The statewide technical architecture was updated to support e-commerce applications with the purpose of creating a single shop front for the state and making it an attractive place to do business. Citizens want to use credit and debit cards to do business with the state, and they want an electronic shop front oriented to them, as users, not to the state's organizational structure. They are not interested in which agency handles which service. Citizens are frustrated by the internal silo effect. In addition, they want all factual information available online, but do not want government to lose the human touch.
Many government services are already available online, but more are on the way.
We cannot continue to tell people their government only works 8 to 5, five days a week. We must provide them with some other options for service. By 2002, North Carolina's business partners will be able to receive and make payments through the Web, and access key financial data, such as the status of a payment for a vendor. Organizations transacting with the state will have access to all the forms, information and contact people online, and will be able to conduct business with the state using secure digital signature devices. Similarly, North Carolina residents will be able to take care of their personal business with the state from their homes using smart cards, public key digital certificates or commercially standard security devices.