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Government Blog
You’ll find the latest government news and announcements from Intelliworx, plus insights and analysis as we blog on the B2B topics that matter to the federal government community, including financial disclosure, application management, and telework.
9 lessons from the State Department’s generative AI playbook
Foggy Bottom implemented an SBU-cleared chatbot from pilot phase to 62,000 users at 98% of diplomatic posts and published a five-year playbook other agencies can model by Intelliworx Less than two years after OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November of 2022, the State Department was already actively testing an “alpha” version of its own generative AI chatbot. Two more years later, in June of 2026, the Department’s chatbot was rolled out at 98% of global diplomatic stations and has 62,000 users – nearly 80% of its employees. That’s a lightning-fast adoption of a new technology for a government agency, which Foggy Bottom detailed in a new playbook, which reads like a case study, published in July of 2026. It’s even outpaced many commercial businesses. For example, the technology research firm Gartner said in a September 2026 announcement that just 22% of businesses, with $50 million or more in revenue, have scaled […]
8 takeaways from the new EOA playbook by the GSA
The new GSA EOA Playbook emphasizes process mapping, quick wins, and change management while reminding agencies that technology should enable redesigned workflows rather than simply automate existing ones by Intelliworx To achieve dramatic improvement in quality, service, and speed – and at a lower cost – leaders must focus on process improvement first. That was the thesis of a landmark book titled “Reengineering the Corporation” by management gurus Michael Hammer and James Champy. Published in 1993, it was required reading for business leaders seeking to take advantage of the promising opportunity offered by the then nascent industry of information technology. Where many leaders at that time were seeking to automate existing workflows, Hammer and Champy argued technology ought to be an enabler of entirely new processes. We were reminded of that idea in reading through the new Federal EOA Playbook Summary: Federal Process Improvement through Elimination, Optimization, & Automation. The […]
Improving the experience: 5 examples of government CX projects in progress
A Federal News Network webinar highlights active CX efforts: CBP traveler tools for major events, VA multi-channel listening, IRS digital-first options with human support, and callback technology that reduces abandonment. by Intelliworx Improving customer experience (CX) as the government modernizes its IT infrastructure brings somewhat obvious external benefits. For external stakeholders, as is the case with the examples below, CX enhancements remove the friction that leads to frustration. Yet there are also internal benefits to be gleaned. It streamlines processes, drives efficiencies, yields cost savings, and delivers a better employee experience (EX). This has an overall benefit for agencies, too. It’s especially true for those responsible for collecting revenue. As Martha Dorris, who spent 30-plus years championing CX for the GSA once told us, a streamlined tax filing process means the government gets paid faster. A recent webinar by the Federal Executive Forum, which is produced by the Federal News […]
The various approaches, milestones and phases of federal IT modernization projects
Survey by the EY Center for Government Modernization finds 48% of federal decision makers say IT modernization projects take a year-plus to move from pilot to production by Intelliworx It can take a federal agency a year or longer to take an IT modernization project from the pilot phase to production, according to 48% of federal decision makers polled by EY. That’s not a surprise given the size, complexity and critical nature of the government’s IT infrastructure. The consulting firm polled 131 federal decision makers about modernization and AI for its 2026 EY Federal Trends Report. We’ve previously covered some of the findings about the state of AI implementation in the federal government and the shortage of tech talent. In this third and final post stemming from this survey, we are looking at the findings focused on modernization. Stay in touch by subscribing to our email newsletter. We will […]
Tech talent shortage is the government’s “most significant modernization barrier”
Close to half (44%) of federal decision makers surveyed by EY cite “workforce skill gaps” as the top challenge to modernizing the federal IT infrastructure by Intelliworx “One of the most critical bottlenecks to federal goals for modernization, efficiency and scaling AI is not a technological gap but a human capital gap.” That’s according to the 2026 EY Federal Trends Report, based on a survey of 131 federal decision makers. When asked about the top barriers to modernizing government technology, respondents identified the following: 44% cite workforce skill gaps; 32% say slow procurement processes; 32% say escalating cybersecurity threats; 30% say regulatory requirements; and 30% say inadequate data storage. (Click for larger image) Solving the talent shortage While the survey identified the top barrier, it also identified some ways the government is going about resolving it. 1. Upskilling existing staff Most respondents surveyed give their agency high marks for […]
