4 specialized and interconnected portals are intended for more than 5 million users: firearms owners, professionals, prefectures and federations

CGI has supported the French Central Service for Arms and Explosives (Service Central des Armes et Explosifs or SCAE)—a service attached to the Ministry of the Interior in charge of ensuring cohesive public policy for the control of weapons and explosives for civilian use—in the deployment of its new information system on weapons.

In order to support the transformation of SCAE’s policy for the control of weapons and explosives for civilian use, the service embarked a few years ago on a major project to modernize its tools and simplify the management of weapons, notably through the implementation of a new weapons information system.

This creates a digital ecosystem between gunsmiths, owners and the administration and pursues three major objectives:

  • Securing weapons and components with real-time traceability
  • Simplifying administration with automated verification of certain documents, global firearms authorization valid for 5 years, removal of the need for a declaration receipt, and automatic generation of a European firearms card
  • The digitization of all the administrative procedures of users via their personal space

France’s Ministry of the Interior once again renewed its confidence in CGI, one of its long-standing partners, for the implementation of this complex and high-stakes project.

We are supporting the Ministry’s teams from start to finish on the project, through consulting services, needs assessment, implementation and finally, change management and user training.

The system is made up of four specialized and interconnected portals to facilitate the exchange of information. These portals are intended to serve 5 million arms holders, 2,500 arms professionals (manufacturers, importers, gunsmiths, etc.), 400 prefectural agents and 4 federations (hunting, shooting, clay pigeon shooting, and skiing/biathlon)

The system also may be consulted by civilian and military police.

“The creation and deployment of our new information system is a major project, which aims to simplify both the procedures for the owners of weapons and the management of weapons by the State services and which is part of a purposefully digital and interactive approach ... This large-scale project contributes to public security and respect for European law and thus contributes to the modernization of the State. CGI was able to support us throughout this project thanks in particular to the close proximity of the teams,” said Jean-Simon Mérandat, head of the SCAE.

“We are proud that the Service Central des Armes et Explosifs (Central Service for Arms and Explosives) has chosen to rely on CGI for this key program which is helping to radically transform arms management in France. Our proven knowledge of the challenges of the public sector coupled with the commitment of our teams, who remain fully mobilized alongside the Ministry of the Interior, have greatly contributed to the success of this project", said Philippe Bouron, Senior Vice-President Public Sector at CGI.

Originally published as a news release by CGI in France on February 24, 2022.