Government agencies are under constant pressure to deliver public services that the private sector typically cannot. Adding to that pressure are the challenges agencies face in attracting and retaining specialized talent while also needing to modernize legacy human resource software tools.

In a new FedScoop panel discussion, two public sector technology specialists explore how modernizing human resource management systems can be a boon for agencies trying to keep pace with the evolving requirements for talent acquisition and development, workforce retention and improved analytics on human capital investments.

Campbell Webb, senior vice president of infrastructure and platform engineering at Workday — a leading provider of software-as-a-service enterprise resource planning solutions — says that today’s enterprise HR services need to be more agile to meet the evolving profile of hybrid and remote workers.

“[Agencies] need to be able to deploy updates quickly, whether they’re application updates, performance updates or even security updates. That needs to happen regularly with little disruption and very little downtime, given remote workers and hybrid workers could be online anytime, day or night,” he explains.

Campbell explains that modern SaaS platforms provide that level of availability, so agencies can update their HR platform to meet the changing nature of operations and program demands. That includes incorporating new operational processes, integrating modern payroll and benefits systems, or extending the platform with new capabilities to support the hybrid workforce.

Ty Enmark, principal and federal government advisory industry leader for KPMG, LLP — a premier provider of business and technology solutions across the federal government — adds that the value of a modern SaaS solution is its ability to integrate with agencies’ existing technology.

Enmark shares an example of a major healthcare services provider that worked with KPMG and Workday to accomplish three primary objectives for their HR transformation: simplify, ensure transparency, and drive efficiency.

The healthcare provider selected Workday based on Workday’s analytics capabilities, its more straightforward user interface and the rapid implementation that could be deployed into their environment, according to Enmark. And they chose to work with KPMG “based on our industry knowledge and expertise, our skills within human resources and our successful track record of implementing Workday technology.”

KPMG sees its partnership with Workday as a “tremendous opportunity to help government agencies tackle and advance their HR capabilities in this changing workforce environment they’re operating in,” he added.

Watch the full panel to hear more about the benefits of a modern HR platform and how your agency can accelerate its modernization journey to support its hybrid workforce.

This video panel discussion was produced by Scoop News Group and FedScoop and supported by KPMG.

Some services described herein may not be permissible for KPMG audit clients and their affiliates or related entities.

By viewing this video and any related materials on KPMG’s landing, you understand and agree that FedScoop LLC (d/b/a Scoop News Group) (“SNG”) shared your personal information with its sponsor, KPMG LLP (“KPMG”), pursuant to SNG’s Privacy Policy. You further understand and agree that KPMG may use your personal information for the purpose of providing you with marketing content and contact you about its services pursuant to KPMG’s Privacy Statement. To opt-out at any time, please contact: us-optout@kpmg.com.

The post Improving talent acquisition and retention with a modernized HR platform appeared first on FedScoop.

Government agencies are under constant pressure to deliver public services that the private sector typically cannot, and governance plays key into how government organizations define and apply technical best practices to minimize risk.

In a recent panel discussion hosted by FedScoop, Jason Gray, the new CIO for the Agency for International Development (USAID), discusses why “solid governance” is key, not only to following policies and laws, but also to help his team understand the value of what is driving their mission.

“It’s really important to ensure that your entire team understands your processes because they need to be fluent so that when your customers are asking you, ‘why are we doing this,’ or, ‘why do we have to follow this process,’… they understand the value add,” explains Gray.

Joining Gray on the panel, Dan Gruber, managing director for federal practice at KPMG LLP shares how federal partners they work with have found success implementing ServiceNow’s three-tiered governance model to streamline decision-making and remove certain roadblocks.

Speaking of his experience as an integrator, Gray says they found that starting the ServiceNow journey in the back office “allows an organization time to mature its governance processes” and “to support the dynamic nature of the mission.”

“It’s critical for organizations understand that governance is all about efficient decision making, and therefore the operating model must also be efficient,” he explained.

Grey shares how USAID is using its governance framework to “add behind each decision and process continuously.”

He says in his role he will continue to support efforts that focus on “delegating decisions to the lowest optimal level,” and empower employees to make decisions at the appropriate level by “removing redundant or duplicative processes.”

Watch the entire interview and learn more about adopting a modern governance framework to accelerate your agency’s modernization journey.

This video panel discussion was produced by Scoop News Group and FedScoop and supported by KPMG.

Some of the services described herein may not be permissible for KPMG audit clients and their affiliates or related entities.

By viewing this video and any related materials on KPMG’s landing, you understand and agree that FedScoop LLC (d/b/a Scoop News Group) (“SNG”) shared your personal information with its sponsor, KPMG LLP (“KPMG”), pursuant to SNG’s Privacy Policy. You further understand and agree that KPMG may use your personal information for the purpose of providing you with marketing content and contact you about its services pursuant to KPMG’s Privacy Statement. To opt-out at any time, please contact: us-optout@kpmg.com.

The post Advancing missions with governance appeared first on FedScoop.

