Chatbots emerged as important tools for state chief information officers in responding to the COVID-19 crisis. The 2020 State CIO Survey, sponsored by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers), Grant Thornton and CompTIA found Chatbots, used for online citizen service inquiries was by far the most common technology implemented this year.The survey of 47 state and territory CIOs found 76 percent had implemented chatbots for the first time in response to COVID-19. The second most-frequently adopted technology was mobile apps for contact tracing/exposure notification (53 percent), followed by voicebots to support call center interactions (40 percent).
Not surprising, asked which business process, practices or investments will change as a result of the pandemic, the CIOs listed expanded options for working remotely as the No. 1 impact. No 2 was expanded use of collaboration platforms and remote meetings. Increased attention on digital government services/ citizen experience was No. 3; Investments in broadband expansion/adoption, No 4; and Increased priority and investment in legacy modernization, No. 5.
