Cornish software firm Headforwards is set to partner with tech giant Microsoft to encourage more local authorities to digitise their operations.
The two businesses, alongside Cornwall Council, will host a free online event next Tuesday (November 14), where they will outline how implementing a new digital strategy could help councils to improve services and reduce operating costs.
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Redruth-based consultants Headforwards has been working with Cornwall Council on its own digital transformation, which has seen Microsoft software packages integrated into the work down at its contact centre, which takes 2,000 calls a day covering 20 different service areas.
Headforwards co-founder Toby Parkins said: “Cornwall Council is an impressive example of how public services and local authorities can create meaningful change, and our ambition for this event is to share with others how they can accelerate their own transformations.
“There’s no magic formula, but we are coming together with Microsoft and Cornwall Council to share how deploying the right technologies with the right partners with an ambitious underpinning strategy can deliver results.”
Cornwall Council’s Bob Bunce will speak at next week’s event about master data management, while Owen Hodge, product manager at Headforwards, will discuss building process efficiencies internally and externally.
Attendees will also hear from Robin Denton, director of local government at Microsoft, who will discuss the accelerating impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Mr Denton said: “Many local authorities are already on some form of digital transformation journey but the challenge is how to accelerate that.
“Cornwall Council is an excellent example of a holistic digital transformation taking in both technology and culture, using Microsoft technologies to drive change. We’re looking forward to sharing learnings with other public services and local authorities, and talk about what the future night look like with the introduction of AI.”
Presentations will be followed by a panel session focused on change and adoption.