Digital inclusion: digitalisation for society as a whole
In the digital era, inclusion is not only a social necessity , but also a technological one. To ensure that the entire population can benefit from technological advances, the state must act proactively . Social inclusion is key to paving the way for ground-breaking innovations.
In our increasingly digital society, the benefits of the public sector are evident: increased efficiency, clear transparency and outstanding citizen service. However, this digital advancement can leave some sections of the population behind, such as the elderly, people with disabilities or less educated backgrounds.
It is not only physical access to technology that counts, but also ensuring that everyone – regardless of their abilities – has access to knowledge and develops the necessary digital skills. According to the Federal Council’s “Digital Switzerland” strategy, the participation of everyone in social, political and economic aspects of life must be guaranteed. In the Tallinn Declaration on eGovernment, Switzerland, together with the EU and ETFA states, reaffirmed this endeavour in 2017. The “Digital Administration Switzerland 2024-2027” strategy emphasises the importance of barrier-free access and enshrines the principle of user centricity and inclusion. The aim is to tailor government services to the needs of all users, taking into account different IT skills, language skills and physical and mental abilities in order to ensure simple and inclusive interaction.
People at the centre: the state has a duty
Despite the great enthusiasm for digital transformation, it should not be overlooked that technology is merely a tool. The real value and the real challenge lie in empowering the population to use these tools in a meaningful way. At its core, this is far more than just technical accessibility. There is a need to create an environment where all people, regardless of age, education or socio-economic background, have the skills and confidence to actively participate in digital life. This means not only access to technology, but also the ability to use it effectively. The public sector has a central role to play here: the aim is to support education and training programmes that promote digital skills. It is essential to foster a culture of lifelong learning and adaptability. This is the only way to ensure that the digital transformation in the public sector is truly inclusive and sustainable.
Development of a label for digital inclusion
Digitalisation and inclusion are cross-border challenges. The reorientation under the title “digital inclusion” is being applied in Austria, for example, where measures such as barrier-free access, bundling of initiatives and promotion of media skills are being implemented. It is recognisable that a lack of basic digital skills and barriers in the accessibility and usability of digital applications are leading to a widening of the digital divide. In Switzerland, the partial revision of the Disability Discrimination Act emphasises the state’s commitment to ensuring barrier-free access to public services. The Federal Council is focussing on networking all relevant stakeholders in the form of an “Alliance for Digital Inclusion”. This networking of stakeholders from the public sector, civil society, NGOs, research and the private sector will actively shape digital inclusion in order to enable everyone to participate in digitalisation.
The establishment of an “Alliance for Digital Inclusion” in Switzerland is a decisive step towards an inclusive digital future. Experience has shown that social inclusion measures can trigger innovations from which society as a whole can ultimately benefit. One concrete example of this is the development of voice assistants and speech recognition technologies. Originally developed to support people with disabilities, they are now an integral part of many households and companies and make everyday life and business processes easier. Another example is the spread of accessible web design principles that not only benefit people with disabilities, but also make it easier for older people, people with temporary disabilities or people with limited technical knowledge to access digital resources.
Our recommendations
- Develop integrated strategies: The public sector should develop clear guidelines and strategies at all federal levels that promote both technical accessibility and the empowerment of the population.
- Strengthen digital inclusion: through further training Educational programmes geared towards the digital skills of government employees are essential to shaping an inclusive digital future.
- Strengthen partnerships: Closer cooperation with the private sector should be promoted in order to utilise synergies and develop innovative solutions for digital inclusion
More information
Contact options and further information on digital inclusion can be found at the Institute for Public Sector Transformation at BFH Wirtschaft.
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