Posted on 06th August 2024
Local Needs and Digital Transformation: What Does Digital Transformation Mean To Local Government?
In today's world, local governments and healthcare providers at all levels are embracing digital tools to deliver services more efficiently, transparently, and affordably. This “digital transformation” is crucial for meeting the needs of modern society who expect convenient, 24/7 access.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation agency, exposing crucial flaws in our technological infrastructure and showing clearly the need to move systems into the digital space. Analysis from reports into the UK Governments handling of the Covid-19 highlighted the need to be prepared technologically, with systems like track and trace, in order to meet today’s challenges.
We’ve all heard the buzzword, "digital transformation," but what does it really mean for the public sector and why is it important?
What is digital transformation?
Digital transformation in the public sector isn't just a buzzword; it's a fundamental shift in how local government and healthcare providers operate. It's about leveraging technology to:
- Improve service delivery: Make it easier and more convenient for users to access government services.
- Increase efficiency: Streamline internal processes, reduce administrative across finance and system ecosystems.
- Enhance transparency: Create accessibility for user to access clear information about government activities.
- Empower employees: Equip public sector employees with the latest tools and technologies, like cloud technology, to future proof the sector, increase its reliability and to ensure it operates more effectively.
The UK Government's Crown Commercial Service (CCS) defines digital transformation in local government as: "using technology to improve the way the council serves its local residents and other community stakeholders. It can enable citizens to access the services they need quickly and at their own convenience, whilst also facilitating more efficient and effective administrative processes for council staff."
In essence, digital transformation is about harnessing the power of technology to create a more responsive, user focused, resilient and efficient public sector.
What Does It Mean On the Ground?
The cornerstone of a successful digital transformation agenda in the public sector is for local governments and public service providers to identify their specific challenges and set clear goals.
It is important to consider the vagueness of the meaning behind digital transformation however in this case, this should be considered as an opportunity. This enables organisations to define digital transformation in their local terms and what it means to their organisation and interests.
This targeted and local approach allows for the development of a tailored digital transformation plan. These goals could centre around automating manual processes, creating finance and procurement system efficiencies, providing better service or care, or simply creating data management efficiencies. This enables the public sector’s local bodies to define digital transformation in their local terms and what it means to their own systems and process.
When Durham County Council in the U.K. launched their new citizen engagement strategy, Altogether Better Durham, they had three main goals: give citizens more choice, gain better citizen insights, and increase efficiency. To achieve these goals, they transitioned toward a digital approach to public services using a digital government services solution, called govService.
In addition, Wexford County Council focused their digital transformation goals on improving their internal finance system workflows. The Council’s new finance system in Integra Centros enabled their team to streamline various internal process, create new efficiencies from the new technology and most importantly save valuable time for their team members. https://www.ibsoftwaresolutions.com/case-studies/wexford-county-council-integra-centros
This process of localisation enables bodies like councils and healthcare providers to also understand what their local needs are and outline their own digital transformation goals and objectives.
Why is Digital Transformation Important in the Public Sector?
Digital transformation isn't just a trendy buzzword; it's crucial for the public sector to thrive in the modern world. There are two key reasons why this is important.
Financial Challenges: As the public sector purses become ever tighter, it is crucial that efficiencies and cost savings are identified to help offset and future proof these bodies. Digital technology, especially across the internal finance systems, has a role to play in supporting this. Automating manual tasks, streamlining workflows, and optimising resource allocation can significantly reduce administrative burdens and free up staff time. This translates to cost savings for governments and allows them to allocate money and resources more efficiently and effectively into the areas that help make the most difference in our society.
Better quality service: Users expect convenient, 24/7 access to public services. Digital tools like online portals, mobile apps, and self-service options can make interacting with government agencies faster, easier, and more efficient as well as promote greater openness by providing citizens with clear information about government activities, budgets, and performance metrics. This fosters public trust and allows for more informed citizen engagement.
Fundamentally, the ability for public sector bodies to decide on their own objectives and agendas will assist local bodies in tailoring their own digital transformation journeys to help them reach their own localised goals and address local challenges.
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