Public Sector Bodies use Integration to Protect Investment

admin January 25, 2018 9:55 am At a time when budgets are under pressure, public sector bodies need to get the most from their spending. This applies just as much to IT projects as it does to anything else. Indeed, effective deployment of IT can help to stretch other budgets and make better use of resources overall. The Government is keen to encourage digital projects and has set up its own G-Cloud digital marketplace to help organisations find the right suppliers and specialists for their projects. Integrating Data In government and education, just as in private industry, data is often collected in isolation. It exists in silos that are not accessible to other departments, even though the data that they contain that could be useful. This leads to duplication of effort too, as different departments may be collecting the same information without being aware that it already exists elsewhere in the organisation. The first step towards integrating the use of data, therefore, is to conduct a thorough audit of what information is being collected, where it’s being held and how. You also need to consider the other side of the equation in terms of the information staff need to do their jobs. It’s important to take into account the views of people at the sharp end here, as their views about what is needed may be different from those perceived by management. Other Considerations Of course there are a number of things that need to be taken into account when looking for ways to integrate information systems. Not least is safe handling of the data and taking proper measures to ensure that sensitive information is kept safe and only handled by those authorised to see it. The requirements of GDPR – which comes into force next year – apply to public bodies just as they do to private industry. It’s crucial to find suppliers that are familiar with the requirements of government organisations too. Companies such as the W3 Partnership that are on the G-Cloud marketplace have proven experience in working with public bodies and are therefore a good place to start. Using trusted suppliers also helps to overcome the problem of finding staff with the appropriate specialist skills to undertake the project. These skills are expensive and may be hard to come by, which can be a particular problem when budgets are tight. Even when using external contractors, however, it’s vital to have someone within the organisation who can oversee the project. This should be someone at a sufficiently senior level to be able to get things done and who can call upon other resources internally if need be. This also helps to reassure staff internally that the project isn’t just being driven by external forces. Integration of systems can deliver major benefits for government operations at all levels. These are not only seen in terms of cost, but also in streamlining operations, and making sure that data is available as and when it’s needed. In the long term, this enhances the ability of the organisation to adapt and to respond to change. Previous PostNext Post

Finance and the Digital Divide – Don’t Get Left Behind

admin January 25, 2018 9:54 am Businesses across all industry sectors are looking for ways to integrate applications and systems to make their processes easier, quicker, and to provide a solid framework for growth and change. Nowhere is this truer than in the financial sector. Customers are demanding easier access to their accounts from the web and from mobile apps, but at the same time businesses are under pressure to ensure that their systems are secure and compliant with regulatory requirements. New challengers There’s added complication in that new, agile FinTech companies are increasingly challenging the established players with innovative and disruptive business models. In order to compete, existing companies must be ready to adopt newer technologies. The core of finance is increasingly moving away from the high street bank or building society and into smartphone apps. Gaining an edge in the industry is no longer just about providing a product with attractive returns, it’s also about offering new and user-friendly ways in which to interact with the customer and address the everyday problems and demands that they face. This shift becomes more critical as the millennial generation – who have grown up with mobile access – become the dominant consumers and place greater demands upon their financial providers to keep up. A digital presence on its own is no longer enough; it has to be the right digital presence, delivering on the customer’s demands. This, however, presents its problems, even for new challengers. Digital worries You would expect finance companies to be at the forefront of the digital revolution, and in many ways they are, but there are still a number of factors holding them back. Security concerns, worries over return on investment and a lack of appropriate skills are all cited as reasons for lack of progress on digital initiatives from some of the more established players. In order to progress their digital strategies successfully, companies need to look at establishing partnerships with providers who can help them attain their goals. They also need to appoint someone to their senior executive team who can act as a chief technology officer in order to drive digital initiatives. Skills required Bringing finance businesses into the digital era means that there’s demand for a new set of skills to drive projects forwards. This means adding data scientists, analysts, and consultants to the existing skill sets that are essential to business success. This raises challenges in finding and retaining the right staff and providing appropriate professional development after on-boarding. Since these talents are likely to be in high demand, it makes sense to look at outsourcing the more specialised tasks. What is clear is that established financial companies can’t afford to stand still. Any gap left in the market by a failure to act will quickly be filled by new and disruptive ventures. The finance sector is changing fast and adapting to the opportunities which digital offers. Any business which fails to respond to this change is likely to see itself rapidly falling behind and losing market share to its competitors. If you are looking for ways to integrate applications and systems our consultants are on hand to offer advise, or why not take advantage of our free proof of concept. Contact us now Next Post