Dwi Retno Wilujeng Wahyu Utami, Director of Statistical Dissemination, Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), Indonesia

1. How do you use technology or policy to improve citizens’ lives? 

As the Director of Statistical Dissemination at BPS, my main role is to ensure that the data produced by BPS can be accessed, understood, and utilised optimally by all data users, such as the government, private institutions, students, researchers, and other stakeholders, for the needs of research and data-based policy making. 

Technology has a very important role in disseminating statistical data, especially in this modern era, where the need for fast, accurate, and easily accessible data continues to increase. The use of technology in statistical dissemination allows increasing data accessibility, expanding the reach of users, and presenting data in a more interactive and attractive way, such as easy-to-understand visualisations. In addition, technology also facilitates collaboration and data sharing between institutions. 

2. What was the most impactful project you worked on this year? 

In 2024, BPS launched Statistics Indonesia Data Lab (StatInalab), an innovation platform that provides a medium for data processing and analysis. StatInalab is a platform that enables real-time and onsite micro data processing experience for users who need data for analysis and research.  

Through StatInalab, BPS encourages wider use of micro data for researchers and academics. In the future, StatInalab will continue to develop with the aim of providing online access, so that more parties can use BPS data for research and data-based decision making.  

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3. What was one unexpected learning from 2024?   

In 2024, I gained a deep understanding of the importance of collaboration and continuous improvement, with the focus on understanding the needs of data users. Close collaboration between data providers, both internal and external to BPS, as well as solid cooperation among employees, allows BPS to continuously make improvements to enhance the quality of public services.

With strong collaboration and commitment to sustained improvement, BPS succeeded in achieving the highest award for public service compliance in 2024. 

4. What’s one tool or technique you’re excited to explore in 2025?  

One of the flagship services provided by BPS is the statistical consultation service. To improve the quality and convenience of this service, BPS through the Directorate of Statistical Dissemination plans to develop a statistical consultation service media based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), which will be named Silvia (Statistical Consultation Virtual Assistant) in 2025.

With Silvia, it is expected that data users can access statistical consultation services at any time, in an easier, faster, and more efficient way. Silvia is also equipped with the ability to store user preferences, so that it can provide a consultation experience that is more personalised and in accordance with the needs of each BPS data user. 

5. Everybody’s talking about AI today – give us your hot take on AI and what it means for the public sector 

AI is becoming an important and inseparable part of human life, including in BPS. The Directorate of Statistical Dissemination plans to use AI in public service innovation. AI has great potential in data management and use, such as analysing trends and patterns, as well as accelerating the data dissemination process to users.  

The implementation of AI in data and information processing will increase efficiency and accelerate the delivery of information needed in the formulation of public policies.  

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6. What are your priorities for 2025? 

The main priorities in 2025 are to improve data literacy, expand data accessibility, and strengthen collaboration and sectoral cooperation of ministries/agencies as data producers. The Statistics Corner, which is the result of collaboration between universities and BPS, provides direct access to students, lecturers, and researchers to obtain valid and up-to-date statistical data and consultation, through statistical agents at universities.

Strengthening sectoral statistical data towards One Data Indonesia is one of the main priorities in 2025. To strengthen BPS' role as a data supervisor, BPS routinely conducts guidance on the implementation of statistics at the national and regional levels. 

Collaboration is focused on managing data standards, metadata and data interoperability, as well as increasing statistical literacy, to support better statistical implementation and data-based policy formulation throughout Indonesia. 

7. What advice do you have for public sector innovators? 

It is very important to involve external parties, especially directly related stakeholders, so that the results developed are truly relevant to user needs.

Do not hesitate to experiment, learn new technologies, conduct benchmarking with other institutions, including international institutions, and receive constructive inputs from the public as direct users of innovation results.