Marc Hoogstad, Head of Product Management at Finworks discusses removing data silos, implementing automation and gaining access to real-time data to encourage trusted data in government
Government is striving to achieve sustainable, trusted data. In short, data that is “fit for government use” is relevant, accurate, complete, accessible, secure, and usable and can be relied upon to support the needs of the UK government and deliver better outcomes for the public.
In this article, we will discuss how trusted data can be achieved by government by dealing with the problem of data silos, implementing data management automation, and using real-time data to respond quickly to changes in the political, economic, and social environment when provisioning effective services to the public.
Removal of data silos
Data silos can have a significant impact on government by preventing departments from working together effectively, leading to suboptimal outcomes for the public they serve. To overcome this challenge, government departments need to find ways to break down data silos and enable trusted data sharing across different departments and agencies.
For instance, the Home Office, the Department for Work and Pensions, and the National Health Service (NHS) each collect and store their own data on citizens, but they often have limited access to each other’s data. This can lead to inefficiencies and potential errors in the delivery of public services.
For example, the Home Office may not have access to information on a person’s health status held by the NHS, which could impact the accuracy of decisions made on immigration cases.
Why is the removal of data silos important to the UK government?
- Improved Data Integration:
- Silos can prevent data from being shared and integrated across different departments, limiting the ability of the UK government to see the bigger picture and make informed decisions. Removing data silos can lead to effective decision-making.
- Increased Collaboration:
- By breaking down data silos, different departments can work together more effectively, sharing data and insights to tackle complex issues.
- Better Service Delivery:
- Data silos can prevent government from having a comprehensive view of the needs of the public. By removing silos, government can access a more complete picture of citizens’ needs, allowing them to deliver better services.
- Enhanced Data Security:
- Data silos can also create security risks, as information may be stored in isolated systems with different security measures. Removing silos can ensure that sensitive information is properly secured and controlled.
- Improved Data Analytics:
- Removing data silos can also improve the ability of the government to analyse data and gain insights. By having access to a wider range of data, the government can make better use of advanced analytics techniques to support decision-making.
Overall, the removal of data silos is important to the UK government for improving data integration, collaboration, service delivery, security, and analytics, leading to better outcomes for the public.
Implementing data management automation
Data management automation refers to the use of technology and software tools to automate various processes involved in the management of data. The implementation of a data fabric serves as a centralised platform that streamlines these processes, making them more efficient, accurate, and reliable.
A data fabric also reduces the likelihood of manual errors, allowing organisations to manage their data more effectively, resulting in a more streamlined and efficient data management process.
Access to data management automation is important to the UK government for several reasons:
- Efficiency:
- Automation of data management can significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of data processing and analysis. This can save time and reduce the risk of errors.
- Cost Savings:
- Automated data management can also reduce costs associated with manual data entry, storage, and retrieval.
- Improved Data Quality:
- Automated data management can help ensure the consistency, accuracy, and completeness of data, which is important for effective decision-making and policy development.
- Increased Productivity:
- Automated data management can free up government employees to focus on higher-level tasks, such as analysing data and developing policies, rather than spending time on manual data entry.
- Better Access to Data:
- Automated data management can improve access to data by making it easier to find, retrieve, and analyse.
Overall, access to data management automation is critical to the UK government for improving the efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness of data processing and analysis, which is essential for delivering better services to the public.
Access to real-time data
Access to real-time data is an enabler for service improvement for UK government departments to make informed decisions, improve their operations, and provide better services to the public. This can help to increase transparency and improve trust in government.
Real-time data can improve decision-making because government departments can make more informed decisions in real time rather than relying on outdated or inaccurate information. This is particularly important in fast-moving and dynamic situations, such as emergency response, crime investigations, or national security threats.
Real-time data can help government departments to streamline their operations and reduce inefficiencies. For example, real-time data can be used to monitor performance, identify bottlenecks, or quickly respond to emerging trends or issues.
In addition, real-time data can facilitate better coordination and collaboration between different government departments. This can lead to improved outcomes and more effective use of resources. The quality and responsiveness of public services can be improved with access to real-time data, such as healthcare, education, or transportation. For example, real-time data can be used to monitor the performance of public services, identify areas for improvement, or allocate resources more effectively.
Supporting the development of a more connected and efficient society
By leveraging technology, such as the Finworks Data Fabric, government departments can make more effective use of resources, improve outcomes, and support the development of a more connected and efficient society. Removing data silos will improve data integration, collaboration, and security, leading to more informed decision-making and trusted data.
Data management automation will increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve data quality. Access to real-time data will enable government departments to make informed decisions, streamline operations, and improve the quality of public services. By prioritising these initiatives, the UK government can create a more efficient, effective, and trusted data management system, ultimately benefiting the public they serve.
This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International.
Excellent article (Government’s roadmap to achieving trusted data”. Compelling argument is provided in easy to read and understand format. This issue is not only relevant to UK , but to the global community and especially for Africa where underutilization of evidence based public health data limits achieving optimal health outcomes. Many deaths could be averted/prevented! Urgent concerted actions/strategies that can facilitate realtime or near realtime data sharing asnd use are needed in Africa and other Low and Middle income countries.