Data science is one of the most exciting fields out there today and vital for efficiency and effectiveness within the public sector, but is it being capitalised in the most effective way?
As technologies develop and evolve, organisations are sitting on a wealth of knowledge. It’s estimated that 90 percent of the data in the world was created in the last two years. This treasure trove of information could reveal trends and insights that aid better decision making and create more innovative public services.
What is Data Science?
Data science is the bedrock for innovation and utilizes a combination of tools to extract information, including statistics, scientific methods, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analysis.
At SVGC, our data scientists combine their expert skills to collect data from the internet, customer databases, and distributed sensors to prepare by cleansing, aggregating, and manipulating for advanced data analysis. The data is then reviewed using analytic applications which uncover patterns and insights that enable leaders to make informed decisions.
How Can Data Science Assist the Public Sector?
The wealth of data being collected and held within the public sector is vast. By reviewing and understanding what the data reveals, transformative benefits can be seen across organisations and societies. This however, is only possible if the information can be interpreted. The value of data science comes from the information data scientists can extract from it.
UK government departments and the wider public sector are under huge pressure to improve service delivery and efficiency. The investment in data analytics and data science plays a key role in transforming services to help citizens, here are just a few examples of the ways in which data science can assist decision making within the public sector.
- Improve efficiency by analysing traffic patterns, weather conditions, and other factors to forecast any potential future issues and identify areas of concern
- Analysing vast medical data, examining patient diagnoses and reported symptoms to medical professions to diagnose diseases earlier and reduce costs on the NHS
- Optimise the supply chain by predicting when equipment may run out or goods may become unavailable
- Understanding the knowledge captured in vast MS Sharepoint databases and other file-stores when they are archived or re-patriated.
Examples of how SVGC has helped public sector organisations gather and utilize data to improve services and forecast future risks can be seen in our Cabinet Office Winter monitoring Cell Case Study, as well as our blog feature The role of AI in Helping Democratic Governments Maintain Public Trust
If you’re interested to know more about how data science could help your organisation, get in touch with one of our experts today.
