Not every question requires a full process. During the consultation phase you sometimes simply want to know what residents think, start a conversation about a specific location, or collect ideas that you had not thought of yourself.

That is why, over the coming months, we are expanding Publiq with three new features, all developed directly from conversations with our customers. Local authorities and other organisations working in the public space shared the challenges they face when gathering opinions, ideas, and reports from residents. Those conversations led to three new solutions: the Quick Question, Map Consultation and the Ideas Hub.

Three ways to engage communities

The three solutions are built on the same principle: not every question requires a full consultation process. That is why we are developing three new features within Publiq, each designed for a different purpose.

1. Quick Question: consultation without barriers

Not every issue calls for a full survey. Sometimes a single, well-worded question is enough. With Quick Question, organisations can quickly create a poll or ask a simple question, allowing residents to respond to a specific proposal or design. It is easy to set up and just as easy to take part in.

2. Map Consultation: conversations about a place

Our Smart Reporting Module was originally developed for individual reports, such as a broken streetlight or a pothole. In practice, however, we have seen customers increasingly wanting to use the map for something more than reporting issues. They want to start conversations about specific locations.

That is why we are expanding the map so it can also be used as a consultation tool. With Map Consultation, residents will be able to comment on a map or design, discuss a location with both the organisation and each other, and highlight the places that matter most to them. Instead of collecting individual reports, the map becomes a space for meaningful conversations.

3. Ideas Hub: collecting ideas you had not thought of

While Quick Question and Map Consultation focus on responding, the Ideas Hub is designed to gather new ideas. Residents can submit suggestions around a particular theme, while others can comment on and vote for their favourites.

Mobile, simple and fast

All three developments are built around one clear principle: mobile first. People always have their phone with them, so taking part in consultation should be as easy as replying to a message on the go. That is why we are designing and testing all three features with mobile devices as the starting point, always prioritising simplicity and ease of use.

Data, privacy and trust

This way of consulting inevitably requires us to collect more information from end users. That comes with the territory. At the same time, we remain committed to keeping the app available for anonymous use. Anyone who prefers not to share personal information should still be able to participate fully.

In fact, we are working on solutions that allow consultation requiring identity verification to remain as anonymous as possible as well. Collecting data and maintaining trust are not opposing goals. They should go hand in hand.

Better questions, better insights

We are also continuing to invest in our reporting capabilities. Artificial intelligence will help us bring together responses from different consultation tools, to identify patterns and uncover trends.

We will always do this on our own terms: responsibly, reliably, and without the risk of hallucinations. AI helps us discover insights more quickly, but conclusions and decisions will always remain in human hands.

Meaningful engagement brings these three together

Each new feature addresses a different challenge. Quick Question lowers the threshold for asking simple questions. Map Consultation turns a location into the starting point for a conversation rather than just another report. The Ideas Hub helps organisations discover ideas they may never have considered themselves. Together, these new features respond to many of our customer’s consultation challenges and encourage meaningful engagement.

At Publiq, however, collecting input is not the end goal. The real strength lies in communication. We do not want to become a box-ticking tool that organisations use simply because consultation is required. Our aim is to help organisations gather meaningful insights and provide honest feedback about what happens with that input. Ideally, everyone who contributes an idea should also hear what happened to it.

That feedback helps prevent one of the biggest frustrations in consultation: people taking the time to contribute, only to hear nothing afterwards. Communication also remains important during the quieter periods of a project, when there is little visible progress. Whether this functionality becomes part of the initial release or follows later remains to be seen. Either way, it marks another step towards a unique position within the consultation landscape: not just collecting information, but maintaining honest meaningful communication with stakeholders throughout the entire project, from the first question through to completion.

What comes next?

We expect the first adjustments to become available towards the end of August, after which we will continue to develop all three solutions step by step. We look forward to sharing more updates as they become available.