Accountant General Dept's mobile app wins global prize

Singapore

THE Accountant-General's Department (AGD) of the Ministry of Finance has clinched its first international award - for a mobile app that makes it easier for vendors to do business with the Singapore government.

Its Vendors@Gov app bagged the "best mobile government service award" at the recent World Government Summit (WGS) held in Dubai.

The three-day event, which ended on Tuesday, is an annual affair organised by the United Arab Emirates government; this year's edition attracted more than 4,000 participants from 139 countries, including Singapore.

The "best mobile government service award" is given to government entities to encourage the development of creative and innovative solutions and applications for smartphones that offer high-quality services to users.

AGD's win came in the "economy and commerce" category, one of nine under this particular award which attracted entries from government entities.

Vendors@Gov, the AGD's first mobile app launched last June, enables the government's vendors to submit electronic invoices to all public agencies, check the payment status and update details on the go.

They can also receive alerts on the status of invoices and accounts and keep track of their projected cash flows. The system alerts users as soon as payments are received or if invoices are rejected, and promptly notifies them of changes in vendor account status; it also conveys broadcast messages.

At the WGS on Tuesday, AGD group director of finance transformation and technology Goh Mien Zo and financial operations director Cher Ming Hui received the award from UAE Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

MOF said the Vendors@Gov app is part of AGD's strategy to strengthen the "last-mile delivery" of government services to its stakeholders, which includes businesses that transact with the government.

The app has been downloaded more than 4,000 times to date. The MOF said its target audience includes businesses registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, small and medium-sized enterprises, sole proprietors and partnerships which transact with the government.

This is the third time the Singapore government has won an award at the WGS.

In 2015, the National Environment Agency won for its my ENV mobile app in the "environment" category; the year before, the Land Transport Authority won for its MyTransport.SG app in the "transport" category.