In today’s rapidly evolving public sector landscape, state and local governments face mounting pressure to deliver grants and relief programs that are not only efficient and transparent, but also intuitive and accessible for every citizen. The stakes are high: whether responding to a crisis like a pandemic or administering ongoing support programs, agencies must process complex applications, ensure compliance, and distribute funds quickly—all while meeting rising public expectations for digital experiences. Publicis Sapient, leveraging the power of Salesforce, is at the forefront of this transformation, enabling agencies to deliver people-first, experience-led grants management at unprecedented speed and scale.
Grants and relief programs are inherently complex. Eligibility criteria are nuanced, documentation requirements are stringent, and the volume of applications can surge overnight—especially in times of crisis. Legacy systems and manual processes often create bottlenecks, leading to delays, errors, and frustration for both applicants and staff. At the same time, citizens expect the same level of digital convenience and clarity from government services as they do from leading private sector brands. Meeting these expectations requires more than just technology; it demands a holistic, experience-led approach.
At Publicis Sapient, we believe that successful digital transformation starts with people. Our Salesforce Experience Design approach puts the needs of citizens and agency staff at the center of every solution. We combine deep public sector expertise with proven methodologies to deliver rapid, scalable, and measurable results.
We begin by engaging stakeholders—citizens, agency staff, and partners—in collaborative workshops to map current pain points and envision future-state experiences. This ensures that every digital touchpoint, from application intake to award notification, is intuitive, accessible, and equitable. Features like multi-language support, accessibility compliance, and mobile responsiveness are built in from the start, ensuring no one is left behind.
Speed is critical, especially when urgent relief is needed. Our agile, low-code approach to Salesforce configuration enables agencies to launch minimum viable products (MVPs) in as little as two to three weeks. Automated workflows, preconfigured forms, and cloud-based access allow for quick adaptation to changing requirements and surges in demand. Integration with financial and case management systems ensures seamless, end-to-end processing.
Our Salesforce-based solutions support every stage of the grants management lifecycle:
When a state government faced a surge in emergency rental assistance applications during the COVID-19 pandemic, Publicis Sapient delivered a Salesforce-based solution in just two weeks. The platform became a one-stop shop for applicants, nonprofits, and utility companies, processing 40,000 applications and distributing hundreds of millions of dollars in relief in the first round alone. Residents praised the clarity and convenience of the digital process, while agency staff benefited from automated workflows and reduced manual effort.
A nonprofit tasked with administering COVID rent relief needed to process thousands of applications from households in crisis. With Publicis Sapient’s Salesforce solution, they launched a digital application process in weeks, enabled remote case assignment and processing, and distributed over $75 million in rent relief to more than 11,000 households in a single fiscal year. Real-time reporting and audit-ready documentation streamlined compliance and communication with funders.
Agencies that embrace experience-led, Salesforce-powered transformation realize:
With over three decades of digital transformation experience and deep expertise in public sector and Salesforce solutions, Publicis Sapient is uniquely positioned to help agencies deliver on their mission. Our approach combines strategy, design, engineering, and data to create holistic, human-centered solutions that deliver real, measurable outcomes.
In a world where the next crisis is always around the corner, having a flexible, scalable, and transparent grants management system is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Publicis Sapient stands ready to help agencies harness the full power of Salesforce to accelerate citizen services, build trust, and make a lasting difference in the lives of those they serve.
Ready to transform your agency’s grants and relief program management? Let’s connect and explore how experience-led, Salesforce-powered solutions can help you deliver rapid, transparent, and impactful public sector services.