Ageing Infrastructure: High Costs and Security Risks
According to Rodolphe Malaguti, Product Strategy and Transformation at Conga, poor data structures and legacy systems are hindering the potential of AI in transforming public services.
Taxpayer-funded services in the UK, from the NHS to local councils, are losing out on potential productivity savings of £45 billion per year due to an overwhelming reliance on outdated technology—a figure equivalent to the total cost of running every primary school in the country for a year.
Inefficient Processes
A report published this week highlights how nearly half of public services are still not accessible online. This forces British citizens to engage in time-consuming and frustrating processes such as applying for support in person, enduring long wait times on hold, or traveling across towns to council offices. Public sector workers are similarly hindered by inefficiencies, such as sifting through mountains of physical letters, which slows down response times and leaves citizens to bear the brunt of government red tape.
The Challenge
"The public sector still relies heavily upon legacy systems and has clearly struggled to tackle existing poor data structures and inefficiencies across key departments. No doubt this has had a clear impact on decision-making and hindered vital services for vulnerable citizens," explained Malaguti.
Transforming Public Services
In response to these challenges, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle is announcing an ambitious overhaul of public sector technology to usher in a more modern, efficient, and accessible system. Emphasizing the use of AI, digital tools, and "common sense," the goal is to reform how public services are designed and delivered—streamlining operations across local government, the NHS, and other critical departments.
The New Tools
The new tools and changes will help to tackle the inefficiencies highlighted in the report while delivering long-term cost savings. By reducing the burden of administrative tasks, the reforms aim to enable public servants, such as doctors and nurses, to spend more time helping the people they serve. For businesses, this could mean faster approvals for essential licenses and permits, boosting economic growth and innovation.
Conclusion
The government’s upcoming reforms and policy updates, where it is expected to deliver on its ‘AI Opportunities Action Plan,’ will no doubt aim to speed up processes. Public sector leaders need to be more strategic with their investments and approach these projects with a level head, rolling out a program in a phased manner, considering each phase of their operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the current state of public sector technology?
- The public sector is still heavily reliant on legacy systems and has struggled to tackle existing poor data structures and inefficiencies across key departments.
- What are the key challenges facing public sector technology?
- Inefficient processes, outdated technology, and poor data structures are hindering the potential of AI in transforming public services.
- What are the benefits of the new tools and changes?
- They will help to tackle inefficiencies, reduce the burden of administrative tasks, and enable public servants to spend more time helping the people they serve.
