Government to improve digital services for exports

Maximising the potential of digital services and data science is essential if the government is to provide both effective and scalable export support and a better customer experience for UK businesses. The government will build digital services that make it as easy as possible for businesses to find, access and successfully navigate all export advice, support and information provided by government. In addition, they’ll invest in their ability to analyse and utilise data, to improve the services and products they provide and ensure they are tailored to the needs of businesses.

As the government predominantly turns to digital sources of information as a first step, they have committed to put user-centred digital services at the heart of their offer, making it as easy as possible for businesses to find, access and successfully navigate all export advice, support and information provided by government. For those services that are best delivered face to face, they’ll make sure that businesses are able to access them via digital channels and will also use data to better tailor online and offline services and proactively identify businesses that could benefit most from export support.

Specifically:

• DIT will provide effective and scalable digital services that provide businesses with the advice, support and information they need at different stages of the export process, and help them to navigate the UK trading environment
• government will make greater use of data; and share data more intelligently, to provide a better customer experience for businesses
• government will explore how advanced data science techniques can be used, through cross-government collaboration, to identify businesses with the highest potential to export so that they can be approached with targeted support. This will include analysis to understand the overlap between high export potential, high growth firms and scale-ups
• DIT will consider with the Behavioural Insights Team how incorporating behavioural principles into the design of support can improve effectiveness and take-up, and how to work better with the private sector and exporting intermediaries, such as banks, accountants and logistics companies
• DIT will conduct gender-focused trade analysis to understand the barriers that women and women-owned businesses face and develop strategies to help all people achieve their full economic potential.