In the face of budget cuts, economic instability, and outdated technology, European governments are increasingly turning to open-source software to modernise their IT infrastructure. There is a lot of value in this strategy for taxpayers, as well as the best-in-class e-government solutions. The public sector, on the other hand, could undergo a long-term transformation as a result of the pandemic and an enormous stimulus package.
Government departments and public sector organisations are no longer passive technology users thanks to a changing legislative and policy framework.
Open standards and open source solutions that can be modified and spread across ministerial 'fiefdoms' and sovereign boundaries are more self-sufficient thanks to their active participation in their development. In the wake of the rise of the open hybrid cloud, the public sector has been able to achieve new levels of sustainability and autonomy.
Many businesses were put to the test by the pandemic. It was possible for many companies to quickly adjust and establish new flexible and secure infrastructures that allowed for large-scale remote working, but there were some that failed to adapt. On the other hand, failing public sector organisations is just not an option. They're in charge of everything from public health care to public education to social security, among a plethora of other responsibilities. Healthcare, for example, has continued to operate at full capacity while including new digital capabilities such as tracking and tracing into the mix.
Digital services and infrastructure will get at least 20 per cent of the EU's €750 billion stimulus package, which recognises the importance of digital technologies. Investment in open and inclusive eGovernment infrastructures and services will help meet the needs of public services, civic society, and enterprises for years to come.
The amplifying influence
In order to assist modernization and cultural transformation, public sector organisations have used open hybrid cloud and multi-cloud strategies based on open-source software. Digital health projects are being pushed forward in one country while new services are being developed for legal authority in another.
An EU member state is also in the midst of a massive public cloud initiative that would fundamentally alter the way public funds and investments are managed. These open frameworks allow public sector organisations to develop hybrid cloud infrastructures and manage containerized apps to build new digital platforms and services.
This paradigm is well-exemplified by Drupal. In addition to being a strong CMS platform, it serves as a collaborative hub for a wide range of developers. Drupal-powered organisations have a significant impact on a wide range of industries. It's particularly useful in accelerating the digital transformation of the public sector. We've long been fans of Drupal's LocalGov platform.
Public sector organisations in the UK and across the EU may achieve their goals by investing in each other and working together as a community through open source. Several of them have already worked together on projects and initiatives that have made a significant impact on administration and policy.
All of this collective knowledge can be used for current and upcoming endeavours. I think it's a great example of how open source can be used to bring together people from different parts of the government. It's not uncommon for teams to quickly adapt solutions created in other regions for use on their own.
There are now many more experts dedicated to building new public sector digital services as a result of this approach. All working together to create enterprise-grade open source software that can be customised and toughened to meet the specific needs of the public sector.
Disruptors in the digital age
The fiscal benefits of focusing on developing internal resources and fostering cultural change from within are also worth noting. Local, regional, and national governments can make better investment decisions because they have access to more data and can see the results of their efforts.
In the public sector, spending is continuously scrutinised, and IT investment has been negatively impacted by high-profile outsourcing failures. However, the public sector's culture and philosophy have evolved. IT departments in the public sector are lowering their reliance on proprietary software and licensed software.
They've been able to turn IT procurement into a more strategic resource by embracing open source technology and techniques. Providing them with the flexibility to carefully select proprietary solutions that support and complement their existing frameworks while also continuing to create their own cloud-native capabilities to support long-term programmes and spur innovation.
In order to meet the needs of ministers, officials, and citizens alike, IT teams are turning to open source to help them better align policy with organisational needs. Projects for modernisation can now be managed from the "bottom-up" rather than the "top-down," incorporating everyone who has a stake in the outcome.
To enable a more comprehensive process, open-source principles extend beyond IT and developers to include civil society, civil employees, policy, and decision-makers. There will be enormous progress in public sector organisations as a result of EU stimulus funds and equivalent investments in the United Kingdom. New solutions, open standards and even digital legislation will be created directly by these digital disruptors.