Singapore has been ranked first in a new comparative study by Accenture that analyses use of “digital government,” in 10 nations.
Norway and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been ranked second and third, in offering online portals to access public services, and using digital channels and social media to interact with citizens.
85 per cent of respondents in Singapore want the government to provide more services through digital channels and 68 per cent would like to use social media to engage with government.
70 per cent of citizens in the nation want the government to consult with them in the design and delivery of public services.
“Singapore leads in all dimensions of digital readiness and scores high in economic competitiveness, citizen engagement as well as public sector productivity,” said Ng Wee Wei, Accenture managing director, Health & Public Service, Singapore. “As governments adopt new digital technologies such as cloud, mobile, social and analytics to provide wider access to citizens and better anticipate their needs, they are experiencing higher levels of engagement, accountability and public trust.”
Using mobile devices
72% of citizens in Singapore said they are willing to use mobile devices to interact with government departments offering public services.
Singapore is also set to be one of the first nations in the world to ensure that every citizen has an electronic health record.
Accenture’s study measured the citizen service delivery experience, citizen satisfaction, and service maturity of digital offering in Brazil, Germany, India, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Findings of the report indicate that high-performing digital governments focus on their digital strategy and continue long-term investment in key information and communication technology (ICT) assets.
These governments also use new technologies, and have a strong culture of collaboration and data sharing.
“New digital technologies emphasising speed and mobility are not only changing the way we live, work and interact with each other, but they are providing unprecedented opportunities for government to radically transform complex bureaucracies and become more agile, citizen-centric, efficient and innovative,” added Wee Wei.
