Not only is the amount of data rapidly increasing in government, but the potential value of data is growing as well. Predictive analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) are broadening the use cases for data and in turn unshackling productivity for government employees.
“Treasury sits in some ways in the center of the federal government because we’re the financial managers for the rest of the government,” said Justin Marsico, Deputy Assistant Commissioner and Data Executive at Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service. “And at the heart of that financial management activity is data.”
“It’s not just about the data. It’s about the cybersecurity, the collaboration, how agencies and private sector coordinate and have transparency between each other,” said David Bargh, Solution Manager for SAP Analytics Cloud at SAP National Security Services.
“Instead of buying something new, we realized that we had this technology already on our fleet,” Syracuse CDO Sam Edelstein said in tackling the city’s rife pothole problems.
The emergence of advanced self-service analytics platforms like Alteryx means people now have access to greater information and the power of insight, ultimately giving data workers more time to analyze than to prep.
Data reflects how people work. At GovLoop’s online training on Wednesday, two government IT experts agreed that how an agency structures its data mirrors how its people work.
Government’s data has the potential for tremendous, life-changing insight, successfully leveraging it means creating a culture that is open and transparent.
AI and ML can rapidly detect gaps or abnormalities on agency networks, and respond with a programmed, precautionary or reactionary action immediately.
Agencies must learn to keep up with the changing world around them while still ensuring citizens get the services that help make their lives better. But how? The answer lies in making data and business intelligence a strategic priority and a valuable asset.
This month, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) released a foundational data and analytics document that will direct data governance, acquisition strategies and the incorporation of emerging technologies for the military’s combat logistics branch.