Digitalizácia v prostredí miestnych samospráv, súčasnosť a výzvy do budúcnosti

The topic of digitization resonates in Slovakia and around the world, both in the corporate and public sectors. It is a natural result of technical, economic, and social development at home and in the world with significant economic, social, and individual-level impacts. Both Slovakia and the European Union have set strategic goals in this area and are interested to fulfilling them. In our paper, we present the topic of digitalization to the widest possible range of readers, because, especially from the professional public, there are voices about the lack of information on the issue. We define it against related concepts as computerization (electronization), smart cities, and industry 4.0. In the article, we aim to focus on digitalization in the environment of local governments, we present selected examples of possible digital solutions from self-government practice, but we also reflect on the challenges and barriers that currently hinder the application of digital solutions in the practice of local governments to support in this way the implementation of digital solutions in practice, and also to point out the importance of further research in this sphere and outline its further direction.