ABQ Times

The City of Albuquerque's Planning Department has launched its upgraded software platform, ABQ-PLAN, which promises improved functionalities for users to manage individual projects, submit plans, schedule inspections, and pay fees. The upgraded platform, called Albuquerque's Planning Logistics and Networking (ABQ-PLAN), features a new user-friendly portal and dashboard.

The transition to this new system from its predecessor was mostly smooth, though some users encountered technical difficulties. These issues, which affected a limited number of users, have included problems accessing files, uploading issues, and timeout errors. The Planning Department has been actively supporting those affected and working to resolve these concerns, expressing appreciation for users' patience during the process.

On February 28, the Planning Department reported these issues to Tyler Technologies, the vendor for the software. Since then, the Department has collaborated with applicants to process paperwork manually while addressing the technical problems. Despite these challenges, the majority of users have been satisfied with the platform and have praised its enhanced user-friendliness.

Alan Varela, Director of the Planning Department, stated, “Typically, large software implementations take a little time to work through, in the long run this upgrade will drastically improve the process for everyone from large contractors to home remodel jobs. In the meantime, we have escalated this issue to the highest levels we can with the vendor.” He added that Tyler Technologies is aware of the software problem, is monitoring the situation, and is working on a permanent solution, though temporary measures have provided some relief.

Greg Savard, General Manager for Tyler Technologies’ Enterprise Permitting and Licensing Solutions, commented, "We continue to coordinate with the city to resolve the outstanding items. We apologize for the inconvenience users and staff may have experienced."