Government’s ‘2022-2025 Roadmap for Digital and Data’ creates an enabling environment to unlock digital transformation
The Central Digital and Data Office’s strategy Transforming for a digital future: 2022 to 2025 roadmap for digital and data aims to transform public services, creating a more efficient digital government that provides better outcomes for everyone.
It has identified six missions to meet those aims:
- Mission 1 – Transformed public services that achieve the right outcomes nation
- Mission 2 – One login for government
- Mission 3 – Better data to power decision-making
- Mission 4 – Secure efficient and sustainable technology
- Mission 5 – Digital skills at scale
- Mission 6 – A system that unlocks digital transformation
For members of the public, the promise of this strategy is exciting. The pandemic has changed our expectations of service delivery – whether it's buying groceries, checking our bank account or seeing a doctor, we want to be able to do it quickly, easily, and from our mobile phones. If successful, this strategy will make our interactions with government a lot smoother, easier, and closer to what we have become accustomed to.
For tech suppliers, there is much to be pleased about as well. The strategy speaks to the critical importance of technology in delivering modern, effective, and customer-centred public services. In particular, missions 3 and 4 speak to how data and technology will be used to transform the delivery of public services. For example, under Mission 3 ’all departments will have access to a data marketplace (including a data catalogue, standards and governance models) to rival best practice across public and private sectors‘. Likewise, under Mission 4 ’Government will systematically identify and capture opportunities arising from emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and quantum computing‘. The strategy clearly embraces the use of innovation and new technologies.
While it is easy to get caught up in the potential of this document, the reality is this isn't the government’s first or only digital strategy. However, the true difference in this particular strategy lies with Mission 6 – a system that unlocks digital transformation. Unlike previous strategies, this one focuses on creating an enabling environment for digital transformation. Under this mission, ’CDDO will work with HMT, Finance, Commercial and IPA to address systemic barriers to digital transformation including financial processes, business case and impact tracking challenges. CDDO will support departments to fully implement these’. Efforts to remove the practical obstacles which make it difficult for government departments to procure and use innovative technology will make a positive difference in delivering the aims of the strategy.
Furthermore, accountability and leadership are baked into the document. Each mission is sponsored by a permanent secretary who is set to provide leadership for and commitment to its delivery.
Finally, the roadmap comes on the heels of the DDaT playbook, which was launched at techUK headquarters in April. Developed in consultation with tech suppliers, the playbook seeks to make tech procurement easier and more effective. It sets out guidance on how digital projects and programmes are assessed procured and delivered in central government departments arms like bodies and the wider public sector.
Despite having been here before, there is still much to be hopeful about. This road map not only embraces innovation and new ways of delivery, it also addresses the practical barriers to change and seeks to create an environment that allows digital transformation to take root. techUK’s upcoming Digital Transformation in the Public Sector Week will explore a range of issues impacting digital transformation – from innovative technology, to legacy IT – and look at how the tech industry can support that transformation.
Heather Cover-Kus
Heather is Head of Central Government Programme at techUK, working to represent the supplier community of tech products and services to Central Government.