Denmark’s Mandatory Digital Self-Services policy aims for 80% of all communication between Danish citizens and Danish government agencies will be digital by 2015.
The Digital Self-Services initiative that is expected to save the public sector DKK 900 million (approx US$136 million) per year.
From 1 December 2014, Danes will have to use digital self-services to access a wide range of government services, such as applications for state pensions, housing benefits, child support or a divorce. Going forward, citizens will also only be able to correspond digitally with government agencies, with all letters, notices and messages to be sent electronically.
Online services have been available in Denmark for a number of years, but it is only from 1 December 2014, that it will be mandatory for citizens to use them.
The transition to digital self-services has taken place in four stages. Since 2012 new services areas have been transferred to mandatory digital self-service each year.
The mandatory digital self-service policy, aims to create a modern public sector, and generating savings that can be more effectively spent on schools, hospitals and care for the elderly.
Lars Frelle-Petersen, Director-General of the Agency of Digitisation said “by far the majority of Danes today consider the internet as a natural part of their daily lives. Furthermore, a great many Danes are already using the public online self-service solutions. It makes life easier for the individual if they can deal with matters from their homes, when it suits them, instead of having to stand in a queue at the municipal service centre”.
“With online self-service, the public authorities can provide citizens with a more flexible and modern service, and we as a society can save a lot of money.”
The mandatory digital self-service policy is one of three key priorities of Denmark’s eGovernment Strategy.