7 statistics that offer a glimpse into the state of federal AI implementation
Despite overwhelming support for AI-driven modernization, an EY survey of federal decision makers finds persistent hurdles in scaling AI from pilots to production by Intelliworx Finding ways to use AI to reduce cost and drive efficiency is the top tech priority for the federal government. To date, there are more than 2,000 possible AI use cases that have been identified. The question that remains is: are these use cases making their way toward production environments? The EY Center for Government Modernization recently announced a survey it commissioned of 131 “federal government decision-makers in finance, IT and HR/workforce” that provides some answers. We reviewed the study and have curated some of the statistics that stood out to us below. Stay in touch by subscribing to our email newsletter. We will never share or sell your email address. 1. Enthusiasm for AI runs high “An overwhelming majority of federal “decision-makers “view AI as […]
Perceiving “failure” as lessons learned: 5 truths for modernizing government tech
Government tech leaders can break the cycle of risk aversion by reframing project setbacks as essential learning opportunities that drive iterative modernization and cultural change by Intelliworx Few topics attract attention in technology circles like a failed IT project. In government circles, the fear of failure with technology projects is real. High-visibility government technology projects that fall short of promises earn negative news, commentaries, GAO reports and potentially congressional hearings. The risk of failure is fairly high, too. By the government’s own accounting, its track record leaves a lot to be desired. As a result, it’s reasonable for a civil servant to believe that being part of a high-visibility IT project that fails will adversely impact their career progression. This incentivizes the status quo and resistance to change. Silicon Valley recognized this problem – phrases like “fail fast” and “embrace failure” changed the perception of that word. Instead of viewing […]
How the USDA modernized its tech infrastructure for crop inspections
The SCION project digitized paper-based processes, replaced legacy systems, and is projected to save $1.7M annually without disrupting business operations One of the key challenges the government faces in modernizing its IT infrastructure is the disruption of operations. The government, generally, can’t stop doing its business to upgrade its technology systems. Applications still need to be accepted, permits must be issued and safety net program checks can’t stop being cut. So, how are different agencies approaching modernization projects – while maintaining continuity of business operations? To answer that question, we aim to take a look at some of the modernization projects that have been cited in the public record as successful. In this piece, we will break down one such project: how the USDA modernized its Specialty Crops Inspection Operating Network (SCION) system. While Intelliworx was not a part of this project, it involved digitizing paper-based processes, which is an […]
The top skills the government needs to implement AI effectively
Data analysis, project management for AI, and infrastructure management are among the top skills agency leaders say they need to develop to move AI pilot projects to production There’s a lot that’s been said about prepping government data for AI. One of the top ways leaders are working to achieve that goal is “expanding workforce training on data management and AI.” That’s according to a survey of 200 government leaders conducted by ICF and Wakefield Research. The survey found 70% of respondents “acknowledged that they will need to upskill existing staff and/or hire new talent to implement AI effectively.” What’s more, “58% say they either have – or can develop – the skills necessary for AI implementation without hiring additional staff.” That 58% figure is a combination of two findings: 31% said their agency has the skills needed now; and 27% said, “yes, if we upskill our current team.” The […]
How government agencies are prepping data for the AI transformation
Governance frameworks, workforce training and partnering with external organizations top the list of strategies to get data AI-ready There’s one recurring theme in published commentaries about the government’s effort to implement AI: data readiness. “The major challenge facing federal agencies is data readiness,” wrote Daniel Kent, an assistant vice president for systems engineering, federal, at Everpure, in a commentary published by FedScoop. That’s just one example. We cited three others previously in this piece: Should data integration be elevated as a federal tech priority There are probably many more. The message seems to be resonating, according to a survey of federal leaders working on AI initiatives by ICF and Wakefield Research. While the survey found 83% of respondents said government data “isn’t quite there yet,” about two-thirds (66%) are “confident that their data will be AI-ready in two years or less.” 9 ways agencies are getting data AI-ready So, […]