
TRANSFORMATION BEYOND DIGITAL
Strategic technology planning in the public sector: challenges and opportunities for 2025
Technology in the public sector optimizes tasks and facilitates access to services in various areas. What is the basis? The automation of processes, which offers citizens a better service experience, clarity about public actions and engagement with the government, regardless of the sphere, favoring participatory and transparent management. However, this process goes beyond the simple adoption of tools: it requires the integration of systems and the consolidation of an infrastructure that ensures the secure and intelligent flow of data. The task is not simple. On the one hand, we see advances such as the Gov.br platform, which already connects millions of Brazilians to digital services, and the digitalization of the Justice system, which has modernized processes and reduced barriers. On the other hand, many municipalities still deal with fragmented systems and a lack of clear strategies, which limits the application of technology. Understanding these contrasts is the first step to transcending operational impacts and transforming the relationship between governments and citizens, connecting real needs to efficient and accessible solutions. The role of technology in the public sector Technology is redefining the relationship between governments and citizens, transforming public services into more accessible experiences aligned with society's expectations. Discussing this transformation is essential to understanding how innovation impacts people's quality of life and strengthens trust in institutions. In the Group Softplan, we closely follow the technological revolution in the Brazilian public sector. The experience accumulated over more than three decades allows us to state that digitalization is more than a future alternative, but rather the basis for a new public management model. An example of this is our Justice Automation System (SAJ), implemented at the Court of Justice of São Paulo (TJSP) in 2013. Among the figures, the average length of a legal process fell by 24% between 2015 and 2022. In the same period, the rate of response to cases in the information stage increased by 28,5%, when compared to the average from 2010 to 2014. Check out other figures in this article published in CNJ Magazine. Services that previously depended on slow and bureaucratic structures can now be carried out quickly, saving time and resources for both citizens and managers. Digitalization goes beyond operational efficiency, as it creates conditions for governments to act more strategically, making it possible to identify demands with greater precision and allocate resources more intelligently. Current scenario: examples of success and challenges Technology has reshaped the public sector in ways that previously seemed distant. In Brazil, some examples are indisputable. The National Digital Government Strategy, updated in 2024, sets ambitious goals to position the country as a global reference in digital transformation by 2027. In practice, this initiative seeks to expand the offer of digital services, increase integration between systems and promote more transparent and efficient public management. The impact of this plan can already be seen in initiatives such as the Gov.br platform, which centralized thousands of digital services and, today, serves more than 150 million Brazilians. Recognized as the most accessed government website in the world, according to the website Similarweb, Gov.br represents an integration model that can inspire other initiatives. In addition to simplifying access to public services, Gov.br promotes digital inclusion by bringing together in a single environment services that previously required face-to-face interactions or fragmented systems. However, its implementation faced significant challenges, such as adapting legacy systems, training servers and overcoming cultural barriers to ensure the engagement of users and public bodies. Gov.br is a major step forward, but it raises an important question: are we taking advantage of the full potential that this digitalization can offer? If we look at the global scenario, countries like Estonia show how technology can transform public services into something functional and accessible. There, practically everything can be resolved online, from medical consultations to company registrations. The model is supported by a highly integrated digital infrastructure, based on solutions such as a unique digital identity and interoperability between systems, which guarantee agility and security in processes. In Brazil, adapting successful practices from Estonia requires considering the economic, social and cultural differences between states. Furthermore, it is necessary to consider the difference in geographical size between countries. After all, while Estonia has a smaller and more homogeneous population, Brazil needs to deal with inequality in internet access and regional diversity. However, some initiatives can still be adopted, such as a single digital identity, which could be initiated in regions with greater technological infrastructure and later expanded to other areas. This process, of course, would require a well-structured - and realistic - implementation. Interoperability between systems, another striking feature of the Estonian model, is also feasible in Brazil, but it depends on investments in technological integration and planning to unify existing platforms. Softplan has contributed to this transformation with solutions such as SAJ, used in several courts across the country. These practices reinforce the potential of technology to overcome regional and sectoral challenges, promoting greater efficiency and accessibility throughout Brazil. Despite some advances in the digitalization of public services, there are still major challenges to be overcome, especially in municipalities that lack digital strategies. Most cities operate with fragmented systems, such as isolated software for payroll, purchasing control and tax management. These systems, often developed independently, do not communicate with each other, generating rework, data inconsistencies and delays in decision-making. In healthcare systems, technological