Recently we wrote about the difference between AI hype and AI reality in Local Government. While there are plenty of plug and play AI accelerators (some proven, some not so much), AI value that is persistent and ‘sticky’ depends on data maturity. This is not a new idea.But what might be new is using some AI to accelerate your data readiness for AI in the first place.
Flipping the script - using AI to clean up the data
All the chat is about AI being only as good as the data. But here is how we flip the script and use AI to make the data ready to start with:
- Data entity extraction – AI can find names, addresses, UPRNs, invoice numbers, location references and more from messy text.
- Data categorisation – AI can figure out categorisation from free text for example distinguishing missed bin, noise or ASB complaints.
- Record matching and single views – AI can help create the ever-elusive single or connected views of citizen or place data, by adding sophistication to matching algorithms.
- Data cleansing - AI can reliably cleanse, standardise and normalise your key datasets ready for subsequent uses. It can even propose better models and structures than the ones you have by looking at existing messy data.
- Pattern recognition – AI can be used to relate consistently missing data to poor service outcomes, so that you know which AI applications to prioritise.
These examples all put in place better data, so that your down stream uses for AI and analytics produce better results and drive stronger outcomes.
Getting it right
Councils that get AI right begin with strong data strategy foundations: trusted and well curated data assets; clear standards, governance and ownership; an insights-driven culture and operating model; and the ability to connect information about residents, places, services and resources. When those fundamentals are in place, AI becomes a genuine lever for prevention, insight‑driven decision‑making, and operational efficiency.
So why not accelerate data readiness using AI in the first place?
Case Study
Newham Council are getting it right. Their approach is building AI strategy over an existing and proven data approach (The Newham Data Analytics Framework – NDAF). You can read their case study on the LGA website [here] and use it to reflect on your approach to a similar journey.
The TVI Point of View
Pretty much everyone already knows that without a strong data strategy and trusted data, AI simply can’t deliver the outcomes leaders are hoping for.
But what they aren’t yet clocking properly is the use of AI to accelerate resolving the data quality to start with. We are though, and as Public Sector data and AI experts our blueprints cover AI both to drive outcomes and improve your data readiness.
The Takeaway
If you don’t have a data strategy then you don’t have an AI strategy. But even if you do have a data strategy, you might be years away from AI execution if your Data Quality is poor.
Robust data strategy + AI DQ acceleration = strong AI driven outcomes
Has your Council started the AI Journey? Do you have a strong and AI-enabling data strategy? Have you successfully used AI to accelerate data readiness? Let us know in the comments.
Newham case study
https://www.local.gov.uk/case-studies/newham-council-establishing-uk-centre-artificial-intelligence-public-sector?utm_source=copilot.com
