Scottish citizens open to more digitisation in local government.
For many people, using digital technology at work or at home has become the norm – whether emailing colleagues, streaming the latest Netflix series, or submitting a meter reading to an energy supplier via an app.
Expectations are now growing that digital also becomes the ‘default’ channel when it comes to the public sector – this will include integrating technologies like the IoT, cloud computing, sensors, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Though many Scottish councils have started to use digital channels to deliver public services, would you like to see them more widely embrace digital technology?
Today in Scotland, many councils already use digital channels, but the research finds a majority (83 per cent) would like this to go even further and they would like to see councils more widely embracing digital technology.
Having this ability to interact with local government over digital channels is actually very important to a majority of Scottish residents; 87 per cent overall said digital access to local government services (e.g. online chat with a council, paying tax online, registering to vote online) influences where they opt to live.
How important is digital access to local government services to where you choose to live?
Amongst over 55s the sentiment was slightly different, with slightly fewer respondents, only 82 per cent, saying digital access was important; whereas 93 per cent of 18-34-year-olds feel it is important.