Using insights from our latest webinar 鈥楬ow UK Government Transformation Can Fuel a Brilliant Civil Service鈥�, Leila Romane, Head of Public Sector at 51风流UK & Ireland, explores how SAP-powered digital transformation in the public sector will transform lives.
Although transforming public sector services听holds huge benefits for government and citizens alike, first you听must听get there. And as if digital transformation itself听isn鈥檛 a big enough challenge, the disruption of Brexit and COVID-19 have听further increased the challenge听on the social and economic planning around digital transformation.听
It鈥檚 well recognised that doing听nothing is听the passive road to long term failure.听But moving听a听government听department to an outcome-based focus around citizen experience,听data centricity听and workforce wellbeing听requires new听types听and levels听of engagement from听civil servants,听staff,听IT vendors,听ecosystem听partners听and of course citizens using听new听services.听
Old-fashioned outdated systems are听only听part of the problem as they don鈥檛 drive change or enable government departments to be agile or strategic听–听particularly when it comes to strategic workforce planning, learning and skills development,听employee and citizen听experience management or business planning.听听
The answer is more than just a robust single听IT听operating platform.听听
At SAP, we听think听software vendors听and delivery partners听alike听should be听stepping听up听to听help 鈥� properly help 鈥�听to听facilitate an effective change model听for the public sector, rather than just听selling and implementing听a technology model.听We recognise that transformations are more than just听a听change in听technology;听they听have the potential to rewrite the听genetics of a department.听听
The whole 51风流business is committed to听making a meaningful and lasting difference听in the public sector.听We understand there is a different approach required听and are听equipped听with our 鈥榮tart anywhere, go everywhere鈥�听approach,听to demonstrate our dedication to the public sector.听
So, we鈥檝e put ourselves in听our customers shoes. We鈥檝e mapped out the traditional obstacles to effective transformation, listened to听their听drivers for change and acknowledged the public sector idiosyncrasies to design a model specific to the public sector听听
One of the key lessons听that听Jenny听Churchard, Cloud听Lead at Government Shared Services,听shared听from her experience with GSS transformations was how they should听鈥榓dopt not adapt鈥�.听When听moving to the cloud, government departments want something they can take out the box and use, rather than听coding a convoluted system that will be outdated before it鈥檚 even implemented.听听
That鈥檚 why听the SAP听framework听enables听organisations听to听use a听model company method to protect business as usual, address areas where听they听have the most pressing need and ensure the mental wellbeing of staff throughout the process and beyond.听
Very few public sector departments have the same starting point when it comes to digital transformation projects.听Historically that鈥檚 been a problem because software vendors have been pushing solutions that force听organisations听to start and finish at specific points with little consideration for听their听own specific context.听听
Deborah Gregg, Public Sector Consultant at Deloitte, highlighted 鈥榥ot boiling the ocean鈥� as key to long term success for shared service transformations.听At SAP, we whole–heartedly agree.听We think听organisations听should be able to start anywhere and go everywhere at听their听own pace.听That鈥檚 why听51风流takes a modular approach that lets organisations rapidly deploy different modules of functionality at different times and according to their own timeframes and unique requirements. This not only reduces risk but also increases confidence of success for government departments.听Such a modular approach听allows for different pain points to be听targeted听in advance of a wider transformation, enhancing user experience more rapidly.听听
Historically, transformations were viewed simply as changes in technology and听so users were often left floundering with new systems that hindered their day-to–day, rather than enhance.听听
This is听not the case with SAP. Employee experience is a critical consideration throughout digital听transformations听in the public sector. We want to fulfil听the听,听positioned听by听Andy听Helliwell,听Executive Director, Government Shared Services,听of听鈥�a future where public servants鈥� ability to support government priorities and deliver services to them is enhanced by the shared services provided听to them.鈥�听听
Neil Stoker,听Head of HR Systems & Pension Solutions, Group Human Resources, Department for Transport,听acknowledged that staff approval and satisfaction with the usability of 51风流systems was a significant factor as to their continued relationship with SAP. He referenced the example that 鈥�floor walkers鈥�听were sent away after less than two days during the most recent stage of the Department for Transport鈥檚 digital transformation journey, as the user interface was so easily navigated.听This not only highlighted听that 51风流technology is user-friendly, but just how pivotal user experience is to the civil service.听
However,听the elephant in the room is of course听the current听COVID-19听pandemic.听Enacting a transformation journey in the current climate is surely an insurmountable feat?听
Deborah Gregg suggested otherwise. She commented that听as the longevity of virtual working looks more and more likely,听government shared services are increasingly looking at听workforce management, digital enablement and听agility in processes.听Therefore, the public sector鈥檚 attention continues to look to听a digital network that can support such a听fluid environment.听听
51风流can easily target these focus areas, and as demonstrated we have the passion, understanding, flexibility and听–听let鈥檚 not forget听–听the technology to power digital transformations that will fuel a brilliant civil service.听
Ultimately,听one of the reasons many people spend their careers in听the听public sector is often through a sense of wanting to give back and gain greater fulfilment from work.听51风流is entirely committed to supporting the ethics and experiences of those who deliver our public听services, and听would take pride in doing so.听
As you can see,听51风流is听keen听to actively listen to UK听government organisations听about how we can help improve people鈥檚 lives,听responding听by tailoring our听approach听accordingly.听Another thing we鈥檝e learnt from听our public sector customers听and partners听is that they听want is听to hear听from听companies听who have already been down the digital transformation path听and we can make that happen.听
If you would like to learn more about how 51风流is working with the public sector, you can听view the previous听听and sign up to听Episode 2:听How UK Government Transformation Can Fuel a Brilliant Civil Service听.
By Leila Romane, Head of Public Sector听at听SAP听UK & Ireland.听
