We explain how public sector organisations can fulfil their digital transformation goals while reducing costs and creating efficiencies in Civil Service World.
Technology is already transforming how government services are delivered. Digitising platforms and enabling citizens to self-serve is changing the way people interact with public services, which together with creating new efficiencies is freeing up teams to focus more of their resource on complex enquiries from the public.
But it is in the back-office where new technology is generating significant savings. Streamlining key administrative functions, such as HR, finance, payroll and procurement, using digital tools offers low-hanging fruit to boost efficiency while also cutting costs.
We’re helping our clients bring together multiple back-office systems and integrate them seamlessly into one easily-accessible, user-friendly interface using Enterprise Resourcing Planning (ERP) platforms.
Our Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solution, ProcessAutomate, is also enabling local authorities to automate repetitive back-office functions with 100 per cent accuracy.
Delivering digital transformation for the Department for Transport
One way that our clients are achieving significant benefits is from building these technologies into a shared services solution.
We rolled out a shared services solution for the Department for Transport (DfT) and its executive agencies, including the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Highways England (HE), the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Our work has helped to transform the department’s HR, payroll, finance and procurement operations, providing fully-standardised back-office services that are effective, efficient and allow our clients to drive forward core departmental objectives.
RPA is one key technology we have integrated into the delivery of business processes, supporting the completion of employee services and finance transactions.
A shift to cloud-based infrastructure also forms a key part of the strategy, which will see the business transfer the department’s two existing ERP systems to a cloud-hosted technology platform, in partnership with cloud services company Mobilise. As well as helping fulfil the government’s ‘Cloud First’ policy, the new infrastructure has reduced the cost of ongoing rack management by 45 per cent and eliminated the need for a ‘technical refresh’ of the department’s physical infrastructure. Overall, this will deliver a multi-million-pound saving over four years.
Realising the benefits of a technology-driven approach
New technologies are providing the tools for both local and central government departments to optimise their core processes, automating repetitive, labour-intensive tasks to enable staff to spend more time on critical, public-facing services. Partnering with a dedicated outsourcing provider allows the public sector to harness the benefits of this technology-driven approach, unlocking real transformation, productivity and profitability.
You can read our full article on Civil Service World here, and can find out more about our approach along with an in-depth case study of our work with the DfT here.
