Riverbed's Global Digital Employee Experience (DEX) Survey has revealed key insights about technology adoption in the public sector and the shift towards enhancing the digital experience for employees and citizens. According to the survey, 90% of public sector leaders view investment in DEX technology as a top priority for the next five years, while 80% plan to accelerate its uptake and implementation.
As noted in the findings, a seamless digital experience is crucial for staff engagement, with half of the leaders surveyed asserting its importance. An absence of such an experience could lead to problems in staff retention, with 63% of leaders agreeing that employees might consider leaving public sector organisations without it. With a growing focus on the digital experience, cloud (44%), artificial intelligence (AI) (38%), automation (33%), and DEX management solutions (31%) were identified as vital technologies for future advancement.
The survey further highlighted the growing importance of IT within organisations, with 81% of respondents recognising its increasing relevance within leadership teams. This shift has been particularly noticeable since last year, with 89% of respondents agreeing that IT holds greater responsibility for driving innovation now than it did in 2020.
Meanwhile, 83% of surveyed leaders intend to invest in technology within the next 12-18 months to support the evolving hybrid workforce. This finding is in line with the UK government's commitment to reshaping the public sector landscape through technology investment, including a GBP £8 billion tech procurement overhaul and an additional GBP £1.1 billion for upskilling the workforce in emerging technologies. However, there still exist gaps in strategic adoption, particularly in AI, where only one-fifth of UK government departments have an AI strategy in place.
More than ever, the pressure is on the public sector to make smart, effective investments and to introduce technologies that increase productivity, fuel innovation, and accommodate their workforce rather than adding additional complexity.
As John Atkinson, Director of Solutions Engineering, UK & Ireland, shared in the press release, delivering better digital experiences is becoming increasingly challenging for public sector leaders. He said, "In today's Government and Public Sector organisations and agencies, the digital experience is more critical than ever. However, with changing workforce dynamics, Riverbed's Global DEX Survey found that delivering better digital experiences is getting harder for Public Sector leaders with the vast majority facing at least one major obstacle."
"Fortunately, these Government organisations are investing in technology, including observability, AI and automation to address these challenges. With Riverbed's unified observability portfolio, Government and Public Sector organisations can gain actionable insights and leverage automation to make data driven decisions that supports their mission and enhances the digital experience for citizens and government employees."
Riverbed's Global DEX Survey highlights the growing significance of enhancing digital experiences within the public sector. With a vast majority of leaders prioritising investment in DEX technology and recognising the crucial role of IT in driving innovation, there is a clear commitment to adopting technologies such as cloud, AI, and automation.
However, challenges persist, particularly in strategic adoption areas like AI. Nevertheless, with prudent investments and technology adoption, public sector organisations can navigate these challenges and deliver improved digital experiences for citizens and government employees, ultimately supporting their mission and fostering productivity and innovation.