Embracing AI for better governance

At GovInsider we believe that public officials can solve the big problems of the next decade. 
 
Likewise for SAP’s Regional Head of Business AI in APAC, Varun Thamba. The tremendous potential in the public sector has not gone unnoticed at SAP.

“For us as SAP, public sector and our governments and lawmakers are a very important part of our strategy so much so, that it's our number one year-on-year growth industry,” he said. 

Thamba was speaking at GovInsider’s Festival of Innovation (FOI) event in March on artificial intelligence (AI) applications that are tailored to business processes in the public sector.  

From procurement processes to policy planning, Thamba showcased how the integration of AI in public sector operations is no longer a concept for tomorrow, but a present reality with far-reaching implications.   

Here are the highlights from Thamba’s presentation titled Empowering Governance and Citizen Lives with Enterprise AI and Data. 

To subscribe to the GovInsider bulletin click here.

AI is here to stay in government operations 

As a service provider for over 24,500 government entities globally that operate on SAP systems, Thamba highlighted the importance of AI capabilities in local, national, and global governance. 

Thamba revealed that SAP’s customers include about 58 per cent of UN members as well as 23 of the 32 NATO members, presenting a case study of AI implementation from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA).  

By implementing SAP’s curated AI workflows in their procurement processes, the NSPA who functions as the main logistic and procurement operators for NATO managed to achieve a 60 per cent reduction in supplier onboarding efforts and 20 per cent decrease in time spent on procurement processes. 

AI-driven solutions for public sector challenges 

With the widespread adoption of AI in public sector operations, Thamba highlighted several areas where AI is making a significant impact: 

• Policy planning and budgeting: AI systems can analyse historical and external data to assist in policy formulation and budget allocation. 

• Grant fund management: AI can optimise the allocation and tracking of grant funds, ensuring more efficient use of resources. 

• Routine services automation: Many repetitive tasks in public services can be automated, freeing up human resources for more complex issues. 

• Contract generation: AI can automate the creation of contracts in multiple languages, ensuring legal compliance across various jurisdictions. 

• Procurement optimisation: AI systems can identify the most suitable suppliers for specific needs, considering factors such as delivery speed, legal compliance, and transportation capabilities. 

Morover, Thamba emphasised several crucial points for government officials to consider: 

• Process-centric approach: Rather than focusing on developing advanced AI models, the emphasis should be on applying AI to enhance specific governmental processes. 

• Out-of-the-box solutions: Look for AI solutions that offer ready-to-use capabilities tailored for government operations. 

• Data integration: Ensure that AI systems can integrate data from various sources, both internal and external, to provide a comprehensive view of operations. 

• Ethical considerations: Prioritise AI solutions that adhere to strict ethical standards and data protection regulations. 

• Customisation Capabilities: While out-of-the-box solutions are valuable, the ability to customise AI models for specific governmental needs is equally important. 

 
You can find Thamba’s FOI presentation recording on-demand here.   
 
SAP will also be hosting its Business Unleashed Innovation Day event on May 6. You can learn more about the event here.