Today’s digital citizens demand that public service organizations start providing services in a new and different way. This also offers government departments an opportunity to transform by leveraging digital technologies.
In Belgium, this transformation is starting to take shape. For example, Accenture has recently been invited to help the Federal Public Service for Information and Communications Technology (Fedict) create a strategic information plan to improve government IT systems in Belgium.
This involves reviewing all aspects of the communications and IT functions across 32 agencies in the federal government to shape a comprehensive three-year strategic plan that will support the federal government’s goal of developing an efficient e-government program.
Cloud computing is one digital technology ideally suited to e-government, providing agility, flexibility, responsiveness and greater collaboration across government departments. In a separate report, Government Transformation is Up in the Air, Accenture has identified three key areas for European governments to focus on when adopting cloud computing solutions:
The development of private and hybrid cloud systems: One huge advantage of cloud computing is that it allows services and information to be shared between government agencies, and as such governments should develop private cloud services that a number of agencies can use. Over time, private clouds will become community clouds as government bodies share cloud components and work together.
Look at the platforms citizens use to access services, and keep it simple: The ideal scenario is one entry point for citizens and businesses to access all government services, any time, and through any channel. Citizens increasingly expect this simplified platform, providing a suite of services and experiences, and over half of them want to conduct their business digitally in the future.
Privacy and security: These challenges must be addressed at a national level and in the context of the European Union. Concerns over data security and third party data access in the cloud are hampering the adoption of public cloud services among European governments. Yet cloud computing is not inherently insecure. In fact, it can be more secure than existing IT systems.
Learn more about Accenture’s work with public service agencies around the world and Delivering Public Service for the Future.
Read the findings of an Accenture survey of citizens in 10 countries to determine their perceptions of digital government
