NSW leading the digitalisation charge

The NSW Government is investing in the infrastructure and services needed to ensure the state can take full advantage of the digital area, according to NSW Chief Data Scientist Dr Ian Oppermann.

In remarks coinciding with the virtual Power and Peril of the Digital Age conference, hosted by the Royal Society of NSW, Oppermann said the Department of Customer Service’s commitment to develop digital infrastructure for government interactions left the state well placed to navigate the challenges of COVID-19.

“The NSW Government continues to push the boundaries with integrated digital innovations and services to support customers now and into the future. This is far-reaching, from real-time parking information on the Park’n Pay app or capability to provide a digital driver licence from within the Service NSW app,” he said.

“These projects are a great example of how the NSW Government is embracing technology to better respond to customer needs whether it’s an easier way to share their identity or find a convenient parking space.”

Oppermann said during the pandemic the Department of Customer Service accelerated digital improvements to services in weeks which could otherwise have taken months.

“NSW was one of the first Australian jurisdictions to roll out a COVID-Safe check-in system in 2020 to keep customers safe and businesses open. We were also able to quickly refine and evolve this technology based on customer feedback, such as extending the time the Service NSW app remained logged in for, making it easier for people to check-in without removing their face mask to log on, or entering a passcode every time.”

During the conference, NSW digital technology experts discussed ways digital technology could benefit the state and its residents.

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