Research from Civica highlights issues and priorities for the year ahead, and a move towards operating like the private sector
• Over half (57%) of public sector organisations are struggling to improve service delivery whilst cutting costs
• Key priorities for 2013 are improving back office and admin processes (33%), making financial savings (31%) and improving service delivery (26%)
• Over three quarters (79%) argue central government isn’t aligned enough to the real needs of local authorities and NHS trusts
• Just 10% are ready for the impending welfare reform later this year
• 94% see the role that technology plays in helping them to improve service delivery changing in the next few years
• Almost three quarters of respondents (71%) admit that they are operating more like the private sector
19th February 2013, London: A survey* conducted by Civica, a market leader in specialist systems and business process services, has found that over half (57%) of public sector organisations are struggling to improve delivery whilst cutting costs, and this, together with improving back office and administration processes (33%), is a key focus for the year ahead. The study of 103 public sector, local government, and social housing directors and managers revealed that 96% see the role that technology will play in helping them to improve service delivery changing in the next few years and 71% admit they’re becoming more business-like and are thinking and operating more like the private sector.
The findings from the research echo the comments made recently at the Commons Communities and Local Government Committee about exactly how authorities can face the challenge of service delivery, whilst cutting costs. This was also a topic of great discussion during Civica’s conference in Manchester on January 23rd and 24th, and there was much dialogue between the various public sector organisations in attendance as to how they will successfully manage the challenges, opportunities and pressures ahead.
In order to improve service delivery and prepare for the demands that reform and spending cuts will bring, over half (54%) of those questioned will consider adopting cloud technology, like non-government organisations. Worryingly over three quarters (79%) argue that central government isn’t aligned enough to their organisation’s real needs and only 10% are ready for the impending welfare reform later this year.
Bill Loughrey, managing director at Civica, commented on the findings: “It is clear that public sector organisations are under increasing pressure to improve service delivery whilst keeping costs down. Senior management and ICT professionals recognise the crucial role technology can play to support everything from streamlining back office to improving citizen services. At the same time public sector organisations will have to employ private sector business models to cope with these changes, where knowledge and expertise from third party providers will become essential to improve efficiency.”
Editors:
*About research
Research undertaken by Brands2Life at the Civica annual conference 2013.
The total sample size was 103 local government and social housing service directors and managers.
About Civica Group Ltd
The Civica Group (www.civica.co.uk) is an international market leader in specialist IT systems and business process services for the public sector. Through experienced people who understand service delivery, the Group applies software, managed services and outsourcing to help customers streamline their activities. Civica supplies more than 2,000 organisations in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada and the USA, including more than 90% of the UK’s local authorities.
Press contacts:
Clementine Stopford, Brands2Life
020 7592 1200
civica@brands2life.com
