Government Digital Service (GDS) implemented digital and technological transformations across UK government departments, resulting in savings of £1.7 billion in 2014. This was achieved by eliminating duplication, waste, and unnecessary complexity in government IT. A significant portion of the savings came from the creation of GOV.UK, a single platform that replaced multiple government websites.
GDS also established a digital marketplace, fostering competition and innovation by enabling smaller suppliers to compete with larger ones. This led to a 52% reduction in IT spend. Furthermore, the ‘spend control’ process was introduced, scrutinising IT projects worth over £100 million and rejecting those that didn’t provide value for money.
Digital transformation also improved public services, making them more accessible and user-friendly. This included digitising 20 public services, from booking prison visits to registering to vote. The ‘Digital by Default’ service standard was introduced, ensuring services are simple, clear, and fast.
Moving forward, GDS plans to extend digital transformation to local government and health services. This includes projects like ‘Government as a Platform’, aimed at creating reusable digital systems across government departments, and the ‘Common Technology Services’ programme, designed to standardise IT across government.
Go to source article: https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2015/10/23/how-digital-and-technology-transformation-saved-1-7bn-last-year/