*By Bruna Costa
The inefficiency of Brazil's public services has a rarely discussed culprit: resistance to technological modernization. While private companies are adopting artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and real-time data analysis, many parliamentary bodies still rely on outdated systems, manual processes, and disconnected digital structures. This lag not only undermines efficiency but also generates hidden costs that directly impact public coffers. Below are the main factors that highlight this problem.
- Disintegrated systems increase rework and errors
Many public agencies operate with siloed software, incapable of communicating with each other. This forces employees to repeatedly enter the same information into different platforms, increasing execution time and the likelihood of inconsistencies. The lack of integration forces the hiring of additional staff to correct errors that a unified system could resolve with automation.
- Paper bureaucracy consumes time and resources
Even though some services have migrated to digital, many internal processes continue to rely on physical forms, in-person inspections, and handwritten signatures. Each paper document requires storage, transportation, and manual processing, generating unnecessary logistical costs. Full digitalization would eliminate steps, freeing up staff for more strategic activities.
- Lack of transparency makes it difficult to control expenses
Without adequate monitoring tools, it's nearly impossible to track how resources are being allocated in real time. Static spreadsheets and manual reports delay the identification of waste, while modern platforms would allow for continuous auditing, reducing irregularities and optimizing budgets.
- Digital vulnerability exposes data and requires emergency spending
Older systems are more susceptible to security breaches, such as information leaks or cyberattacks. When these occur, repairs are often costly and reactive. Investing in updated technologies, with encryption and automated backups, would prevent crises and save millions in avoidable damages.
- Maintaining obsolete systems is more expensive than modernizing them.
Adjusting outdated software to perform basic functions consumes increasing budgets for technical support and spare parts. Many agencies, fearing the initial cost of migration, perpetuate a vicious cycle: they spend more to maintain the archaic software than they would invest in modern, scalable solutions.
Brazil already has the knowledge and tools for this transformation; it just needs to be prioritized. While we postpone this evolution, we continue to pay, in terms of money and efficiency, for a public sector system stuck in the last century.
*Bruna Costa, Product Manager at Sogo Tecnologia, a company managed by Alfa Group, a Brazilian holding company focused on technology solutions, opinion research, and data intelligence.
Notice: The opinion presented in this article is the responsibility of its author and not of ABES - Brazilian Association of Software Companies
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