How IOT (Internet of Things) can create smarter, more connected public services (Guest blog by Civica)
The internet of things (IOT) already play a key role in creating smarter, more connected public services. We look at some applications and what is driving the need to make the most of this technology.
Making a difference across the public sector
Our recent blog post about the IOT looked at how it can build the “internet of us” by connecting citizens and communities with valuable insights. This post looks in more depth at how connected devices are already improving public services.
One thing is for sure: the public sector already sees the value of connected devices. Civica research showed that 91% of local government leaders thought they had the potential to benefit their sector. What is more surprising is the degree to which IOT technologies are already bringing about a quiet revolution in service delivery.
Look at almost any public sector service and IOT is making a difference. As we are approaching winter at the time of writing, we could start by pointing out how it is making it more cost-effective to keep roads safer in wintry conditions. Local authorities can use connected sensors and weather feeds to pinpoint precisely which roads need to be gritted, so they can deploy their fleets more efficiently.
Elsewhere in transport, IOT helps at the tactical level, for example with traffic lights that prioritise cyclists over motorists, as well as helping cities strategically plan and manage their entire infrastructure. A combination of pollution monitoring, vehicle identification and live congestion data can now support local authorities as they plan for the future as well as control traffic on a day-to-day basis.
What’s driving IOT?
While IOT has been made possible by ubiquitous wireless connectivity and an explosion in devices, its growth is often driven by the need to deal with urgent challenges in public services. In healthcare, the UK has some of the lowest levels of doctors and nurses in western Europe, with bed capacity less than one-third of Germany’s. Here, connected devices can take the pressure off services in diverse ways.
Now that it is possible for secure ID verification to be available online, they can enable citizens to self-serve, reducing the need for consultations and phone calls. In Northern Ireland, the launch of a COVID symptom-checker app reduced the number of daily helpline calls from 6,000 to 1,000 during the pandemic. And they can help providers themselves to be more efficient, for example with smartphone-based systems that cut the time it takes to manage tasks like shift scheduling and payroll.
Another IOT driver is sustainability: the urgent need to reduce the environmental impact of services. Here, the technology can help at distinct levels: by reducing the need for physical travel to cut transport emissions, using smart meters to optimise energy and water use or automating heating and lighting for greater efficiency.
The need for trust
IOT is at the heart of both central and local government plans to deliver better, digital services. But realising the true potential of this technology depends on trust. Citizens need to be clear about why they are being asked to share data, to have a choice about how it is shared and, crucially, to understand the value of sharing it.
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