NEC brings Danish data success story to Perth

Operators of a digital platform which could one day end the need for card-stuffed wallets and onerous ID checks for government services hope Perth will be the first step in a nationwide rollout.

Japanese information technology firm NEC on Thursday unveiled its digital government centre of excellence based in its Perth office.

The centre is based on NEC subsidiary KMD in Denmark which has earned the Scandinavian nation years of global praise for its seamless digital interface between citizens and government services.

NEC consultant Mikkel Enoch, who moved from Denmark last month, said a digital key used in Denmark meant citizens weren’t carrying around a wallet full of cards everywhere they went.

“A Dane is born and they are given an ID number, that is the key they will use through their life to use more than 2000 digital solutions and services right at the tip of their fingers wherever they are,” he said.

“Children grow and so does their concern and their needs also expand, but one thing stays stable throughout their life and that is their interaction with the Danish government and public services.

“This digital journey is from cradle to grave – you are with your number all the way through your life and this ease of life and digital experience is what we aim to create here in Australia.”

Mr Enoch said the digital key in Denmark had myriad uses including marriage registrations, voting, education and buying homes.

While a digital key is a way off yet, NEC’s WorkZone platform will get the ball rolling on simplifying online government services.

WorkZone enables users – in this case government agencies – to develop applications and solutions to improve workflow and case management without the need for professional developers.

NEC Australia technology and innovation vice president Ayala Domani said the company’s platforms were already commonplace in Europe.

“NEC case management platforms are used today by more than 65 per cent of Danish government case workers and 50 per cent of police officers in the UK,” she said.

“Mikkel has joined us here in Perth and will be helping us bring those capabilities, accelerate adoption… in WA and as a springboard to the rest of Australia.”

Innovation and Digital Economy Minister Stephen Dawson said NEC’s decision to base its centre in Perth backed the state’s status as an innovation incubator.

“I am certainly very keen for government to be at the forefront of using new technologies to help us do our work better,” he said.

“Government is sitting on a treasure trove of data which sits there in agencies and we are not putting it to good use.

“Technology and AI really does allow us the opportunity to actually use it and use it for the good of citizens.”

Mr Dawson said the centre of excellence fit well with the state government’s digital strategy which he said was moving WA “out of the dark ages”.