The CouncilFirst Solution

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At CouncilFirst, our foundation is built on proven technology. That’s why we’ve partnered with Microsoft, leveraging the power of Dynamics 365, Azure, the Modern Workplace, and the Power Platform, to deliver a secure, compliant solution designed specifically for local government.

With the CouncilFirst solution, you’re getting a system that:

  • Delivers a trusted and familiar experience: Microsoft interfaces are tools your team already knows and trusts, so training time is reduced and adoption is seamless.

  • Integrates effortlessly across systems: Connect natively with Outlook, Teams, Power BI, and even legacy systems, ensuring data flows freely across every function.

  • Safeguards your council with enterprise-grade security: Data is protected on Microsoft Azure, meeting state and global compliance standards with encryption, logical data isolation, and rigorous controls.

  • Scales with your council: Built on resilient, hyperscale cloud infrastructure, the platform adapts to growth and supports innovation with AI and low-code automation.

  • Enhances community services: AI-powered dashboards and automation tools enable teams to do more with less, delivering faster, more innovative services that strengthen community trust.

With CouncilFirst, you’re not just upgrading your ERP, you’re future-proofing your council with the same Microsoft infrastructure trusted by governments and institutions worldwide.

Solution Key Features

  • Mobile Accessibility

    A mobile-responsive platform designed to support field staff and on-the-go service delivery. Council teams can access and update information in real-time, complete inspections, and stay connected, ensuring continuity of service regardless of location or device.

  • Modular Architecture

    Adopt only the modules you need, when you need them. Our modular architecture enables phased rollout, reduces project risk, and ensures a more manageable and tailored implementation experience that evolves with your council's strategic priorities and available resources.

  • User-Friendly Interface

    A clean, intuitive design ensures council teams can easily navigate and use the platform with minimal training. By reducing complexity and improving usability, staff can work more efficiently, adopt changes faster, and ultimately deliver a smoother, more productive experience for internal teams and the community they serve.

  • Microsoft Ecosystem Integration

    CouncilFirst integrates seamlessly with familiar Microsoft tools such as Teams, SharePoint, Office 365, Power BI, and Azure. This ensures smooth adoption, leverages your existing ecosystem, and enhances collaboration and reporting, without requiring users to learn entirely new systems.

  • Superior Reporting

    Advanced reporting tools give councils real-time insights with customisable dashboards, powerful filtering, and natural language queries. Gain instant visibility across departments, track KPIs, and generate clear, actionable reports to support informed planning and transparent governance.

  • Single Source of Truth

    All departments access the same up-to-date data, eliminating duplication and errors. With a single source of truth, councils can operate more efficiently, ensure consistency, and enable better collaboration across teams, improving service delivery and operational alignment.

A cloud management system made specifically for local government

CouncilFirst delivers an integrated, out-of-the-box, solution with a wealth of capabilities and modules to support Australian local government organisations and their unique challenges. Our cloud based, SAAS solution ensures long-term sustainability and adaptability to the changing landscape of local government operations.

CouncilFirst’s modular architecture allows councils to adopt some or all of our available modules, meaning councils can tailor the solution to their needs as they grow and evolve. 

Financial Management

Empowering your councils financial future, one transaction at a time.

Records Management

Efficient, compliant and secure. The future of records management.

Easily manage customer interactions and service requests with our unified, data driven CRMS solution.

Customer Request Management

Optimise your council’s procurement process with a secure, adaptable system for all buyer-seller scenarios.

Procure-to-Pay

Payroll and ESS

Improve your organisations productivity, avoid risk, and empower your employees.

Simplified rates management that ensures accurate, efficient revenue collection and compliance.

Rates Management

Standardise and refine inspection processes with automated scheduling, real-time reporting, and compliance tracking.

Inspections

Streamline work order creation, tracking, and completion to ensure efficient resource allocation and timely task execution.

Work Order

Streamline applications, permits, and licenses with automated workflows and compliance tools that improve oversight and efficiency.

Regulatory Management

 FAQs

  • CouncilFirst is purpose-built for Australian local government, combining deep sector expertise with the strength of Microsoft’s trusted technology stack. Our solution is designed around the unique requirements of councils, from regulatory compliance and financial management to customer service and community engagement. Built on Microsoft Dynamics 365, Azure, and the Modern Workplace, CouncilFirst offers a familiar and intuitive user experience that reduces training time and accelerates adoption. This unique combination of a council-specific focus and the backing of a world-leading technology provider means councils benefit from a reliable, scalable, and future-ready ERP platform that improves service delivery, compliance, and community outcomes.

  • Yes. CouncilFirst is used by small regional councils through to larger metropolitan councils. The solution is modular and scalable, so councils can adopt what they need and expand as their needs grow.

  • Each project is different, therefore timelines will vary based on specific project elements, e.g., number of modules and data migration needs. Our templated delivery approach allows for a faster, lower-risk implementation compared to traditional ERP projects. We’ll work with your team to set a realistic delivery plan, tailored to your business requirements and project objectives.

  • Yes. CouncilFirst is designed with integration in mind. Our open API ensure interoperability with your existing systems during the transition.

  • We provide comprehensive support both during and after implementation, including training, documentation, and access to our support team. Our team is there to support you through every stage of your project lifecycle. Ongoing improvements and product updates are also part of our commitment to customer success.

  • Yes. Our customer onboarding includes tailored training sessions, and our solution’s user-friendly interface helps staff get up to speed quickly.

  • Councils have reported improved operational efficiency, better compliance visibility, faster service delivery, and higher staff satisfaction. You can explore our case studies for real-world examples.