Integrated systems as the foundation of smart cities of the future

Sarajevo, October 8, 2025.

Organized by the Bit Alliance and Skyline Communications, the 9th Smart City Forum was held today in Sarajevo, an event that has been gathering representatives of the IT industry, institutions and academia for almost 5 years to work together to improve the digital transformation of cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This year's forum was dedicated to the connectivity of systems, a topic that emphasizes the importance of cooperation between technologies, city services and digital platforms. Through the exchange of experiences and practical examples, participants showed how interconnected systems enable cities to function faster, more efficiently and sustainably.

Damir Maglajlić, CEO of the Bit Alliance, emphasized that the development of smart cities is not possible without the joint action of different actors: "Smart cities cannot be built in isolation. Synergy is needed between the IT industry, local government and the education sector to create an environment that supports innovation and the development of digital services. Our goal is to connect ideas, technologies and people through forums like this, who together can initiate concrete changes."

Through presentations and discussions, participants emphasized that connecting city systems does not only mean introducing new technologies, but also their mutual compatibility. When data from different areas, such as traffic, energy, public lighting and utilities, is unified and analyzed in real time, the city becomes more organized and better prepared to respond to the needs of its residents.

In this context, the DataMiner platform was presented, a technology that enables just such system integration. The platform connects different data sources in one place and provides a comprehensive overview of the public local government process, which facilitates planning, monitoring and decision-making based on real information.

Dean Muzička, Director of Market Development at Skyline Communications, explained the importance of this approach: “DataMiner shows how a whole range of different systems can be unified through a single platform. Cities thus gain the ability to manage all processes in a centralized manner – to know what is happening at all times and to react quickly when necessary. This is the essence of smart cities – technology at the service of a better and safer life for citizens.”

At the panel “Challenges and Opportunities for Smart Cities”, representatives of institutions and companies discussed the practical aspects of implementing smart solutions in local communities. It was emphasized that the transition to such a model also requires a change in mindset – from a traditional administrative approach to modern, data-driven decision-making.

Admira Kličić, Head of the IT Department of the City Administration of Prijedor, emphasized that the adaptation and integration processes are the most demanding, but also the most important step: “The biggest challenge is often the harmonization of existing systems and data. Each city has its own specificities, but they all share the same goal, for institutions to communicate with each other and for citizens to receive faster and better quality services. This is the path we want to take, step by step, with the implementation of solutions that are sustainable and beneficial in the long term.”

The participants agreed that connecting systems does not only mean technological innovation, but also strengthening trust, cooperation and coordination between sectors. It is precisely such connectivity that allows cities to use resources more efficiently, reduce costs and create a safer and more pleasant living environment.

The Smart City Forum continues the tradition of bringing together leaders and experts who believe that digital transformation is not just a trend, but a real need for modern communities. Through dialogue, cooperation and concrete examples, Bit Alliance and Skyline Communications have once again shown that Bosnia and Herzegovina has the potential to be part of the European trend of developing smart and connected cities.