GOSS iCM vs Loop Municipal Websites

GOSS iCM is a content management system for teams creating and managing high-traffic, business-critical websites. It can manage an unlimited number of websites, intranets, and microsites through one administration interface. Content managers can configure user privileges and approval steps before publishing, while media can be uploaded, categorised, and tagged for site use. Responsive themes and templates are built around GDS standards; GOSS says its themes are WCAG compliant. Website capabilities include Apache SOLR search, faceted filtering, SEO, and multilingual publishing. The wider Digital Platform adds forms and workflow designers, user management, reporting, logging, APIs, and integration endpoints. Its integration engine supports REST, SOAP, and XML APIs, direct database connections, and webhooks. GOSS says its cloud infrastructure uses AWS and Google Cloud Platform regions in London and stores and processes data in the UK. The company states that its information security management systems are ISO 27001 certified and its internet-facing infrastructure is assessed under Cyber Essentials Plus. Pricing is on request.

Loop Municipal Websites provides municipal websites and resident apps, with a focus on small and medium-sized communities. Loop says it serves over 90 municipalities across North America. Administrators manage website and app content through Loop CMS in one place. Website modules include emergency notices, business directories, polls, tax calculators, online forms and payments, council meetings, waste collection, trail maps, snow removal, and problem reporting. The resident app supports push notifications, news, events, waste reminders, and problem reports, with content shared between the app and website.

Municipalities can select a pre-designed template or work with Loop on a partial or fully custom design. Loop can migrate existing site content. Pre-designed sites typically take about one month; custom projects typically take three to four months. The company says its sites are hosted in a secure private cloud and built to WCAG Level AA standards. Training and ongoing direct support are included at no extra cost. Pricing is on request, and an optional applicant-tracking feature is available for job postings. The service is listed for Android, iOS, and web.