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Indonesia is preparing itself to become a digitalised nation, a forward step aimed at integrating technology into various aspects of daily life and government sectors. This effort includes several key initiatives designed to strengthen digital infrastructure, enhance digital literacy among the population, and promote innovation and economic growth.
Abdullah Azwar Anas, the Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform, has engaged in a significant dialogue with Joko Widodo, the President of Indonesia, centring on the crucial objective of expediting the government’s transition towards a comprehensive digital service platform.
This conversation is a pivotal moment in Indonesia’s journey toward digital transformation, reflecting a shared commitment between the Minister and the President to harness the potential of digital technology for public service improvement.
Minister Anas elaborated on the regulatory aspects, mentioning the completion of several Presidential Decrees as directed by the President. Since January 2024, cross-ministerial teams have collaborated to achieve a historic milestone for Indonesia: establishing its first integrated digital service, including the interoperability of thousands of previously separate service applications.
Anas pointed out that while many public services have been digitised, they have operated in silos without interoperability, including data sharing. This fragmentation has led to confusion among citizens trying to navigate government services.
The current approach has yet to be user-centric, requiring individuals to download multiple apps and enter their data separately for different services, contrary to President Widodo’s vision for simplicity and efficiency.
Minister Anas underscored the importance of Indonesia’s preparations to align with other technologically advanced nations by offering its citizens seamless, integrated digital services. This initiative is not merely about upgrading technology. Still, it is seen as a strategic move to redefine public service delivery in Indonesia, making it more efficient, accessible, and user-friendly, as in advanced countries.
The advanced countries offer an integrated approach where citizens can access various services through a single system. This model streamlines the process of obtaining government services, making it more efficient for citizens by reducing redundancy and the need for multiple verifications. In his speech, Minister Anas highlighted the importance of this approach, aligning it with the President’s directive to transform Indonesia’s digital landscape.
The envisioned transformation includes implementing a Single Sign-On (SSO) system, coupled with a policy of one-time data entry that allows citizens to use multiple services without the need to provide the same information repeatedly. This initiative is envisioned to significantly enhance the convenience and efficiency of accessing government services in Indonesia.
The government’s digital team, or GovTech, named INA Digital, has been tasked with integrating national digital services. This team works closely with the National Electronic Government System Team (SPBE) and various ministries and agencies to address technical issues, such as consolidating digital identity systems.
Minister Anas elaborated that nine priority services are being integrated in the initial phase, including education, healthcare, social aid, driver’s licenses, event permits, digital payments, civil servant services, and civil registration. This integration is expected to be completed by May, with further plans to include services related to immigration, land registration, employment opportunities, and health and employment insurance.
Minister Anas explained the government’s new initiative, emphasising how this integration of services is set to streamline and simplify the processes for citizens, ensuring that they can access essential services related to birth certificates, health care, educational resources, and much more, all without the hassle of downloading multiple applications or the need to enter their data over and over again. This approach, he highlighted, is designed to remove bureaucratic obstacles and make government services more user-friendly and accessible to everyone.
He stressed that future public services would adopt a holistic approach, serving individuals throughout their lives, similar to the digital-based services seen abroad. “This initiative is likened to constructing digital highways that enhance public service delivery, echoing President Widodo’s physical infrastructure improvements that have facilitated citizens’ mobility,” he concluded.
