Driving Digital is key to Public Sector Transport Commercialisation

Matt Goodstadt, Managing Director, Transport, Civica discusses how technology is key to public sector transport commercialisation and how efficient transport systems have a critical socio-economic role in the UK.

Change is coming in public sector transport. Many organisations are viewing increasing demand and tighter financial restrictions as an opportunity to innovate. This is crucial as efficient transport systems have a critical socio-economic role in the UK. Fundamentally, vehicles must be available to empty local residents’ bins, ensure social and health care workers can reach the elderly patients they care for and ambulances continue to run. We cannot afford for this to stop.

However, time is running out for public sector transport leaders who need to fill a widening financial hole. While many transport providers have already implemented cost cutting measures, organisations need to implement digital transformation as part of their wider strategy to cut costs and to drive commercialisation. Pursuing a digital strategy has helped many local authorities do just this - also helping them to better serve citizens and streamline processes.

In fact, nearly half of the public-sector transport managers in a Civica survey agree that technology is vital in creating a successful commercialisation model. However, many transport providers simply do not have the right technology to enable commercialisation. This is not about forcing the public to pay ever greater charges for services, but more seeking out new revenue streams, which link to areas of corporate strategy and public need.