Recent news reports have confirmed what the public has known for years: The state of Hawaii’s information technology infrastructure is in critical condition.

With no considerable investment in more than 30 years, our state government still relies on paper forms, manual data entry and fragile information management systems and protocols that could crash without warning and are highly vulnerable to security breaches.

Smart business decisions and efficient use of resources are possible only if the right people can access the right information at the right time. Private sector investments in information-management technology have resulted in significant improvements in customer service and reduced costs — outcomes that are within reach for the state.

Alternatively, lack of investment leads to sizable risks and expensive failures. If regulated businesses such as banks, health care providers and insurers used the technology and business processes on which the state currently relies, government regulators would likely demand changes or even shut them down.

Imagine the catastrophic outcome if the names, addresses and Social Security numbers of hundreds of thousands of residents were inadvertently released or stolen by hackers.

We applaud the state’s development of a strategic plan for transforming its business processes and modernizing its antiquated information technology management infrastructure. This “Transformation Plan,” released by the Office of Information Management and Technology (OIMT) in October 2012, lays out a best-practices approach to bringing Hawaii state government into the 21st century by leveraging lessons learned by other states across the country that have undergone similar efforts, including the state of Utah. We agree with the Star-Advertiser’s editorial that the Legislature should support this technology-transformation initiative and appropriate funding for OIMT based on the Senate’s budget recommendations (“Invest in state’s computer systems,” Our View, April 8).

Utah has deployed more than a thousand online services since launching eUtah.gov in 1999, resulting in increased citizen access and improved efficiency. According to a recent study by the University of Utah, the state saved more than $46 million between 2007-2011 from just nine of those online services, reducing the cost per transaction from $17 for offline services to just $4 for the same services offered online.

Hawaii’s Transformation Plan holds the promise of a state government that effectively provides services, ensures transparency and maintains accountability, all while minimizing long-term costs and ensuring the public’s information is secure. However, achieving these results is only possible if the Legislature supports its implementation with adequate funding and staffing.

We recognize that there are many competing priorities within the state so appreciate the Legislature’s support of this initiative to date. However, Hawaii businesses and residents cannot afford to wait any longer for sufficient funding of the state’s business and technology infrastructure on which we rely to grow the economy and engage with government.

We know from experience that successfully implementing transformations of this scale requires investments in highly specialized employees. These skilled workers are in high demand around the world because of the value they add in the form of process improvements and other changes that improve services and reduce costs. It will be impossible for OIMT to keep, let alone attract, the talent necessary to successfully implement the Transformation Plan without offering competitive salaries.

Investments in retaining the right people and developing a local technology workforce will pay dividends for this initiative and the state economy as a whole.

The time for transformation is now. State employees have been heroic in their efforts to keep the state running, and it is time to provide them the tools they need to do their jobs in the 21st century.

We urge the House Finance and Senate Ways and Means committees to demonstrate their commitment to good government by funding OIMT’s budget request included in House Bill 200, SD 1.

———
On vacation: “Under the Sun” columnist Cynthia Oi is on vacation.