The Global Digital Employee Experience (DEX) Survey by Riverbed Technology has revealed that 92% of public sector leaders underscore the importance of delivering a seamless digital employee experience in affirming their agency's mission and competitiveness. The international survey interacted with 1,800 IT and business decision makers across 10 countries and seven industries, including 320 public sector leaders.
The leaders highlighted a range of critical technologies required to expand and support their workforces including cloud (44%), artificial intelligence (AI) (38%), automation (33%) and DEX management solutions (31%). This implies that government agencies are looking to better the digital experience for their employees and citizens, leading to improved productivity and the ability to attract and retain talent.
Furthermore, 92% of those surveyed affirmed that unified observability is vital in delivering on DEX, with 88% indicating that their work would benefit from having improved visibility into their networks.
The survey discovered that 90% of public sector leaders agreed that investment in DEX technology is a top priority for the next five years. Additionally, 80% are planning to accelerate its adoption and implementation. In terms of employee engagement, half of the respondents felt that a seamless DEX is paramount.
The research revealed that government agencies are undergoing transformation to enhance the digital experience for their employees and citizens, aiding in achieving key objectives such as boosting staff productivity, recruiting and retaining talent in the public sector, and fulfilling the mission. This transformation is also proving to be crucial in overcoming challenges including the acceleration of hybrid work and a skills shortage as the workplace and workforce evolve rapidly.
There is an observed shift in the role of public sector CIOs. With 81% of decision-makers recognising the growing relevance of IT within their leadership teams, it is clear that IT is becoming increasingly responsible for driving innovation in this sector. As companies consult with CIOs on strategic decisions affecting recruitment and productivity, they are expected to take a more significant role in leadership and ensure smart investments in technology are made.
According to the survey, 80% of public sector leaders intend to fast-track digital experience adoption and implementation. Respondents indicated that the cloud, AI, and automation will become crucial priorities over the next 18 months. The leaders also agreed that unified observability, offering a complete view across physical and virtual environments while providing productivity-boosting functionality via AI and automation, supports DEX delivery. Several (88%) of respondents concurred with this, and 87% believe that there must be greater investment in unified observability solutions that offer actionable insights for superior employee and customer digital experiences.
Jeff Waters, Senior Vice President, Federal Sales, at Riverbed commented on the intensifying need for superior digital experiences in government and public sector organisations. "With changing workforce dynamics, Riverbed’s Global DEX Survey found that delivering better digital experiences is getting harder for public sector leaders with most facing at least one significant obstacle. Fortunately, these government agencies are investing in technology, including observability, AI and automation, to address these challenges. Riverbed’s unified observability portfolio allows them to gain actionable insights and leverage automation to make data-driven decisions, supporting their mission and improving the digital experience for both citizens and government employees."