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In this commentary, we take a closer look at the current digital maturity of Singapore’s government and propose key principles for its further advancement in the realm of digital transformation. We reflect on the government’s progress to an advanced stage of digital maturity as defined by Gartner’s Maturity Model and identify areas for improvement, particularly in terms of fluid data sharing, advanced analytics, and predictive AI, including principles that could propel the government’s digital transformation journey forward.
Elevated digital maturity of Singapore’s government
Singapore’s journey towards digitalisation has been marked by the launch of a multitude of public applications, ranging from transactional tools like BizFile to citizen-centric platforms like ScamShield. With strategic initiatives on data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) since around 2015, Singapore’s government has progressed to what we view as Level 3 (Figure 1 below) on the Gartner Digital Government Maturity Model 2.0.
This five-tier model gauges the digital maturity of governments. This ongoing transformation has enhanced citizen services, improved governmental productivity, and empowered more informed decision-making.
Astonishingly, 99 per cent of government services are now digital end-to-end, fostering satisfaction among citizens and businesses alike. The international community has also recognised Singapore’s accomplishments in digital transformation through various rankings and accolades.
Figure 1: Government Progressed From Level 1 and 2 to Level 3 of the Gartner Digital Maturity Model — source: Various Singapore Government websites and Temus analysis.
Unleashing further potential through digital advancement
While commendable strides have been made, there remains untapped potential for achieving more advanced levels of digital maturity. Bridging the gaps to reach Levels 4 and 5 of the Gartner model requires a focus on seamless data sharing across agencies, the integration of advanced big data analytics, and pervasive predictive AI throughout the government apparatus.
Also Read: Why the growing UHNI population in Singapore is good news for Indian startup ecosystem
Necessity for next-level digital transformation
We advocate for the government to embrace digital transformation to elevate its digital maturity. Several compelling reasons underpin this imperative:
Navigating uncertainties: In an era characterised by volatility and complexity, enhanced adaptability is crucial. The escalating economic uncertainties, geopolitical tensions, and emerging social challenges underscore the value of bolstering digital maturity. By doing so, the government can effectively anticipate, mitigate, and respond to crises.
Overcoming legacy constraints: Legacy systems prevalent across agencies are often inflexible, limiting agility and resilience in the face of disruptions. Failure to modernise these systems can engender bottlenecks that hinder nimble responses to change.
Data accessibility and speed: Siloed government IT systems impede swift access to data across agencies. The current lead time for obtaining core government datasets on the Government Data Architecture (GDA) can be cumbersome. Rapid data mobilisation, as witnessed during the pandemic, necessitates a unified data landscape.
Harnessing emerging technologies: Cutting-edge technologies present opportunities to grapple with data surges and better serve citizens. This includes employing technologies like computer vision, X analytics, dynamic data stories, natural language processing, metaverse, and predictive AI to derive insights, enhance services, and predict trends.
Principles guiding next-level digital transformation
Outlined below are the key principles that could steer the government’s journey toward next-level digital transformation:
Principle 1: Unified data view
The government is already working towards a consolidated, real-time data view encompassing a wider array of agencies and data types. Doubling down on this initiative would expedite decision-making and enhance data pattern recognition for improved analytics.
Principle 2: Reinforcing AI
With AI making unprecedented advancements in recent months, the technology can positively impact strategic decision-making and service delivery. AI-driven insights derived from comprehensive big data analysis can enable proactive decision-making.
The government should leverage AI for policy prediction and formulating strategies to address diverse economic, social, and environmental variables. Furthermore, AI can be instrumental in optimising city operations and enhancing service delivery across agencies.
Principle 3: Accelerating tech modernisation
To enhance agility and user experience, the government can expedite the modernisation of legacy systems. Flexibility, integration, and user interface must be central to new system design, ensuring seamless data flows and a unified view of information.
Principle 4: Innovating with emerging tech
The government can adopt a two-pronged approach to innovation. This involves proactively identifying emerging technologies relevant to solving key challenges while simultaneously exploring how new technologies can tackle existing problems.
In the face of an increasingly volatile and complex global landscape, Singapore’s government must embrace adaptability across all dimensions, and I believe these four guiding principles will enable Singapore to achieve Gartner’s Levels 4 and 5 of digital maturity.
This transformation will pave the way for a digital government that is adaptable and forward-looking, even as Singapore seeks to preserve its prominence as a Smart Nation on the global stage.
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