Microsoft’s chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates wants to see governments worldwide embrace the cost-savings available by implementing stronger IT infrastructures.
The world’s top technology company spelled out an overview of the joys of streamlining processes and increasing efficiency by using technology. Microsoft announced its worldwide Public Services and eGovernment Strategy ahead of the Government Leaders Forum (GLF) in Europe.
In a statement, Gates noted how the strategy, based on a Microsoft Connected Government Framework, can benefit governments with its IT foundation:
“Governments around the world tell us that to interoperate effectively they need a more structured approach to building information technology (IT) systems,” said Gates. “Deploying an eGovernment Strategy will help governments improve productivity and service delivery through seamless interoperability – as well as dramatically help cut costs.”
Microsoft identified four areas where a solid foundation and its strategy can best help governments. The company called them “interlocking capabilities,” and identified them as identity management, CRM/case management, document management, and forms management.
It’s all about cutting paperwork, although as tech pundit John Dvorak observed many years ago, the best time to buy stock in paper companies was when people began talking about paperless offices.
Gates will promote the idea further when he speaks at a Portuguese government event and during the GLF in Lisbon.
Microsoft places a high value on government business. When it appeared Microsoft would see its products tossed out of Massachusetts’ government offices in favor of ones that support OpenDocument Format, the company lobbied hard against those proposals.
The end result? Massachusetts will keep Microsoft in its offices, and the person advocating the switch away from Redmond’s products, Peter Quinn, resigned his position.
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David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business.
