The world is constantly evolving through artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, 5G, cryptocurrencies and the Internet of Things (IoT), leading to improved communication and information sharing. The increasing digitization and networking between people, organizations and machines are already having a significant impact on the global economy. Governments recognize this potential and are increasingly emphasizing digitalization as part of their strategies for economic diversification, sustainability and citizen well-being.

Technology is currently driving change in the public sector, enabling the development of the digital economy and better services for citizens. Modern business uses technology to facilitate activities such as online transactions and information sharing. This leads to more competition, a focus on innovation and improved productivity.

According to Gartner, global government IT spending is expected to reach $588.9 billion by 2023, up 6.8% from 2022. This growth is fueled by the increasing adoption of cloud computing, big data analytics and the Internet of Things in the public sector.

Value generation through digital transformation

As government organizations continue their transformation, there are a number of key points to focus on to enable productive and results-driven collaboration:

• Flexible activities thanks to flexible IT.
  Transform static IT into responsive, on-demand and resilient IT services that drive your agency’s agenda while reducing administrative burdens.
• Empower your people to be successful anytime, anywhere.
  Technology users in government are a mix of mobile workers and office workers. Today, they need to be productive everywhere – in agency offices, in remote locations and even on the go.
• Fuel innovation by making better use of data.
  Targeted data storage and processing simplifies and secures data management and transforms information into innovations and decisions for the benefit of citizens.
• More cyber security in authorities, services, applications, devices and systems.
  Leverage secure devices and infrastructure and integrate targeted solutions to protect user identities, data and systems and recover quickly from digital attacks.
• Build knowledge and innovation hubs.
  In order to understand skills development and the construction of the future workforce, we need to recognize that these aspects enable us to realize the full potential for the growth of the digital economy. New technologies have the potential to generate new forms of value creation and sales. With automation, employees spend less time on repetitive, automatable tasks and more time on valuable and critical work.

Some examples of digitization in the Belgian government:

• eHealth platform: The eHealth platform is a digital system that connects healthcare providers, pharmacists and patients. It enables the electronic exchange of medical data such as medical records, prescriptions and hospital admissions.
• tax on the internet: Tax-on-web is an online platform of the FPS Finance where citizens can submit their tax returns electronically. It allows people to handle their tax affairs more efficiently and reduce paperwork.
• It’s me: Itsme is a digital identity app used by various Belgian government agencies. With Itsme, citizens can identify themselves online and access various services, such as requesting government documents and signing official documents.
• eBox: The eBox is an online platform where citizens can receive important documents and communications from government agencies, such as tax assessment notices, social security notices and correspondence from various government agencies.
• digital counters: Many Belgian municipalities have electronic counters where citizens can request online services such as change of address, birth or marriage certificates and parking permits.

Succeeding in the digital economy requires a combination of technical acumen, innovation leadership and the determination to drive an innovation ecosystem. Government leaders who commit to this can shape the modern economy of tomorrow. By focusing on ICT transformation programs in their national plans and collaborating with the private sector, governments are already leading the way in providing a better future for their citizens and strengthening their global competitiveness.

These digital transformation agendas represent national efforts to harness the region’s potential and deliver significant improvements in sectors such as healthcare, education and government services. All of this contributes to making a positive contribution to society and building an extraordinary future in which to live.

This is a contribution from Arnaud Bacros, Managing Director Dell Technologies Belgium & Luxembourg. Click here to learn more about the company’s solutions.