States’ new digital strategy aims to deliver ‘long overdue’ upgrades
The States intends to reboot its stalled MyGov project within the next 12 months as part of a new digital strategy published today.
It said it wanted digital innovation to transform government services and enable a modern, efficient and inclusive public sector.
By 2029 it wants to make 75% of public interactions with the government digital, and see 80% of payments made online, with a single digital portal for government services.
‘We recognise that many people feel upgrades to the States’ digital offering are long overdue,’ said Ge Drossaert, chief digital and information officer at the States.
‘This is why we have developed this robust strategy, tracking against some ambitious key performance indicators, to ensure smart, people-first digital services are developed and deployed as soon as possible. Put simply, we want our digital offering to make all our lives easier and straightforward.’
However it is noted that the 35-page strategy makes no reference to States digital partner Agilisys, with whom the States signed a much-criticised 10-year, £200m. contract in 2019 for the management and ongoing development of most of its IT estate.
The report does reference ‘assembling the right digital team, driven to undertake change to ensure end goals are achieved as per our digital landscape, and to formulate the digital transformation of our businesses’.
An internal digital transformation team for the programme will transition to a ‘business as usual’ team, at its conclusion.
The States said that the goal was to be a ‘digital lighthouse for innovation’ and ‘to enable organisations and people in the Bailiwick to flourish in a digital age’, while not cutting off those who prefer traditional customer services.
Mr Drossaert said: ‘The term digital no longer means just an IT system. Instead, it is an enabler for our whole community. Digital, therefore, is not just about technology, it is about transforming the way islanders live, connect and work.’
Deputy Bob Murray, digital sponsor for the Policy & Resources Committee, added: ‘This new digital strategy is now setting the direction for the States to realise its digital goals. Digitisation is key for us as a government to improve and succeed, which is why it was included in the Government Work Plan.
‘Progress has focused on building the right foundation to define what we want in the strategy and we are confident it has set the right direction for our development to deliver solutions which will improve the community’s interactions with the States.’
THE STATES NEW DIGITAL STRATEGY
‘Our digital strategy aims to transform the States of Guernsey’s services by using technology to enhance the population’s quality of life, productivity, and leisure. The goal is to enable organisations and people of all ages and backgrounds to flourish in a digital age, while also ensuring that appropriate levels of customer-facing services are available for those who need or prefer them. Our ambition is to ‘be’ digital, and all the things that encapsulates.’
‘Being digital’ vs ‘doing digital’
The States said: ‘This statement highlights the critical distinction between merely implementing digital technologies vs truly embracing a digital mindset within the organisation. While "doing digital" involves using some digital tools and processes, "being digital" encompasses a holistic transformation that will impact our culture, strategies, and operations. We become digital to the core. The shift to "being digital" is essential for the States to unlock the full potential of technology and achieve sustainable, long-term success in the digital era.’
