The Record - Issue 20: Spring 2021

116 www. t e c h n o l o g y r e c o r d . c om people to join the digital economy, and adopt digital accessibility as the cornerstone for all of our products and services.” At some point in the future, particularly as vaccines are rolled out, we may find ourselves returning to our familiar work and life rou- tines. But when this happens, Glidden suggests we should carry some things with us into the post-pandemic world. “One of the main lessons for the public sector will be the importance of embracing change,” she says. “The pandemic broke through the public sector’s many walls of resistance to change by forcing a massive shift in the way governments operate. Nations broke down traditional silos, fostered interagency collaboration and har- nessed the power of data to deliver social value. “Governments now understand the urgency of digital transformation and are increasingly classifying digital technology and data as crit- ical infrastructure. They must now establish greater efficiencies in delivering more services online, while bolstering their cyber resiliency. Meanwhile, workers need more information at greater speed and precision, all delivered online. Educational institutions need updated teaching practices and financial models.” A new appreciation for partnerships can also help improve productivity, engagement, and cus- tomer experience as we move out of the era of Covid-19, says Glidden. “These relationships are no longer based on contractual models between clients and vendors, but rather on a shared mis- sion that drives us to work together to deliver positive outcomes for society. For example, we are seeing new partnerships emerge for the skilling and training of the post-Covid-19 workforce, as digital skills become necessary for the new future of work. “Looking forward, public sector organisations will need a skilled talent pipeline to drive inno- vation. The technology and partner community are working together to develop services that empower workforces and citizens to thrive in the digital economy.” F E ATUR E We asked a selection of Microsoft partners how their solutions leverage Microsoft technology to deliver citizen- centric service provision in the public sector, and equip workers with the tools to connect, collaborate and engage Partner perspectives Oscar Bachs Head of Business Development at Unblur “Unblur was created with the goal of helping emergency service providers make safer, faster, data-driven decisions during an incident. Understanding the many challenges that first responders face on a daily basis, we developed IRIS Core – the first intelligent software for incident commanders. Running on Microsoft’s Azure cloud, IRIS integrates static data with real time information – such as GPS and video streaming from drones – which helps officers improve situational awareness and team coordination during an emergency. Given that Azure safety certificates operate worldwide with emergency services, Unblur can deploy truly useful, valuable information in a secure, easy platform.” “Governments now understand the urgency of digital transformation”