Digital Transformation and Cloud: A Path to More Flexible Government

Digital transformation has varying degrees of relevance for any organisation, from simple digitisation of paper processes to a complete change in core operations.

For government agencies across Australia and New Zealand, digital transformation promises to streamline interactions with citizens and provide a platform for more flexible service delivery. More flexibility will enable agencies to react to changing social and economic conditions.

The “why” of digital transformation in government is clear – without digital products and processes, administrative services will fail to keep up with community expectations and wider industry trends.

For government, digital transformation must be more than putting an existing service online such as digitising a driving license. True transformation can only be achieved by redesigning how government works, using digital technology and data, rather than just the technology itself. It should have a mandate to change the way the agency operates, from customer service experiences through to data integration.

The benefits of leveraging cloud services for digital transformation include a change in how applications are delivered and consumed. With cloud on your side, long implementation times can be reduced and applications can be accessed from any mobile device. Cloud enables agencies to try new and innovative ideas without a lot of upfront investment.

Another important strategy is to develop a digital-ready culture. This includes adopting a “test and learn” culture, one that embraces change and whereby the agency and its’ people are not afraid of failure. Fail should be considered as a “first attempt in learning”.