Confident and ready: study finds the UK public sector is facing digital disruption head on and collaboration is key to success

London, January 18, 2017

Public sector decision makers in the UK believe that digital disruption is a positive force, with 100% of UK public sector leaders admitting that their organisation had been impacted by digital disruption. In a study^[1] commissioned by Fujitsu, 86% of public sector leaders admitted that their sector will fundamentally change by 2021 because of digital disruption and 64% believe their organisation will not exist in its current form by 2021.

It seems that more than ever before, public sector organisations are growing in confidence in their ability when it comes to digital. According to the report, 36% of organisations are more confident than they were two years ago when it comes to managing digital disruption. This is also reflected in the fact that 65% believe they are taking charge of digital disruption.  86% of public sector leaders also revealed that digital disruption presents exciting opportunities for government.

“Digital is one of the biggest opportunities for government today, so it’s encouraging that this study reveals that departments, agencies or authorities are increasingly ready for the challenges digital disruption presents”, commented Steven Cox, Vice President and Head of Public Sector, UK & Ireland, Fujitsu. “From Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things to Cloud and Robotic Process Automation, there are lots of benefits associated with digital services, and it’s important to be confidant that the digital infrastructure can securely deliver on the essential services to make a difference to people’s lives.”

When looking closer at what needs to be done to thrive, government and the public sector also believe in the power of collaboration and co-creation. The study revealed that 64% of UK public sector leaders are still concerned about the future of their organisation when considering the impact of digital disruption, while 93% of leaders believe their organisations need to innovate faster. When assessing what is most needed to thrive in a digital world, 71% of public sector organisations admitted it was “people and talent”, while 57% said it was digital strategy and another 57% said it was “the ability to co-create with a technology expert to deliver out digital strategy”. Interestingly, 71% of respondents also revealed that collaboration with technology experts is vital to survive.