By Forum Staff
City Department of Finance (DOF) Commissioner Preston Niblack on Thursday officially debuted a redesigned agency website for the department, reorganizing DOF’s many online resources in a streamlined, customer-oriented site that provides visitors a faster, more user-friendly experience. The updated site, created in partnership with the Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI), improves accessibility and the user experience to make it easier for New Yorkers to navigate agency services and quickly find the information they need related to DOF. Today’s announcement marks the first comprehensive redesign of DOF’s website since 2016 and highlights DOF’s commitment to the continued modernization of the agency.
“The launch of DOF’s new website offers a user-centered experience tailored to meet the needs of our valued customers throughout New York City,” Niblack said. “I want to acknowledge the dedication of my colleagues at DOF and our partners at the Office of Technology and Innovation who have worked tirelessly on this important effort. Whether you’re a homeowner seeking a property tax exemption, a driver paying a parking ticket, a developer filing a tax map change, a business seeking guidance on your taxes – it’s now easier for you to find and access the services you need.”
With approximately 800,000 visitors generating 2.5 million hits per month, DOF’s website has served as a vital resource for New Yorkers to access a wealth of information and services. In the past, this significant amount of information made navigating the website difficult and led some users to seek help through other avenues, such as 311 or in-person at DOF Business Centers. Utilizing customer-focused research, the updated website emphasizes user experience by organizing content based on the DOF services New Yorkers are looking for first and foremost. A redesigned homepage presents the site’s most frequently accessed features, and a new predictive search bar as well as quick links to commonly used online tools and services makes finding information about DOF’s payment services, benefit programs, and more, easier to find. The redesigned site is also more accessible and utilizes ADA-friendly text to ensure equal access to information and services from DOF. Additionally, an enhanced mobile experience allows users to enjoy a seamless and responsive interface across various devices, making it easier to interact with the agency.
This successful redesign resulted from a partnership between DOF and OTI’s Digital Service team, which contributed digital product strategy, user research, technical approach, and the design system necessary to build an improved site. The Digital Service team’s work with DOF is the latest in its collaborative, user-focused efforts to provide New Yorkers with better interactions with city government. In 2023, Digital Service also worked with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services to re-platform a simple, streamlined Jobs NYC site that doubled the application rate by making it easier for new talent to search and apply for public sector jobs.
“New Yorkers deserve a seamless, modern experience when interacting online with city government – and this revamped site delivers upon that promise,” said Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser. “Across this administration, we are using technology to democratize access to information so that working families, jobseekers, business owners and millions of residents are better able to obtain the essential services, benefits, and opportunities our city offers. I thank Commissioner Niblack and the Department of Finance for their commitment to serving New Yorkers and for their partnership with OTI’s Digital Service team on this impactful project.”
