The way to digital transformation
Estonia has claimed a top spot in terms of digitalisation: It is the most startup-friendly country, possesses the most entrepreneurial activity, has the best mobile network coverage as well as ranks number one for the digital health index and tax competitiveness index.
However, other countries are getting lost in their bureaucracy, wasting money and time on providing government services and do not follow Estonia's example. For which reasons are other highly developed countries - like Germany - not able to keep up?
"A modern digital administration and the associated reduction of bureaucracy are central contributions of the country to future growth. Minister Altmaier has repeatedly stressed that Germany is lagging behind in international comparison and needs to improve. A modern, digital public administration, as is already the case in Estonia, for example, can be an incentive"
This statement from Annika Einhorn, spokesperson of the Ministry of Economy and Energy in Germany, shows that there is an understanding of a lack and that a reduction of bureaucracy is mandatory to ensure economic growth.
"We are working to advance the digitalisation of administrative services provided by the federal state, the individual states and local governments for the companies. The first online services should be available by 2020," Einhorn continued. All this sounds more cumbersome rather than finding and especially implementing immediate solutions. So far, in Germany a lot of half-hearted changes can be found, there are digital solutions that still need additional paper work and people are sceptical towards most changes. How did Estonia manage to not get stuck in in that stage of incapability?
When Estonia regained independence in 1991 they realised they found themselves in a "back against the wall"-situation as a country without many natural resources.
"We didn't have anything in 1991, we had to start building everything up from zero. It's a challenge. But it's also an advantage because we didn't have the legacy systems or we didn't have the sort of mentality that we've always done things this way and that we need to continue," Mari Krusten, Communication Manager at the e-Estonia Briefing centre said. "It's not about technology, but it's about the policy and it's about the will to change. And Estonia has the benefit of being a young and small country."
The opposite is the case in Germany: long traditions, a lack of willingness to lobby the legislature into place and a fear of data being hacked.
Indrek Õnnik, Global Affairs Director of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of Estonia, also sees another reason for insufficient success. Unlike Germany, Estonia is not a federal state. Õnnik mentioned that sometimes it seems like the politicians from the local and federal governments in Germany have not been sitting around the same table. In Estonia it is more straightforward: "What we say will be done," Õnnik said.
Next step: life event based services
The fact that Estonia is considerably advanced at the moment does not mean that they are naturally in a lead position. A laid-back attitude and letting change happen without creating it can be a fatal mistake.
To strengthen its position, the next step to follow is setting up life event based services. These services are triggered by events, like the birth of a child. Related to the event, there will be a landing page, showing which actions have to follow (e.g. giving the child a name) and which monetary support people will get. The landing page also shows which kindergardens are close and a spot gets reserved according to the point the child reaches a certain age.
Moreover, parents will be provided with an instantly delivered government service and do not have to request financial aid they are legitimated to get.
Of course, there is the little chance of misuse, but without taking a risk and having courage to realise changes, other countries will forever remain in one place.
