The Market Validation phase for the CARMEN project covers a period of 18 months during which a wide range of tasks and activities will be undertaken by the project partners. The key aim is to validate the CRM platform made with existing open source modules on a European Level.

At the start of the project each participating city will pilot a number of citizen and business services by undertaking a Market and User Requirements Analysis.  Once the services have been selected the existing CRM modules will be integrated into the cities CRM platform and a pilot of the services can begin, thereby validating the technology (concept) and the services (real delivery).

The users who will be testing the services during the pilot phase will fall into two categories:

1) PA Users (who are a key target of the validation project, for it is the PA staff who will validate the CARMEN services from the technical and administrative point of view and assess their viability)

2a) End Users (Citizens, Enterprises, Organisations, who – in their daily interaction with the public offices – are the ultimate beneficiaries of the CARMEN services)

2b)End Users of the services are mainly citizens and enterprises operating in one of the city’s areas, but also visitors/assignees coming from other cities/countries

After the first test/pilot of the services the results will be analysed with a view to replicating the services in one or more other cities.  This analysis will help address the viability of providing these CRM modules and services at a European level and will activate cross-fertilisation among the partners through the exchange of good practice.

Finally the project will continuously disseminate the results and the knowledge of CARMEN not only within the participating countries but also on a European scale, through the collaboration of European networks; the goal being not only to improve awareness, but also to encourage Public Administrations across Europe to share the CARMEN experience.

For ease of implementation these activities have been split into work packages, which can be viewed individually using the links below.

Work Package 1 – Project Management
Work Package 2 – Market Analysis and User Requirements
Work Package 3 – CRM Platform and Services Set Up
Work Package 4 – Validation of CRM Platform and Services
Work Package 5 – Services Validation and evaluation
Work Package 6 - Dissemination

To find out more information about how these activities are progressing please do not hesitate to visit the 'Achievements' section of this website.