The Government Digital Service (GDS) is planning to develop a GOV.UK app, increase the platform’s presence on social channels and explore its possibilities for interactions with emerging technologies.
These are parts of a strategy outlined by director of GOV.UK Chris Bellamy for work on the digital interface for central government services up to 2025.
She said they reflect priorities to extend the reach of the platform, make it more proactive in helping people and match user expectations for new technologies.
There will be nine workstreams to: develop a GOV.UK app; explore how the platform can be used with emerging technologies; develop the presence on social channels such as YouTube; create new content types and expand the use of formats such as video; update the home page and site search; improve the user experience around targeted journeys; evolve the content operating model; reduce the complexity of publishing tools used; and update the brand guidelines.
Revisiting decisions
Bellamy said this will involve revisiting some product decisions made in the past and trying new things, with an intent to iterate quickly.
The effort will involve collaboration between the GOV.UK team in GDS and that for the One Login for Government programme. This will include work on aligning the relevant apps.
She added that there have been 28 billion page views of GOV.UK since it was launched 10 years ago, and that GDS has already experimented with interactive services, such as the Brexit Checker for tailored guidance on preparations, and the Covid-19 questionnaire.
“These case studies show that by providing a more proactive, interactive and relevant GOV.UK user experience, we can help people to get the right support from government and help government to communicate and deliver services to people,” she said.
