# Can financial services firms learn lessons from the Government’s digital transformation?
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2020-11-22
Category: FINANCE
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/finance
Meta Title: CTOs Leading Digital Transformation: Lessons from the UK
Meta Description: Discover how the UK Government's approach to digital transformation can inspire both public and private sector CTOs to enhance their services through
URL: https://financedigest.com/can-financial-services-firms-learn-lessons-from-the-governments-digital-transformationhtml

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_By **Mike O’Brien,** Founder of [Opencast Software](https://opencastsoftware.com/), the IT consultancy_

Over the last few years, both the public and private sectors have been working to enhance their products and services through technology adoption. It has been an uphill battle for many CTOs as they attempt to push through red tape, challenge the status quo and get the board onside to ensure they are able to deliver a digital transformation programme that adds real value to both the business and its customers.

While 2020 has been a difficult year for businesses, the challenges CTOs have faced this year have in many cases changed in line with the impact of the crisis. The overnight shift to mass remote working as a result of lockdown measures has led to the implementation of technology being sped up ten-fold in order to [meet new demands and has demonstrated the exponential value](https://www.financedigest.com/fintech-incubation-more-value-than-meets-the-eye.html "FINTECH INCUBATION: MORE VALUE THAN MEETS THE EYE") that digitalisation brings. Boards will now be much less likely to deem digitalisation and new tech a ‘want’, but rather a ‘must have’.

While the financial services sector has never been seen at the forefront of [digital change](https://www.financedigest.com/why-the-time-is-right-for-finance-to-embrace-digital-change.html "Why the time is right for finance to embrace digital change"), it has often been perceived to be ahead of the public sector, with the UK Government being viewed as a slow-moving organisation by many on the outside. However, over recent years, the Government has transformed many keys areas through its unique approach to [digital](https://www.financedigest.com/digital-transformation-for-the-world-of-finance-the-rise-in-collaboration-tools-and-saas-applications.html "Digital transformation for the world of finance: The rise in collaboration tools and SaaS applications ") isation and there is now merit in the claim it has overtaken many of its private sector counterparts in the digital transformation race.

So, what [lessons can the private sector learn](https://www.financedigest.com/tripling-the-size-of-my-business-in-the-pandemic-the-mistakes-made-and-lessons-learned.html "Tripling the Size of my Business in the Pandemic — The Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned") from the Government’s approach?

**Implementing standardised services**

In 2011, Government [Digital Service](https://www.financedigest.com/the-digital-first-world-financial-services-predictions-for-2022.html "The digital-first world: financial services predictions for 2022") (GDS), a new unit of the Cabinet Office, was tasked to transform the provision of online services to the UK and drive the Government’s ‘Digital by Default’ strategy. Soon after its formation, GDS implemented an [industry set of Service](https://www.financedigest.com/why-sustainability-presents-one-of-the-greatest-opportunities-for-the-financial-services-industry.html "Why sustainability presents one of the greatest opportunities for the Financial Services industry") Standards that would seek to standardise all government departments approach to digital, in a bid to ensure a level of consistency across various services.

While these standards were initially challenging for government agencies to take on board, they are now to thank for much of the [digital transformation](https://www.financedigest.com/world-class-finance-digital-transformation-and-analytics-based-decision-making-among-key-imperatives-for-creating-finance-agility.html "World-Class Finance: Digital Transformation and Analytics-Based Decision Making Among Key Imperatives for Creating Finance Agility") progress that has been made. They have encouraged each department to rethink its approach to digital and [sparked a new wave of thinking about how the government can reduce strain on itself whilst ensuring it meets the requirements of individuals](https://www.financedigest.com/prime-bank-and-agam-spark-lending-revolution-for-individuals-and-business.html "Prime Bank and AGAM spark lending revolution for individuals and business"). For example, HMRC was once one of the country’s largest publishers due to the sheer amount of paper it would use to contact individuals, but by working within the new framework, it is now operating some of the best and most technologically-advanced, paperless [government services](https://www.financedigest.com/light-at-end-of-tunnel-for-czech-services-as-government-drops-covid-pass.html "Light at end of tunnel for Czech services as government drops COVID pass").

This is a key lesson to take away for [financial services firms](https://www.financedigest.com/financial-firms-can-use-technology-combat-todays-cybercriminals.html "How financial firms can use technology to combat today’s cybercriminals"). Within [retail banking](https://www.financedigest.com/the-power-of-digital-why-theres-still-life-in-the-traditional-retail-banks-yet.html "The power of digital: Why there’s still life in the traditional retail banks yet"), some high street banks are both ramping up their digital strategies and delivering new and more innovative approaches to banking. This could certainly be taken one [step further by introducing industry](https://www.financedigest.com/struggling-british-pig-industry-calls-for-tesco-to-step-up.html "Struggling British pig industry calls for Tesco to step-up") wide standards to adhere to. This would ensure all banks would be encouraged to step up their digitalisation game and strive for better solutions, which would [benefit both their customers and their businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/how-choosing-the-right-mtd-for-vat-software-can-maximise-business-benefits.html "How choosing the right MTD for VAT software can maximise business benefits").

