Source: GovernmentTechnologyInsider
Laying off federal employees and axing entire agencies might be the current definition of government efficiency, but it is not the only — or most effective — way to achieve a high-performing public sector.
As the Chief Innovation Officer for the City of San Francisco, I was charged with harnessing tech talent in the Bay Area to solve government challenges. We found that young founders and early-stage companies who wanted to serve the public good were stifled by the many barriers to entry. I worked to streamline our procurement process — saying goodbye to thousand-page RFPs — and modernize the creaking legacy solutions our local government relied on.
Today, I apply the lessons I learned in San Francisco at the city, state, and federal level as co-CEO of a software company that radically improves the impact, efficiency, and transparency of public sector projects. Even though 40 percent of the United States’ GDP spend is public sector, government technology is a long-neglected part of the larger tech industry.
Transforming complex government processes has immediate, tangible impacts on the day-to-day lives of citizens — and new AI solutions are opening up further opportunities for innovations by bright founders. Let’s take a look at how we can achieve effective government across the country through technology, rather than reducing the number of our public servants.
Why Real Government Efficiency Is Especially Important Right Now
The Department of Government Efficiency is focused on cost cutting, and many state and local governments have been forced to follow suit as budgets are reduced across the board. The current climate makes it more important than ever for agencies to understand exactly what they’re spending their money on — and the results of those investments.
As it stands, many government agencies are not able to accurately track all of the contracts they have in place. I’ve heard from legislators in Florida that the state has bought multiple ticketing systems for different departments, each of which was unaware the others had already done so. California also placed a renewed focus on the state’s procurement process as it tried to dig out from a $68 billion deficit.
That lack of clarity makes it difficult for agencies to prove their ROI and make the case for additional grants from the federal government. Without the right tools in place, agencies cannot track the money that’s being spent or the deliverables. How do you then ask for more money? Fortunately, new technology solutions are modernizing government procurement and making it possible to connect the flow of funds across mission-critical functions.
Procurement is far from the only problem government agencies are solving with AI, machine learning, and other new technologies. The Air Force Research Lab is currently piloting a GenAI tool that helps write SOWs faster and more effectively, freeing employees’ time for more important tasks and ensuring vendors are responding to a properly written SOW. These new solutions are particularly important as a wave of experienced public sector employees retire and remaining workers are asked to do more with less.
These tools are not replacing humans. Instead, the software solutions are eliminating bottlenecks — like digging through emails, Word docs, and homegrown systems — and helping employees focus on high-level work. With tools purpose-built for government, agencies can analyze and digest massive legislative bills in seconds. The tech ensures compliance, delivering a user-friendly experience while still meeting strict government security standards.
Today, we’re beginning to see government agencies actually structure their data for the first time, moving it out of silos so they can reap the benefits of agentic AI and other new tools. Making government more efficient is a massive challenge with the potential impact to match. We need our best and brightest working in GovTech and helping agencies meet this moment.
Startup founders shouldn’t be afraid of solving public sector problems. People often stay away from government opportunities because of the massive RFPs, but if you learn about government needs, there’s a tremendous opportunity to make an impact at the local level and beyond. Working with local and state governments is a great place to start.
Empowering Government Employees
As agencies across America are forced to cut spending, they are looking for alternatives to slashing services that citizens rely on every day. New tools are helping them figure out exactly what grants they are receiving and where they are spending their dollars so they can govern efficiently — without laying off their best employees.
Until now, GovTech has been neglected by founders and funders alike. The hard-working people in government don’t have the right technologies and tools to do their job. We have a real opportunity now with AI and other new innovations to help government workers do their job more effectively and focus on their important work. Let’s take it.
