How Local Authorities Can Ensure Successful Implementation and Adoption of New Technologies

As local authorities continue to navigate the dual pressures of tightening budgets and increasing demand for services, the spotlight has firmly shifted onto digital transformation. The right technology, when effectively implemented and adopted, can significantly streamline service delivery, promote cost efficiency, and ultimately provide better outcomes for citizens. However, technology is only as good as its implementation—and in the complex world of local government, success hinges on more than just choosing the right tool.

So how can local authorities ensure their investment in technology truly delivers?

Technology as an Enabler of Efficiency

From self-service portals that reduce pressure on frontline staff, to automated back-office processes and e-invoicing systems that eliminate paper handling, technology has the potential to transform the way councils operate. But the benefits of these tools can only be realised when implementation is approached strategically.

Technology is not a silver bullet—it must align with broader service objectives and integrate smoothly with existing systems. Local authorities need to consider how digital tools support service redesign, citizen engagement, and long-term efficiency.

Collaboration is Key

One of the greatest strengths of the public sector is its ability to collaborate. Unlike the private sector, local authorities aren’t in competition with one another, making them ideally placed to share insights, pool resources, and learn from each other's experiences.

Working with peers through regional groups, procurement networks, or national forums allows councils to tap into lessons learned, identify best practices, and avoid costly missteps. For instance, insights from authorities with similar demographics or service structures can provide valuable benchmarks and case studies.

Under the Procurement Act 2023, there’s also a growing emphasis on transparency and shared KPIs—providing a formal mechanism for authorities to learn from one another’s procurement activities and outcomes, and to accurately assess the performance of suppliers.

Data-Driven Decision Making

To implement technology wisely, local authorities must become better at using data. Yet many teams still struggle with fragmented or poor-quality data and lack the required insight to support collaboration.

Platforms like Oxygen, which specialise in cleansing and categorising public sector spend data, are helping to close that gap. By analysing over £6 trillion of expenditure data, Oxygen has enabled councils to make evidence-based decisions—identifying opportunities for savings, collaboration, and innovation.

Supplier specific information can help identify similar projects, enabling you to review the measures adopted by other authorities, approach to the project, potential suppliers and risks to delivery.

Learn from the Private Sector—but Be Strategic

It’s equally important for councils to look beyond their own sector and to learn from the private sector too. Many public sector professionals take on technology implementation as part of broader responsibilities, often with limited IT or specialist support, increasing the need to seek guidance and experience from others.

There’s wisdom in being a proactive adopter without being the very first. Early adoption allows councils to be agile and forward-thinking, but being the first can come with risk and uncertainty. Instead, public bodies can watch closely how other organisations implement new technologies, then adapt successful models to fit their own needs.

Strong Partnerships with Vendors

Strategic partnerships are beneficial—not only with software providers but also with funding bodies. With central government offering grants and funding streams for digital innovation, councils should seek partners who understand the public sector landscape and can support project planning and compliance.

Vendors who have a strong presence in the market, positive references, and a track record of successful deployments across local government are well-positioned to guide implementation effectively. These partners can also assist in managing dependencies and ensuring solutions are tailored to the unique needs of public services.

The Role of Change Management

Even the best technology will fail without buy-in. Successful implementation hinges on good change management—clear communication, proper training, and a compelling rationale for staff.

Authorities must create an environment where employees understand the “why” behind new systems. A well-defined roadmap ensures technology isn’t viewed as a one-off investment, but part of a broader strategy to modernise services. This includes aligning systems with other internal services to ensure seamless delivery and a consistent user journey.

It’s also critical to plan for user adoption: What’s the return on investment? How will success be measured? Which teams will be most impacted? These questions should be considered at the outset—not after deployment.

Hot Topic: AI in the Public Sector

Artificial intelligence is one of the most talked-about trends in technology—and for good reason. AI has the potential to revolutionise public services, from predictive analytics in social care to chatbots in customer services.

However, its adoption must be thoughtful and grounded in compliance. Local authorities must be vigilant about how constituent data is managed, ensuring it isn’t inadvertently used to train third-party models. There’s also a pressing need to educate staff about how AI tools work, what they can and cannot do, and what safeguards are in place.

AI also introduces new ethical considerations, making it vital for councils to have clear policies in place around data governance, bias mitigation, and accountability.

Final Thoughts

For local authorities, the road to digital transformation is paved with opportunity—but also complexity. To navigate it successfully, they must combine strategic thinking with collaboration, data insight, and strong partnerships.

Ultimately, technology should not be a burden but a tool to unlock better outcomes—for staff, for services, and most importantly, for the citizens they serve.

Local Public Services Programme activities

Our Local Public Services Programme helps techUK members to navigate local government. We champion innovation that can create truly digital local public services helping to create thriving, productive and safer places for all. Visit the programme page here