Techwire has been querying IT leaders in government and the private sector about what trends they see in government technology in 2018. Today, the last installation in the series appears, featuring two figures from industry:
Jeff Baldo, Senior Manager for Strategy Business Development at Salesforce; former AIO and CIO of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Data is the new currency of government.
Timely, targeted, smartphone-ready business models have become the new norm. This has done more than reset our expectations — it reveals how much data can be both generated and harnessed from our day-to-day interactions. This is why we’re seeing artificial intelligence, or AI, and predictive analytics take off like never before: Both offer new ways to deliver exceptional, personalized service experiences, but only because they have can rely on the kind of statistical significance that only comes from large data sets. Think about the number of fitness trackers, smart meters and digital assistants (such as Alexa or Siri) that have become household items in recent years; technology once reserved for an episode of The Jetsons is now readily available.
As this wave of technological innovation continues to take shape, it’s going to turn data into the next competitive differentiator, impacting every major industry (government included).
Tomorrow’s leading organizations will be those that understand how to capture more information, garner better insights, and make the kind of data-driven decisions that keep the mission relevant. Bill Eggers, executive director for Deloitte’s Center for Government Insights, commented on this phenomenon in a recent episode of Salesforce’s Our Digital Nation podcast: “No technology is going to play a more important role in all of our lives over the next 10 years than cognitive technologies or AI. None.” The sooner departments and agencies recognize this, the better prepared they will be for the next wave of technological innovation.
So, what does this all mean for today’s priorities — for 2018’s priorities? Focus on taking processes digital. Invest in the tools, practices and platforms that are capable of unlocking more data inherent to mission-critical activities. Replace legacy IT with fast, agile, innovative technology that captures more information about the preferences, demands and genuine needs coming from customers at the heart of the mission.
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Tracie Wilson, National Director of Government Solutions, Digital Map Products Inc.
This year, 2018, will be a year for innovation, consolidation and integration. Public entities have many disparate databases and legacy systems that house data in many different places. Data is more powerful when it is easily accessed, visualized and deployed. Cloud-based platforms allow for multi-entity collaboration using multiple databases working together for real-time, data-driven decision-making. Out-of-the-box, configurable platforms mitigate the resources needed, the expense of specialized consultants and the long, multi-phased timelines for execution.
Also, APIs and plug-ins that stream data directly into customized applications will eliminate the need for costly updates and maintenance. This delivery mechanism makes big data accessible to even the smallest public entity at a fraction of the cost and resources required.
2018 will be a year where solutions outweigh problems and upgrading a legacy system is no longer unfeasible. Last year was a year of, “Wow, I didn’t know that was possible," however 2018 will see many reach for the clouds.
