Making the case for digital transformation in government

This post is written by Vanja Pantic, senior content strategist at CitizenLab.

• The problem: Public servants can sometimes struggle to move forward with digital transformation aspirations.
• **Why it matters: **Digital projects can make governments more efficient and effective.
• **The solution: **Make a case to decision-makers to invest in innovative technology to help bring democracies into the 21st century.

Governments are constantly grappling with tumultuous changes, from public health emergencies to climate disasters and political instability, all of which require quick action. As a result, public servants have to reach deep beyond their comfort zones to come up with new ways to connect, engage, and inform their communities and teams of these rapid developments. Digital projects seem like an obvious solution, and yet many public servants still find themselves grappling with questions like: How can I bring innovative tools and techniques to our departments? How can I make the case to decision-makers that they should invest in new technology?

Making the case for digital innovation in government

While digital tools should not replace traditional engagement processes, they can complement and enhance the ways that governments work. As a GovTech company that equips governments of all sizes with community engagement software, we’ve learned a thing or two at CitizenLab about the best practices of digitisation.

With the recent explosion of digital tools and increased attention to digital access, now is the time for local governments to innovate.

In this article, we’ll share some of our top tips and benefits for public servants looking to move forward with their own digital transformation.

Benefit 1: Digital tools help increase government efficiency

By digitising their workflows, governments have an opportunity to get organised and un-silo their work. When one central tool works across different departments, public servants have the opportunity to centralise information for community members and foster more cross-departmental collaboration and analysis.

Benefit 2: Digital tools help governments work more effectively

Digital tools help public servants reach ambitious goals. With the same amount of time, you’re enabled to reach more people and dive deeper into the issues that affect your communities. Imagine avoiding duplication of efforts across departments while at the same time decreasing the amount of time you spend on analysing data – instead, you’ll be able to spend more time on continuous engagement with your communities.

Benefit 3: Digital tools help foster government innovation

In government, operations are often based on how things have always been done. By bringing new technology into your work, you can challenge that status quo and try new approaches to solving your community’s most pressing issues. Technological innovations can be a springboard for new ideas and improvements across the board, including attracting new talent and a more diverse workforce.

The overarching benefit of technology for governments

Tech tools, like CitizenLab’s digital community engagement platform, can help governments track their progress and more clearly demonstrate their processes to decision-makers and constituents alike. By using digital tools in tandem with offline processes, you can meet people where they are, reach more of your community, and be more responsive based on the data you get in the process. With the recent explosion of digital tools and increased attention to digital access, now is the time for local governments to innovate and bring their democracies into the 21st century.

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