Digital transformation is no longer merely an option for improving government services; it has become a cornerstone in building a more efficient and transparent regulatory environment. With the rapid development of digital services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, online platforms have emerged as the primary interface through which individuals exercise their rights and fulfill their obligations, and the success of any regulatory system is now linked to the extent to which its online platform successfully translates regulatory texts into clear and easy-to-follow practical procedures.
The Owners" Associations Program is one of the key regulatory initiatives that has contributed to the regulation of jointly owned real estate management, facilitating the establishment of associations, and empowering owners to participate in the management of their properties—which reflects the General Real Estate Authority’s commitment to developing this vital sector and promoting a culture of shared management.
However, digital transformation is, by its very nature, an ongoing process that does not end with the launch of the platform but evolves through practical application and feedback from users" experiences. Daily use often reveals opportunities for improvement that do not surface during the design phase, which is why feedback is one of the most important elements of any government platform’s success.
Based on the use of the Homeowners" Associations program, two observations have emerged that I believe are worth examining—not as shortcomings, but as opportunities to improve the user experience and increase the efficiency of procedures.
The first observation concerns the inclusion of official holidays in the nomination period for the association presidency. In practice, holidays reduce the actual time during which owners can view the candidacy announcement, complete the requirements, and coordinate among themselves, especially when the nomination period coincides with public holidays or seasons of low activity. Since the purpose of setting the nomination period is to enable shareholders to exercise their right to participate, it would be preferable to calculate the period in working days or to automatically extend it by a number of days equivalent to the official holidays, to ensure equality among all owners and guarantee a fair opportunity to run for office and participate.
The second observation concerns the lack of an automatic link between title deeds and existing homeowners" associations. It is natural for the real estate deed to be the primary reference for proving ownership status, and consequently, the association associated with the property should automatically appear in the owner’s account on the platform, without the need for any additional action. It is noteworthy that the system successfully sends notifications to owners, indicating that the necessary basic data is available. This makes completing the automatic linkage between ownership data and the association a logical step that contributes to simplifying procedures, reducing the burden on users, and reducing the need for inquiries and technical support.
The success of digital platforms is not measured by the number of services they offer, but rather by their ability to streamline procedures, reduce steps, and eliminate complexities that do not add value for the user. True digital transformation does not mean simply transferring a paper-based process to an electronic screen, but rather redesigning the process to achieve efficiency, speed, and clarity.
From this perspective, reviewing certain procedural details in the Owners’ Associations program represents an opportunity to enhance the user experience, increase participation in the associations’ activities, and achieve the goals for which the platform was created. Small improvements, while seemingly minor, often have a significant impact in reality and are reflected in the level of beneficiary satisfaction and their trust in the services provided.
The Kingdom has made great strides in its digital transformation journey, and its platforms have become a model for the region. Maintaining this excellence requires continuous development, listening to constructive feedback, and turning practical experiences into opportunities for improvement; because a successful platform is not one that is free of feedback, but rather one that continuously evolves in response to it.
@Dr_alkharji