fragmentation is an obvious challenge. One example is the e-SUS AB electronic medical record, adopted only by some Brazilian municipalities. While some use their own systems, the rest still rely on paper forms, which will need to be digitized later. The lack of integration forces healthcare professionals to switch between different systems to record information about a single patient, such as appointments, vaccinations and tests, increasing the risk of incomplete data and making analysis and strategic decision-making difficult. This reality reflects a gap between the potential of technology and the experience that citizens feel on a daily basis. To overcome this challenge, it is essential not only to digitize, but to ensure that the systems are useful in practice. This contrast between what has already been achieved and what still needs to be done leads us to deeper reflection. What prevents more consistent progress? What barriers do we still need to overcome for technology to reach its true capacity to transform public services? The main obstacles to digitalization in the public sector There are several structural, cultural and management challenges that directly affect the efficiency and impact of digital initiatives in this sector. As mentioned, one of these obstacles is system fragmentation. According to data from the 2022 Digital Government Map, 78% of municipalities with more than 200 inhabitants still do not have a structured digital strategy, resulting in technologies that are not integrated and that end up being underutilized. Many of these municipalities also lack basic infrastructure, such as payroll and purchasing control systems, making it difficult to advance to more sophisticated solutions, with automation and artificial intelligence. Another factor that impacts digital transformation is the human factor: it is necessary to engage employees and train them to operate tools - which is not always easy. Unlike the private sector, where incentives such as bonuses and promotions can accelerate change, in the public service motivation needs to be built with clarity of purpose and direct involvement of teams. Consequently, projects that could bring significant results end up being limited by the absence of trained teams or by cultural resistance to technological changes. Overcoming cultural resistance requires the creation of strategies that combine good communication with opportunities for growth and improvement in the public sector. Training programs should be accompanied by initiatives that demonstrate the impact of new technologies on day-to-day work, showing how they can reduce and facilitate repetitive tasks, in addition to improving the quality of service. It is also essential to involve employees in the planning and implementation processes of new tools. Information exchange and collaboration between sectors is important to identify resistance in advance and adapt projects to the real needs of a sector. Data security and privacy also appear as major obstacles, especially because public services absorb a lot of sensitive information - and technology is not always able to prevent its exposure. This concern has already led bodies such as the Federal Court of Auditors to recommend more robust data protection and governance policies, especially in the context of advancing artificial intelligence. Along with these factors, there is also the issue of financing and resource management. Turning technology into reality requires financial investment, which can still be a major obstacle for many municipalities and states. Although there are credit lines and federal initiatives to support digitalization, such as those made available by the FINISA program — Infrastructure and Sanitation Financing, not all managers are able to access these resources efficiently. Often, there is a lack of planning or even technical knowledge to prepare projects and ensure that resources are applied to tools that will have a significant positive impact. Furthermore, the management of technological resources itself is a challenge. The decentralization of initiatives and the lack of clear governance result in wasted resources and the acquisition of technological solutions that do not meet the real needs of public bodies. Trends and opportunities for governments in the coming years If strategic planning is the foundation for overcoming challenges, it also serves as a starting point for identifying and exploring the opportunities that arise with digital transformation in the public sector. Brazil, with all its diversity and scale, has a unique window of opportunity to adopt technologies and models that have already proven effective in other contexts, while adapting these innovations to its own needs. I highlight here some of the main opportunities for the public sector in the coming years. Expanding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) Artificial intelligence, especially generative intelligence, opens up space to automate repetitive tasks, improve citizen service and process large volumes of data, such as court documents or administrative reports. Pilot projects already show how AI can be applied in areas such as process triage and natural language chatbots. In the Brazilian context, the implementation of AI can benefit from public-private partnerships for the development of specific solutions. AI can be used to monitor data in areas such as health, education and public safety, creating predictive systems that anticipate demands or identify problems before they become critical. One possible path is to invest in training public servants to operate these tools and develop skills to interpret the results generated, ensuring that the technology is aligned with the strategic goals of each sector. Investments in information security With increasing digitalization, data protection and cybersecurity become priority areas. Creating dedicated teams and implementing efficient data governance policies are opportunities to mitigate risks and reinforce confidence in the use of technology. In Brazil, the application of security strategies involves the creation of regional security operations centers (SOCs) that can monitor and respond to incidents in real time. Furthermore, it is essential to strengthen