Transforming Government: How Technology is Revolutionizing Accessible Services at the State and Local Level

Advancements in technology have caused a rapid change in government services at both the state and local level. The goal of transformational government is to provide citizens with services wherever they are, making tasks more convenient by offering them online. Gone are the days of having to physically visit a government office for simple tasks as many can now be done with a laptop or smartphone.

Chief Information Officers (CIOs) have played a critical role in this transformation by breaking down data silos and sharing information across different domains. They have also modernized legacy systems to meet the evolving needs of citizens and improve overall satisfaction with government services. The objective of digital government, as defined by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers in 2001, remains the same today: to provide simple, accessible, and unified services across agencies.

State and local agencies have made significant progress towards 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, Sonoma County, Calif., and 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 not just an idea but a reality. State and local agencies are rising to meet the needs of citizens in the digital age by providing accessible services wherever they are needed most.