**A collaborative approach**

The [Government has also delivered a shift in how it works](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-minister-says-government-will-work-with-obr-on-economic-forecasts.html "UK minister says government will work with OBR on economic forecasts") with outside agencies, which has been integral in delivering digital transformation at pace. Previously, the Government would select suppliers and outside partners based on long-standing relationships and wouldn’t generally look beyond the biggest players in each field. Upon enlisting an outside partner, the attitude was that the supplier would keep to themselves, get the job done and not work with the existing team on the ground.

That approach has since been overthrown, with departments now only being able to choose outside partners who are ‘ [prepared to pass on their expertise’](https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/the-team/working-contractors-third-parties) and ensure they work with existing teams. By adopting this approach, the government has not only managed to successfully upskill its existing tech teams, but also opened itself up to a whole new wave of more advanced, agile and like-minded consultancies who can help to deliver projects quickly and with significant cost advantage.

This new approach has allowed the Government to create a unique blend of existing talent and outside partners, [leading to numerous problems being solved and smoother processes implemented as a result](https://www.financedigest.com/centre-right-gerb-party-leads-in-bulgaria-election-partial-results.html "Centre-right GERB party leads in Bulgaria election -partial results"). It has also meant the government has become the ‘go to’ employer for tech graduates.

The [financial services](https://www.financedigest.com/the-future-for-financial-services-is-digital-engagement.html "The future for financial services is digital engagement") sector can learn another lesson here. Some of the larger firms are reluctant to hire outside partners, having large internal pools to work from. However, this means they are missing out on the benefits that external talent can bring, offering new ways of thinking and more [efficient solutions](https://www.financedigest.com/scanwriter-v-verafin-which-solution-can-help-you-unravel-financial-scams-efficiently.html "ScanWriter v. Verafin: Which Solution Can Help You Unravel Financial Scams Efficiently?"). Outside partners, especially consultancies that specialise in digitalisation, could offer the benefits that [financial services firms](https://www.financedigest.com/turning-a-blind-eye-wont-work-for-financial-firms-as-the-fca-tightens-its-grip.html "TURNING A BLIND EYE WON’T WORK FOR FINANCIAL FIRMS AS THE FCA TIGHTENS ITS GRIP") are currently lacking. If these steps are taken, there is a greater chance the financial services [sector](https://www.financedigest.com/the-technologies-set-to-boost-the-finance-sector-in-2022.html "The technologies set to boost the finance sector in 2022") will be able to reclaim the accolade as the place to go to advance your skillset and get a foot on the career ladder.

**Removing silos**

Whilst the Government has made great pace in certain areas, for example, HMRC, DWP and NHS BSA – it’s not to be assumed that every department has the same level of success. The siloed nature of government has meant some departments have seen the [impact of the GDS’s changes](https://www.financedigest.com/ngunu-tiny-discusses-how-covid-19-has-changed-the-future-of-impact-investment.html "N’Gunu Tiny discusses how COVID-19 has changed the future of impact investment") quicker than others. Those departments who have less budget, or who don’t have the same demand to [expand into digital](https://www.financedigest.com/youtube-expands-shopping-features-to-combat-digital-ad-slowdown.html "YouTube expands shopping features to combat digital ad slowdown"), still have a long way to travel in their digital journey and will need support from outside partners with the right expertise and approach to get them there.

It is clear this is where some of the smaller [financial services firms](https://www.financedigest.com/financial-services-firms-turn-to-big-data-intelligence-to-fight-fraudulent-activity-according-to-xerox-study.html "FINANCIAL SERVICES FIRMS TURN TO BIG DATA INTELLIGENCE TO FIGHT FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY ACCORDING TO XEROX STUDY"), and especially fintechs, have an advantage – as they are more streamlined and don’t have multiple siloed departments. Larger and more traditional financial [services](https://www.financedigest.com/facilitating-open-finance-through-secure-services.html "Facilitating open finance through secure services") firms, however, that do have multiple departments, should learn from their streamlined counterparts to avoid the same pitfalls the Government has endured. It is [important to ensure all areas are being updated and digitalised and can work](https://www.financedigest.com/the-importance-of-information-security-in-a-post-pandemic-hybrid-working-world.html "The importance of information security in a post-pandemic hybrid working world") in tandem with each other.

Over the last few years, the government has adopted digital transformation at a rate that has meant it has surpassed expectations. It has [managed to become more efficient while also enhancing](https://www.financedigest.com/enhancing-credit-exposure-management-through-graph-analytics.html "Enhancing Credit Exposure Management Through Graph Analytics") its culture and attracting some of the best talent as a result. There are many lessons the private sector can adopt from government in order to reach its full potential. However, it’s important to remember there is still work to be done and the [digital race](https://www.financedigest.com/quantum-computing-in-finance-the-next-digital-arms-race.html "Quantum Computing in Finance: The Next Digital Arms Race?") is never truly run – there will always be something new to think about.


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