Better use of data could help public bodies save money, according to consultancy Deloitte.
A report issued today says data analytic techniques can improve services such as health care and policing.
It cites workforce planning in the NHS, where statistical and analytic techniques are being used to predict shifting patterns of demand for different professional groups as well as changing pressures on staff
Mike Turley, public sector partner at Deloitte, said there was a ‘real danger’ that public sector organisations could lay off staff with critical skills or sell the wrong assets.
‘Analytics, when applied correctly, represents a major weapon in the fight to bring down costs sustainably across public bodies,’ he said.
‘This does not necessarily mean capital investment in new technology, but a cultural change to use data effectively to prioritise actions and to help make better decisions.’
Turley added that the public sector could learn lessons from the private sector. He cited the insurance industry, where predictive analytics are being used to identify the level of intervention required in the claims handling process.
‘By learning from these insights, the public sector could further develop how it rolls out services and programmes to the wider community,’ Turley said.
