How the Emerging Technologies can bring Disruptive change Across UK Public Sectors
Over the past decade, the public and private sectors have witnessed significant growth in implementing various emerging technologies. Shifting from legacy IT systems to modern technologies brought a lot of benefits to the organizations and private sectors that opted for it. Like other countries, the UK's private & public sectors have also shifted to leverage the emerging technologies. It helped reshape various enterprises & the public sectors rapidly by improving resource allocation, optimizing data storage costs, information security, etc.
Modern technologies like cloud computing, blockchain, AI, IoT, robotics and automation, Virtual & Augmented Reality (VR and AR), etc., hold immense potential to optimize various government & public sector operations. This article is a quick walkthrough of how emerging technologies can bring disruptive change from legacy systems to modern technological infrastructure across various public sectors in the UK.
Understanding Emerging Technologies
Emerging technologies are the latest, most advanced, and most evolved forms of technology that have a remarkable impact across different domains & industrial sectors. Unlike traditional systems, emerging technologies can benefit by reducing work through automation, minimizing cost, eliminating system downtime, and bringing return on investment (ROI) for organizations using them.
Emerging Technologies that can help Enhance the UK's Public Sectors
Several emerging technologies can bring productive change to the legacy infrastructure of the public sector. Here is a list of emerging and modern technologies the UK's public sectors should embrace to smoothen their daily operations.
1. Cloud computing and cloud technologies:
The cloud has become the cornerstone of digital transformation. Opting for cloud technologies, the public sectors of the UK can enhance delivery services, bolster data security, improve the scalability of tasks, and boost collaboration across multiple agencies or departments. Furthermore, the cloud brings agility to banks and healthcare sectors, breaking down silos and elevating cross-functional operations. It also helps public sectors reduce day-to-day operational costs. Since the cloud follows the pay-as-you-go model, organizations have to pay only for what they use. According to a report, 78 percent of organizations are implementing cloud strategies to modernize the technology stack & enhance business growth.
2. Blockchain as a decentralized trust technology:
Blockchain is another emerging technology that delivers unprecedented opportunities to enrich operational transparency, trust among peers, and accountability through tamper-proof records. These sensitive data blocks can help store transactional records, regulatory compliance, contracts, and other financial assets. All cryptocurrencies are already using blockchain technology. The UK's public sectors, such as banks, insurance, & other financial institutions, should also leverage blockchain technology to reduce fraud risks and data manipulation. Identity management systems for cybersecurity that use blockchain as their foundation can promote secure authentication with seamless access globally.
3. Revolutionizing Service Delivery with Artificial Intelligence (AI):
The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) has also brought significant change in delivering various services across various UK public sectors. According to McKinsey’s report, by 2030, around 70 percent of companies (public and private) across the globe will adopt at least one form of AI technology. By designing intelligent programs that can learn on their own & carry out tasks autonomously, public sectors can enhance quick decision-making, automate routine tasks, & reduce operational costs. With the evolution of generative AI, public sectors can deploy virtual assistance, chatbots, and personalized support systems across online services. It reduces the burden on humans and helps streamline various inquiries related to public sector services. Logistics, healthcare, online government platforms, and various other sectors can seek advantages from AI.
4. Internet of Things (IoT):
Another emerging technology is the IoT. It can introduce a massive change in public sector operations by integrating and connecting sensors & devices running on top of programs. Through these programs and applications, employees can remotely connect everything to the internet and control them with some degree of automation. Public sectors that want to build smart infrastructures, automated utility management, and emergency response systems can opt for IoT technologies. With the massive adoption of IoT across various sectors, the IoT market will surpass USD 3352.97 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 26.1 percent from 2023 to 2030.
5. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR):
These are immersive technologies that are achieving tremendous traction across various industries. These technologies are helping healthcare systems, civil engineering, educational sectors, and e-commerce systems streamline operations while keeping citizens engaged. According to Statista's report, the VR & AR market will grow at 10.77 percent (CAGR 2024 to 2028) annually, resulting in a fiscal growth of USD 58.1 billion by 2028. Doctors and nurses can perform surgical simulations through VR technologies. Educational and training programs become more immersive and 3D with the help of VR and AR. Sectors like tourism and cultural heritage can attract visitors by virtually exploring historical monuments, sites, landmarks, etc. Civil engineers can understand construction better through VR and AR technologies.
Conclusion
We hope we have provided a crisp idea of the emerging technologies the UK government should foster and public sectors must utilize to harness the power of modern technologies. Apart from the mentioned technologies, various other technologies, such as Big Data, 5G technology, nano-tech, 3D printing, etc., hold tremendous potential to help enterprises and organizations improve efficiency and foster innovation in day-to-day workloads. By embracing this digital transformation, public sectors across the UK can empower citizens while reducing the overall cost. Again, with strategic investment in public sectors, top investors and financial players can continue innovation while creating a long-lasting yet positive impact on the citizens of the UK.
Here's where VE3 can play a crucial role in facilitating the adoption and integration of these emerging technologies within public sectors in the UK. By providing comprehensive consultancy, implementation support, and continuous monitoring, we empower organizations to navigate digital transformation effectively and realize the full potential of our digital solutions for enhanced efficiency and innovation. For more details visit us now.
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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.
Ellie Huckle
Ellie joined techUK in March 2018 as a Programme Assistant to the Public Sector team and now works as a Programme Manager for the Central Government Programme.
Annie Collings
Annie is the Programme Manager for Cyber Resilience at techUK. She first joined as the Programme Manager for Cyber Security and Central Government in September 2023.
Austin Earl
Austin joined techUK’s Central Government team in March 2024 to launch a workstream within Education and EdTech.
Ella Gago-Brookes
Ella joined techUK in November 2023 as a Markets Team Assistant, supporting the Justice and Emergency Services, Central Government and Financial Services Programmes.