GDS this week looks at how technology trials with mobile solutions like iPads and Android tablets are helping people in the Cabinet Office share knowledge, and work faster and smarter. We also look at the increase in digital take-up of two key GOV.UK online services during the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
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Tom Read (Head of Technology Transformation): @thommeread
Matt Harrington (Digital Performance Analyst): @iMattHarrington
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Transcript
Tom Read (Head of Technology Transformation): We’re running a transformation programme to replace the Cabinet Office’s IT (information technology) from computers to the server side. We’re trying to demonstrate the new way of doing IT and we’re hoping other departments take this model and we get better IT across government. We gave 50 users across the Cabinet Office a range of equipment and applications and asked them to try things out. Document collaboration platforms are probably where we’ve seen the biggest take-up. People have found that being able to collaborate in real time with their colleagues in other buildings and when they’re working from home has just made them more efficient and saved them an awful lot of time. People loved having access to mobile solutions, so iPads and Android equivalents have really opened up the way people can work. The key difference in our approach is we’re starting with user needs. Traditionally IT projects are procurement driven. We’re starting with what the users want; we’re trying to understand what will make their lives better so that the technology can then get out of the way.
Matt Harrington (Digital Performance Analyst): On the performance platform over Christmas we saw an increase in the digital uptake in a couple of the transactions we monitor: the Lasting Power of Attorney, where we saw an increase in digital take-up to 20%; and Carers Allowance, where we saw an increase up to 60%, which is much higher than we’ve seen previously. We think that was due to the fact that online services are available 24/7 365 days a year, so during the Christmas period and the holiday period obviously that’s great for users to be able to access them when they want them, which is different from perhaps contact centres or other methods which may not have been available at that time.
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