By LEE WALKER
lee.walker@dgif.virginia.gov

RICHMOND
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has partnered with Brandt Information Services Inc., an industry leader in outdoor licensing and recreational technology solutions to design, develop, and implement the new and innovative “Go Outdoors Virginia” recreational licensing and registration system which will launch in July.  The new registration system will greatly enhance opportunities for people to participate in, and enjoy many of the state’s exciting outdoor recreational activities.

“Brandt Information Services will provide DGIF with an innovative, best in class business solution that offers our boating, fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching customers a level of services like never before,” said Bob Duncan, Executive Director.  “By utilizing Brandt’s Go Outdoors suite of tools and support services, the department is expected to increase its license and boat sales goals, streamline its online licensing and registration processes, and improve customer service.”

Brandt’s Go Outdoors Virginia system offers a suite of applications, tools, and services that are customized to DGIF’s needs in Online Licensing Solutions, Boat Registration Systems, Reporting & Data Analysis Tools, and Marketing & Customer Retention. These tools will allow DGIF to:

• Retain, engage, and recruit customers

• Simplify agency operations and generate better data and information

• Increase agency revenue and state conservation efforts

Go Outdoors Virginia provides residents and visitors of Virginia a simplified and secure approach to obtain and renew their fishing and hunting licenses, purchase recreational passes, register and renew boats, securely submit required documentation, and process all applications and payments online.  This will essentially create a ‘one-stop-shop’ for all their licensing, boating and recreational needs.

“The complete online registration process provides quick and easy online access, minimizes paperwork, decreases wait times, and provides better customer service to its users,” said CEO John Thomas.  In addition to purchasing hunting and fishing licenses and recreational permits online with their desktop or mobile devices, customers may also apply over the telephone or at any of the nearly 500 Virginia retail license agents that use the Go Outdoors system to issue licenses. “More and more agencies like Virginia’s Department of Game and Inland Fisheries are looking to modernize their licensing technology and transition to these types of highly customizable retail-based systems,” said Thomas.

Brandt is currently developing the next stages of the Go Outdoors Virginia system with new functionalities and flexibility including a state of the art mobile app which is expected to be launched in fall, 2016.

DGIF’s new enhanced online system will provide customers with many exciting benefits, including creating their own customer account.  By doing so customers will be able to manage their own licenses and preferences using a unique customer ID number, making the user experience seamless and convenient.  For more information on Brandt Information Services, visit:www.brandtinfo.com. For more information about Go Outdoors Virginia, visit: gooutdoorsvirgina.com.