VAR handle: NIC Inc.
Hails from: Olathe, Kan.
Born-on date: 1992
Top dog: Jeff Fraser, chairman and CEO
Raison d'tre: Self-proclaimed "People Behind e-Gov"
Getting it done: Experiencing consistent growth since 1999, this solution provider decided to place all of its eggs in the e-government basket long before it became the buzzword of the decade -- and has since left most competitors scrambling to catch up.
That's because NIC does a lot more than just enable citizen services for state and local governments; the company joins forces with the agencies to determine what constituents demand, then customizes solutions accordingly. NIC gets paid only if the government customer sees a tangible return, absorbing technical and development costs and sharing a portion of the fees generated from electronic transactions with the government partner after the solution launches (and, yes, NIC calls them partners, not customers).
"We promise to improve our government partners' online services, and we keep our promise," Fraser says. "At the same time, the governments we work with keep their promise to maintain mutually beneficial contracts with NIC so we can continue to deliver e-government services that benefit their citizens over time ... Public-private partnerships work best when the actions of the government and the private sector provider make each side indispensable to the other."
And that's what makes NIC unique. The VAR considers choosing innovative technology just as important as targeting progressive states that are willing to invest in the process. That includes Iowa, which implemented an administrative rules portal for citizens and businesses to locate and track changes to specific government rules. Then there's Nebraska, whose Web portal has seen five major redesigns, added more than 150,000 pages of content and incorporated citizen alerts, a dynamic news page and live online customer service.
NIC's latest focus? Enabling cross-boundary services that integrate multiple agencies and levels of government.
"Our government partners understand that technology can simplify complex, multistep processes, and we are helping them deliver these solutions," Fraser says. "There is no silver bullet in our approach -- just hard work that has led to consistent success."
More VARs You Should Know:
|
Public Display: Hot Scenes From XChange Public Sector Hundreds of VARs, integrators, vendors and analysts descended on the Sawgrass Marriott in Jacksonville, Fla., last week for XChange Public Sector. Here's a look at what you missed if you weren't there, from heated health-care and government discussion to just plain heat. |
|
CRN 2010 Public Sector Awards: Meet The Big Winners CRN saluted four vendors and five VARs and integrators at XChange Public Sector in Jacksonville. Have a look at who took home the hardware this year, including Public Sector Integrator of the Year. |
|
10 Burning Questions For The Public Sector Channel As XChange Public Sector kicks off in Jacksonville June 12, here's a look at some of the most pressing issues for public sector VARs and integrators, from cybersecurity and firm-fixed-price contracts to green technology and small business priorities. |
 More
Slide Shows |
