Public Services Platform
The Public Services Platform is an integrated suite of software modules, specifically designed to manage some of the core government areas. Our platform is designed to provide excellent service to the public at a lower cost of operations, but most importantly, the platform ensures a higher level of compliance.
Budget deficits and weak public finances form a major problem for Small Islands Developing States (SIDS). In the Caribbean, the average tax evasion rate is as high as 50% (source). This leaves governments with insufficient funds to invest in key priorities of their communities, such as education and healthcare. In an attempt to close the tax gap, governments often resort to raising taxes and implementing budget cuts. Such measures are unproductive and prevent societies from thriving and progressing.
The answer is simple: the key to fiscal sustainability is compliance. It’s much easier, and productive, to focus on enhancing compliance. BearingPoint developed a sustainable method to reducing the tax gap. The Public Services Platform helps to create a balanced government budget, and allows governments to create sufficient funding for the key priorities of their communities.
The Public Services Platform is designed for governments to:
Want to learn more about the building blocks of the Public Services Platform?
Explore now
1) Generate more revenue
Closing the tax gap involves two things: obtain a 360-degree view of the population and ensure correct, complete, and timely levying and collecting.
Obtain a 360-degree view of the population
Citizens or businesses interact with governments, either by paying taxes, qualifying for social security benefits, or requesting a government permit or license. By connecting the dots, the Public Services Platform creates a unique and comprehensive 360-degree view of citizens through its integrated suite of software modules, that delivers insights into the entire population. For instance, an application for a working permit triggers the notification to levy income tax. Having a comprehensive and up-to-date view of the fiscal population is the most crucial element of enhancing compliance.
Correct, complete, and timely levying and collecting
An often-underestimated element is the timeliness of operations. Substantially reducing backlogs in levying and collecting has a major positive impact on compliance and cash flow. Being on top of things creates a public environment where compliance is a way of life.
2) Superior Public Service
Today’s citizens live in a digital world, and they expect their governments to follow suit. Meeting the demands of citizens plays a major role in increasing compliance. Making it easier to comply, offering friendly reminders, and early detection helps to achieve a higher percentage of compliance. Through full-service portals, the Public Services Platform offers a 24/7, one-stop-shop for citizens and businesses. It’s a win for both sides – governments obtain a stronger public image, and citizens and businesses are more willing to comply, driving compliance rates up.
3) Lower cost of operations
The Public Services Platform has proven to lead to lower operational costs. By digitizing their core processes with our IT solutions, governments obtain a substantial gain in efficiency. With this, governments can either do more with the same workforce, or do the same with a smaller workforce. Efficiency gains are achieved through the following:
- Changing from manual processing to straight-through automatic workflows. Intelligent Process Automation (IPA), based on built-in legislation. Automated where possible, manual where needed.
- Empowering the citizen to process his own information through online portals, with immediate validation of data input based on pre-defined controls. Citizens feel in control, while the government is actually outsourcing part of the work that is currently being executed by the government organization.
- Use of built-in automatic controls prevents errors in the process and ensures clean data.
- Step-by-step guidance guarantees faster and smoother processes, resulting in better output.
- Removal of redundant data-entry to save time and prevent errors. One-time registration, after which the data is shared across systems and departments.
- Improving collaboration between departments by using one system.
- Shifting excess capacity from back-office to the field, focusing more on enforcement and service.
- Up-to-date systems that are easy to adapt quickly to changes in legislation and internal procedures.