Tackling the costs of legacy technology: lessons for modernisation

Last week the National Audit Office (NAO) highlighted the escalating costs and challenges associated with legacy technology in UK government services, calling for a more strategic approach to digital transformation.

As public sector organisations grapple with outdated systems, which cost an estimated £3 billion in delays and reset programmes across five key digital change initiatives, industry experts are sharing insights on how to move forward effectively.

Graeme Jamieson, Head of Accessibility at HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), is set to discuss these challenges in an upcoming webinar on low-code and service modernisation.

Drawing from his experience leading HMRC's Digital Inclusion and Accessibility Standards team, Jamieson emphasises the importance of embedding accessibility and user-centric design from the outset of digital projects.

His team's collaboration on the HMRC app demonstrates how prioritising accessibility during development can result in faster feature releases and sustained improvements in user experience.

👉 Register for "Modernising Government Services at Scale"

📆 10-11am, 29 January (GMT)

Key lessons from the NAO report underscore the need for better integration of technical expertise during procurement and the importance of moving away from fragmented digital contracts.

Initiatives like low-code platforms, as championed by experts such as Jamieson, offer a pathway to reducing reliance on costly external suppliers and mitigating risks tied to outdated systems.