Advancements in technology have led to a rapid transformation of government services at the state and local level. The goal of digital government, as defined by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers in 2001, remains to provide simple, accessible, and unified services across agencies. Chief Information Officers (CIOs) have played a key role in this transformation by breaking down data silos and modernizing legacy systems to meet the evolving needs of citizens and improve overall satisfaction with government services.
State and local agencies have made significant progress in achieving this goal by embracing transformational government. For example, the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services revamped its unemployment insurance system using Microsoft Azure to better handle the surge in claims during the pandemic. Similarly, the county of Sonoma, Calif., and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services used technology solutions from IBM, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services to enhance services for at-risk populations and streamline operations.
These success stories demonstrate that transformational government is a reality, with state and local agencies rising to the occasion to meet the needs of citizens in the digital age. By providing services wherever citizens are, governments can make tasks more convenient for their constituents. With advancements in technology continuing to reshape society, it’s clear that transformational government will continue to be a driving force behind improvements in government services at all levels.