The city’s Development Services Department is opening its new customer portal today, promising customers to “expect an improved online experience for your business with DSD.” AB+C – for Austin Build + Connect – is the city’s portal for high-volume transactional activities, including applying for and paying for permits, scheduling inspections, checking project status and setting up demolition notifications. Neighborhood advocates may use AB+C as their entry point to conduct a public search for case histories of specific properties and projects, according to city spokeswoman Robbie Searcy. She noted via email that the city launched the current portal in 2015. The new portal, she said, “will improve system stability, speed of response and the user experience. The upgraded portal also sets us up to improve functionality and enhance online submittal options, all of which are planned as future improvements.” Visitors to the portal should be able to chat with Customer Service online to help navigate the new interface.
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor. More by Jo Clifton