resources integrations, inventory, permitting, projects and grants, task management, training, utility billing, and workflow management.
The agreement’s total initial cost is $387,475, which includes $324,975 for implementation and an annual recurring fee of $62,500.
After careful deliberation, the city’s ERP committee approved Aclarian according to a memorandum from Ismael Diaz, finance director. Factors considered included its simplicity for users, updated programming, streamlined data flow, flexibility, and price.
An important goal is for Aclarian to replace all the current Centralsquare modules and gradually phase out the city’s annual cost of $157,000. The finance department estimates savings of around $36,000 within the first six months after implementing direct interfaces with utility billing, code enforcement, business licenses, and building modules,” according to Diaz.
According to Diaz, the city will reduce its yearly costs by 79% by contracting with Aclarian. Aclarian charges fees based on the number of users, not by module.
This pricing model makes all Aclarian modules, present and future, available without additional costs. Additionally, purchasing and implementing Aclarian ERP software will offer the city more than $1 million in savings from the $ $2 million assigned funds reserved for purchasing enterprise software, according to Diaz.
Vice Mayor Arlene Schwartz praised the city staff’s work selecting the new system and was impressed by the significant amount of money Aclarian would save Margate. According to Diaz, the savings can be reassigned to other essential items such as emergency preparedness, revenue loss mitigation, and capital projects.
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