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The state of Utah spent $46 million less over five years delivering services online than it would have by providing them by traditional means, according to a University of Utah study released Friday.
"The study shows that making the state's services available online is just smart business," Mark VanOrden, chief information officer and executive director of the Utah Department of Technology Services, said in a news release.
The study was conducted by the U.'s Center for Public Policy & Administration for NIC Inc., a company that provides online services for governments. It was designed to measure the financial benefit of delivering services online versus "offline"— through government offices, by phone or mail.
Data was studied for a five-year period between fiscal years 2007 and 2011. The average cost per transaction for providing a service online was $13.20 lower than the offline costs, the study found.
When multiplied by the number of online transactions, the state saved $46 million by offering an online option, according to the release.
The Salt Lake Tribune