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Getting Indonesia's digitalization drive onto the right track
By leveraging technology, the government can simplify convoluted procedures, cut through red tape, improve service delivery’s efficiency and deliver proactive and personalized government services.
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Digital alms: GoPay forges ties with Indonesia’s largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) to facilitate digital donations through Bank Indonesia’s (BI) QRIS implementation on Kotak Infaq Nahdlatul Ulama (KOIN NU).
The early bird gets the worm, as they say, which emphasizes the benefits of moving quickly in life.
This principle rings true for governments around the world who are ahead in digital innovation, as they seize opportunities through crucial digital strategies.
Not only will they get access to cutting-edge technology to maximize data utilization, but they will also gain economic benefits from effective bureaucracy and improved quality of public services.
This is precisely what Indonesia seeks to achieve from embracing digitalization in the government, as we aim to become a high-income country by 2045. From cost savings to improving the quality of public services, the potential impact is enormous, as demonstrated by the success of government digitalization efforts in other countries.
But in a decentralized country with 270 million people and hundreds of national and regional government institutions, do we have the right ideas about digitalization? While creating applications and systems is an essential component of digitalization in government, we must recognize that digitalization goes beyond mere technological solutions.
The good news is that although we are not among the early birds, we are already on the right path. Indeed, the government has taken proactive steps that span a broad spectrum from fostering leadership that understands digital nuances and revising outdated business processes to infusing technological prowess. One pivotal initiative that underlines this commitment is the development of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a foundation in the development of integrated digital services.
DPI is not just another piece of technology jargon. Think of it as the equivalent of physical infrastructure, such as roads or power grids. This includes basic platforms, such as digital ID ecosystems, data exchange platforms and digital payment mechanisms. These form the backbone of a tech-savvy society, simplifying processes, connecting services and promoting interoperability.