As demands grow for faster service delivery and improved user experience, government agencies are turning to low-code applications for mission-critical situations to ramp up productivity.

Low-code platforms map the software development process on an interface that allows developers to write apps with a flow chart — using drag-and-drop components and model-driven logic — rather than coding.

In a recent panel discussion, hosted by FedScoop, Nicole Willis, chief technology officer for the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General, shares how a low-code application helped “to provide real-time updates and interaction around the impactful recommendations that OIG makes to the HHS operating divisions.”

“From a business perspective, it’s really allowed us to have immediate updates to the data and provide more visibility and transparency across the whole HHS organization,” Willis explains.

Joining Willis on the panel, Tom Frame, managing director for digital transformation at KPMG LLP adds that using a platform tool — like ServiceNow’s low-code platform — gives organizations the ability to embrace a more agile culture.

“When you look at agile delivery, you think of delivering minimally viable products, and then actually iterating on them based on feedback, as well as based on additional features that are identified,” explains Frame. “Low-code platforms help enable and drive that speed to market of these products, which really helps to get value faster.”

Watch the entire interview to hear more about HHS’ journey to embrace low-code applications, and how your agency can accelerate its modernization journey.

This video panel discussion was produced by Scoop News Group and FedScoop and supported by KPMG.

Some of the services described herein may not be permissible for KPMG audit clients and their affiliates or related entities.

By viewing this video and any related materials on KPMG’s landing, you understand and agree that FedScoop LLC (d/b/a Scoop News Group) (“SNG”) shared your personal information with its sponsor, KPMG LLP (“KPMG”), pursuant to SNG’s Privacy Policy. You further understand and agree that KPMG may use your personal information for the purpose of providing you with marketing content and contact you about its services pursuant to KPMG’s Privacy Statement. To opt-out at any time, please contact: us-optout@kpmg.com.

The post Advancing missions with low-code applications appeared first on FedScoop.

The application of 5G technology to warehouse and supply chain logistics operations promises far more than faster communication speeds at federal and defense facilities. Rather, it represents an opportunity to transform a whole host of business processes, say experts in a new FedScoop executive interview series on accelerating modern government.

The ongoing modernization of the U.S. Marine Corps’ inventory management system offers a glimpse of 5G’s potential impact. Utilizing features from Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance-based ERP solution, for instance — and assistance from KPMG, LLP — the U.S. Marine Corps is leveraging 5G’s ubiquitous connectivity to a multitude of devices to improve project accounting, procurement, data management, security and deployment planning.

Those types of improvements are beginning to prove pivotal in addressing three primary challenges at the Defense Logistics Agency, according to Manny Casas, R&D program manager for DLA, who talked about 5G’s potential in the video interview. DLA operates 24 distribution centers around the world. The work tied to inventory management, material distribution, and asset visibility at those distribution centers “is really labor intensive,” says Casas. “And it drives a lot of resources, operational costs, and labor costs,” which in turn, “impacts the ability to respond to the warfighter from the logistics perspective.”

Reducing those costs requires “looking at a system of systems,” linking robotics, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, cybersecurity controls, automation, and Industry 4.0 technology,” he says. “5G will be an enabler for these systems to communicate and transmit data more efficiently and effectively to the end user.”

“In the current 4G environment we have now, we can absolutely operate robots and conveyors and like equipment,” notes Chad Jones, Global Government Lead, KPMG. “But 5G allows us to connect to… machine-to-machine interaction. [That] allows us to engineer and optimize the equipment and the way it flows. For example, as we move robots and gear around the warehouse itself, or at DLA, we can optimize how that process takes place. This allows us to really increase the velocity and movement of gear throughout the warehouse. And if we extrapolate that into the 24 warehouses that represents DLA’s footprint, it really creates a force multiplier in its process.”

Casas and Jones discuss examples of where 5G is helping to improve military readiness; reduce operating costs; and sets logistics teams up to anticipate, rather than react to, material requirements. Also, they share recommendations on mitigating the risks associated with implementing 5G on top of existing systems.

Watch the entire interview and learn more about accelerating modern government at Modern government: Connected. Powered. Trusted. (kpmg.us).

You can also hear from more agency leaders on how that are making headway by capitalizing on emerging technology to modernize customer service delivery. 

This video panel discussion was produced by Scoop News Group and FedScoop and supported by KPMG.

Some or all of the services described herein may not be permissible for KPMG audit clients and their affiliates or related entities. By viewing this video and any related materials on KPMG’s landing, you understand and agree that FedScoop LLC (d/b/a Scoop News Group) (“SNG”) shared your personal information with its sponsor, KPMG LLP (“KPMG”), pursuant to SNG’s Privacy Policy. You further understand and agree that KPMG may use your personal information for the purpose of providing you with marketing content and contact you about its services pursuant to KPMG’s Privacy Statement. To opt-out at any time, please contact: us-optout@kpmg.com.

The post 5G poised to transform defense logistics operations appeared first on FedScoop.