Digital Transformation in Local Communities: A Case Study from Lower Austria

How a Tiny Austrian Village Is Leading a Digital Revolution

Digitalization in municipalities is meant to be practical above all—streamlining administration and making processes more efficient. Over the past two years, Lower Austria has actively driven this shift through its "Digital Municipality" initiative, setting targeted priorities to modernize local governance.

A prime example is Bischofstetten, a village of 1,200 residents in the Melk district.

The municipality already relies on digital solutions in daily life: The "gem2go" app keeps residents informed about news, events, and waste collection schedules. The platform has since been expanded, allowing local clubs to independently post their own events—a low-threshold approach that significantly improves communication within the community. Plans are now underway to further expand digital services, with work currently in progress on the "DAHOAM Community App", a concept born from a hackathon.

The Hackathon

The hackathon was part of Lower Austria's broader digitalization push. Through webinars and workshops, participants gathered expertise, which was then put into practice at the "digiWORKSHOP"—a municipal hackathon held at the House of Digitalization in Tulln. Ideas were brainstormed, refined, and ultimately implemented.

In Bischofstetten, students, local officials, and business representatives collaborated on the "DAHOAM Community App", designed to showcase local businesses, offers, and promotions. The goal is to make regional shopping more appealing. Mayor Gerlinde Muhr was full of praise: "It was impressive to see the innovative ideas that emerged from the hackathon."

While the app is not yet available, the underlying concept has been passed on to an IT service provider, according to officials. The proposal is currently under review and may be integrated into existing software at a later date before being rolled out to the public.

Focus on the Digital Municipality

The provincial initiative has struck a chord: Eight municipalities spent six months advancing their digital capabilities. Each assessed its starting point, identified needs, and developed or implemented tailored projects. Concrete measures included online appointment booking systems and support services for setting up the Austrian digital ID (ID Austria).

Beyond Bischofstetten, the municipality of Raxendorf (also in the Melk district) seized the opportunity to go digital, with a focus on introducing an electronic file and document management system (ELAK).