TECHNOLOGY consulting firm KPMG R.G. Manabat & Co. (KPMG) launched a service catering to government agencies and local government units (LGUs) seeking to digitalize their processes.
At its Innovation Summit on Thursday, KPMG unveiled its Digital Government Center that will target “LGUs and agencies of the National Government in their digitalization process,” KPMG PH Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sharon G. Dayoan told reporters.
“Everybody wants to go digital; everybody sees the need to go digital, but it’s always a challenge to get started and therefore we want to help,” she added.
According to Ms. Dayoan, the new service will help government clients undertake a digital transformation by identifying key areas where technology can be deployed to improve operations and developing an implementation plan.
She acknowledged concerns that technology adoption could be costly.
“Going digital is obviously not free, but we’re willing to invest in LGUs who want to go on that journey. I supposed there would be exploratory discussions that will happen because this is also an investment on our part,” she said.
“Technology is pricey; it comes with a cost. But the long-term benefits are there. So, they could get in touch with us to explore and see how it could happen. It will depend on what their intentions are, what their plans are, and how we could step in to help,” she added.
In chance remarks to reporters, KPMG PH Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer Emmanuel P. Bonoan said the firm wants to focus on LGUs because many local governments outside of Metro Manila are still lagging in terms of technology.
“No one disputes that technology can be a big help,” he said. “(We) have cities outside of Metro Manila that are considered first-class cities, but don’t have that kind of (technological infrastructure).”
“They want to do it… they just need some guidance on how to jumpstart,” he added.
Asked for her outlook for the range of KPMG’s offerings this year, Ms. Dayoan said technological services have been seeing double-digit growth since the pandemic.
“We were primarily an audit and insurance firm prior to the pandemic (those are) our biggest service lines. After the pandemic, our advisory line is… catching up to our audit and insurance services and much of it is in technology. There are a lot of technological engagements we are working on,” she said.
Organizations have “no choice” but to adapt to technology, she added. “It’s coming. It’s here. We have to adapt. (Artificial intelligence) will do wonders; we just have to see how we can best use it.” — Keisha B. Ta-asan