LocalGovCamp 2024 convened some of the brightest minds in the local government digital sphere to discuss and aspire to enhance the ever-evolving landscape of digital technology in public administration. The event underscored a collective commitment to innovation, collaboration, and community-focused solutions.
While there was an inevitable emphasis on leveraging artificial intelligence to deliver better outcomes, an equivalent focus was placed on cultivating the right culture and empowering people. This dual approach highlights the recognition that technological advancement must go hand in hand with human capital development.
Birmingham Council's Foundry initiative, led by Kat Sexton and her team, exemplified this synergy and served as a significant takeaway for other councils in attendance. Simon Gray, also from Birmingham Council, offered valuable insights into effecting change in citizen satisfaction - a matter of considerable importance in public service delivery.
The team from Local Gov Digital set a progressive tone for the event with significant announcements. Ben Cheetham hinted at new revenue streams and the forthcoming launch of a Digital Centre for Local Government. Emily emphasised the critical need to document and address legacy technology—termed "bad tech"—that many councils struggle with. Their focus on modernization reflects a broader movement toward embracing innovative solutions to replace outdated systems.
Theo Blackwell posed pertinent questions about establishing solid foundations and ensuring adequate funding for standards, which are essential for enabling innovation and generating efficiency gains. Ben Cheetham rightly highlighted that while multiple streams like Open Referral, Waste, Planning, and Housing have focused on standards, failure to adopt and implement them could impede additional funding for such endeavors.
Reflecting on past successes, the National Benefits Schemas enabled over ten software suppliers to integrate with the major back-office applications through a common standard—a success story that has regrettably not been replicated. There is a pressing need to move beyond technical solutions and implement commercially incentivizing reasons for adopting standards.
In the realm of standards, it was encouraging to see Will Callaghan of LocalGov Drupal, a GovMetric partner, working on the specification for a standard for citizen feedback. This initiative aims to facilitate the sharing of quantitative, qualitative, and AI-derived data between feedback applications like GovMetric’s CX, LocalGov Drupal, and Jadu Continuum.
Engagements with Abby and the team at Jadu shed light on a promising integration to be showcased at Jadu Academy on 9th October. This development connects customer satisfaction metrics with Jadu’s platforms and WhatsApp, highlighting innovative strides in enhancing citizen engagement tools.
A noteworthy demonstration by Adam Mills from Netcall showcased a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) Large Language Model learning content from a council’s website within seconds—a development with potentially profound implications for information dissemination and public interaction.
Representatives from Birmingham Council shared heartfelt insights into the challenges faced by their diverse and economically disadvantaged communities. With significant numbers of residents living in inadequate housing conditions, the council emphasised the urgent need for technological solutions that can reduce costs, allocate resources more effectively, and improve quality of life. Their commitment to leveraging technology for social good serves as a powerful reminder of the human element at the core of public service.
IEG4 led a session on the practical applications of AI in local government contexts. The presentation sparked discussions about the immediacy and implementation of AI solutions, underscoring the necessity for clear business cases and tangible returns on investment rather than succumbing to hype. Notably, their AI Validator service is reportedly saving over £1 million annually for a district council.
At this juncture, it’s important to further explore how generative AI is shaping the future of public services. In my presentation at the event, "Future Public Services - Powered by Generative AI" I elaborated on my article here, on how this transformative technology goes beyond mere automation. From hyper-intelligent chat bots to drafting council reports, and even predicting sentiment across services, AI has the potential to fundamentally reshape how local governments interact with citizens. By integrating AI's capabilities into every touchpoint—be it council tax, waste collection, or citizen feedback—the efficiencies achieved are not just operational but deeply impactful for the communities we serve.
LocalGovCamp 2024 highlighted a sector poised for transformation, emphasising the importance of addressing legacy systems, embracing AI, and fostering collaboration through platforms like LocalGov Drupal. As councils navigate the complexities of modernization, events like this play a crucial role in disseminating knowledge, building partnerships, and inspiring actionable change.
The overarching focus remains on leveraging technology not merely for efficiency but to make a tangible difference in the lives of citizens. The convergence of technological innovation and human-centric approaches heralds a promising future for local governance, where public services are enhanced through both cutting-edge solutions and empowered personnel.
If you would like to discover some of our Customer Stories, highlighting real-world customer experience transformations within the public sector, click below.
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