
In the U.S., for example, Allegheny County uses a predictive risk modeling tool to supplement the decision-making process when calls are being screened for child welfare. Organizations are unlocking more value from sensitive data and opening up a new arena of data-driven opportunities as highlighted by Deloitte, and we’re starting to see this trend among government agencies around the world as they seek to provide more personalized services to their citizens. UNLOCKING VALUE FROM SENSITIVE DATA WITHOUT VIOLATING PRIVACY In spite of these concerns though, forward-thinking governments are taking up the challenge to harness value from more sensitive data while preserving the privacy of their citizens. However, these applications have largely been restricted to processing that involves less sensitive data due to concerns about data privacy and security, and this has translated to a significant loss of data-driven opportunities. From improving the reliability of public transportation systems by reducing traffic and increasing the speeds of transit vehicles, to utilizing resources such as water and energy more efficiently by spotting waste points and optimizing consumption.

The increased use of analytics has mainly been driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the exponential growth of data resulting from the proliferation of low-cost mobile devices with sensors, which gather a wide range of information at a massive scale.ĭata analytics is being leveraged by city authorities to gain insights that help improve the performance of a vast number of public services, and the results have been impressive. In fact, a recent survey by MeriTalk revealed that 90 percent of state and local government leaders have increased their use of data analytics over the past two years. Government agencies are waking up to the immense potential of data to transform communities and provide higher levels of comfort to their citizens.
