Local authorities hold vast amounts of data across services, from housing and social care to customer contact and finance. Yet that information is often spread across disconnected systems such as spreadsheets, customer relationship management and service platforms (CRMs) and service platforms, making it difficult to build a clear, actionable view of residents.
This Multiverse insights report explores how councils can strengthen data and AI literacy across their workforce to connect fragmented datasets, unlock operational efficiencies and improve service delivery.
Key insights for local government leaders
1. Fragmented data prevents a single view of residents
Councils often already hold the data they need — but it sits across multiple platforms and services. Without the skills to connect and interpret this data, teams struggle to build a holistic view of residents and their needs.
2. The data skills gap is limiting productivity
81per cent of local government employees want to improve their data skills, yet 26 per cent of time spent working with data is unproductive — the equivalent of 19 working days lost per employee every year.
3. Upskilling enables smarter decisions and better services
By developing stronger data literacy across teams, councils can unlock insights from the data they already hold, supporting better budgeting decisions, improved planning and more responsive resident services.
Real-world impact from data and AI upskilling
Councils investing in workforce data capability are already seeing measurable operational benefits:
3,000 hours saved annually
Through streamlined reporting tools created by a Performance Officer in Adult Care and Wellbeing.
£2M yearly savings
Delivered through improved housing voids data and reduced rent loss.
£2.9M projected savings
Achieved through improved forecasting for the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.
These examples demonstrate how empowering staff with data and AI skills can unlock meaningful efficiencies while improving service outcomes.
Explore the full report
Discover how councils are developing the data and AI capabilities needed to connect resident data, improve services and unlock efficiencies.