legislation on data protection and train servers to deal with digital security practices. Promoting the use of public data The analysis and strategic use of public data offers the potential to generate insights that improve decision-making, optimize resources and create new economic opportunities. Transparency and controlled access to data can also stimulate innovation in the private sector, in areas such as insurance and risk analysis. The integration of public health, education and security data makes it possible to map areas of greatest vulnerability and prioritize investments. Municipalities with limited resources can create consortia to share technologies and data analysis experts, reducing costs and expanding impact. Making open data available can stimulate innovation in the private sector, encouraging the development of solutions that benefit both government and society. Improving the citizen experience Projects that integrate services and reduce bureaucracy, such as Gov.br, demonstrate how technology can positively impact the lives of citizens. The trend is for future initiatives to focus on even more personalized and accessible services. The next step in Brazil is to increase the personalization of services based on citizen data, offering more specific and accessible services. An integrated digital health system could send personalized alerts about vaccination campaigns or pending medical appointments, improving adherence to public health programs. The creation of mobile applications with functionalities adapted to local needs helps to expand the reach of services, especially in rural areas or areas with less access to the internet. Technological sustainability Digitalization also brings opportunities to reduce operational costs and environmental impacts, as is already the case with digitalized legal processes. To expand this logic to other sectors, it is necessary to encourage the use of green technologies, such as low-energy servers and cloud-based solutions. Projects that digitize physical files, such as property registries or medical records, generate significant savings in the long term and also reduce the waste of resources. Furthermore, promoting the reuse of technology equipment in good condition, such as computers and tablets, in schools and community centers contributes to both sustainability and digital inclusion. Strategies for planning the use of technology in the public sector Overcoming the challenges of technology in the public sector inevitably requires well-structured strategic planning. Without this, the adoption of tools and systems runs the risk of being limited to specific responses to immediate problems, without promoting lasting transformations. In the public sector, planning must be thought of in an integrated and continuous way. And for this to happen, we inevitably need to start by defining concrete goals, establishing objectives that can be monitored and measured over time. In the case of the Gov.br program, for example, clear goals were defined from the beginning: consolidate government digital channels, create a unique digital identity for citizens and increase the offer of digital services. These simplified objectives ensured team focus and buy-in from different government agencies throughout the project. In the municipal context, this practice can be adapted. City halls and regional consortiums must define indicators that reflect the impact of actions, such as reducing queues for in-person appointments or increasing the number of digital processes. Another essential element is the integration of systems and the use of shared platforms, which allow easy access to data, promote resource savings and make implementation more agile. Hands-on: strategic planning for the use of technology in the public sector The first step in planning the use of technology in the public sector is to carry out a detailed diagnosis. It is necessary to evaluate the existing infrastructure, such as hardware, which software the entity already uses, analyze how they connect with others and more technical aspects related to data security. It is also necessary to map administrative processes to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Listening to civil servants and citizens helps us understand which demands really need to be prioritized. With the diagnosis completed, planning can begin based on the information and data obtained. Defining clear objectives, setting goals, and organizing a roadmap that details the project steps are the next steps. Organizing workflows and responsibilities avoids delays and waste. In addition, deadlines and budgets must be calculated, taking into account costs, human resource requirements and execution times. To monitor progress and correct possible deviations, it is essential to establish performance indicators, such as the increase in digitalized processes or the reduction in waiting times for services. These metrics depend on the type of sector. Focusing on awareness-raising and use of new resources reduces errors and promotes efficient adoption of tools, contributing to the success of initiatives. Training should be carried out as often as necessary. To maintain operational efficiency, periodic updates must be considered in order to keep up with technological and regulatory changes. Budgets for support and expansion of solutions are essential, as are policies that ensure the continuity of projects, regardless of changes in management. Innovate with purpose Digital transformation in the public sector must be guided by tangible objectives, connecting technology to the concrete needs of society. Each advance needs to be aligned with improving services, administrative efficiency and meeting real demands. Innovating with purpose means structuring solutions that directly impact the lives of citizens, promoting easier access to services and optimizing public management. Systems integration, data analysis and the use of secure technologies make governments better prepared to make strategic decisions. When used in a planned way, technology transforms the relationship between governments and citizens. This generates results such as greater transparency, reduced inequalities and improved use of resources, with positive impacts for society as a whole.