The controversial NSW ‘mini-budget’ actually heralds business opportunities for ICT organisations, according to one industry commentator.
Although many pundits have decried the mini-budget, Judy Hurditch of consultancy Intermedium said that few existing major ICT projects have been cut.
Furthermore, the cost-cutting measures proposed in the mini-budget will demand investment in ICT projects if they are to be fulfilled.
For example, the mini-budget mentions a plan to establish ‘one-stop shops’ at more than 120 motor registries around the state. According to Intermedium, this initiative would demand new hardware, networks, security and systems integration work.
A new project at DOCS that will upgrade the department’s client information system and management system will also demand further investment in ICT technologies.
According to Intermedium, “Both shared services and the clustering of agencies are starting to gather further momentum as initiatives, after being hinted at for years.”
These shared services initiatives will arise from structural reshuffles of government departments, like the integration of services functions of Ambulance NSW and the recent reform of Area Health Services.
These, too, will require further ICT investment from the government.