The Center for Information Systems Studies at the UGM Faculty of Economics and Business (PKSI FEB UGM) recently launched the Gadjah Mada Digital Transformation Index (GM-DTGI) on Friday (Oct. 11).
Developed by PKSI FEB UGM, the GM-DTGI is an index that measures regional readiness for digital transformation, covering local governments at the district/municipality level.
The launch, held during a national seminar at FEB UGM, was attended by Nezar Patria, Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital.
He noted that the index serves as a tool to help local governments assess their digitalization progress and fosters a competitive spirit among districts to advance digital readiness among communities.
“Thank you to FEB UGM for initiating the development of GM-DTGI. This index is extremely beneficial for everyone involved in Indonesia’s digital transformation ecosystem to assess maturity and implement digital transformation,” Patria remarked.
He emphasized that local governments play a crucial role in building a digital ecosystem for the public, especially given the rapid technological advancements that demand greater digital competency and literacy from the community.
Dr. Hargo Utomo, UGM’s Director of Business Development, representing the university leadership, also expressed appreciation.
He affirmed that the GM-DTGI index crafted by PKSI FEB UGM marks a new era for local governments to establish efficient, transparent, accountable information systems and public services while adopting digital transformation pillars.
The GM-DTGI rankings revealed that the leading local governments in digital transformation are the City of Semarang (city category) and Banyuwangi Regency (regency category).
Both have implemented digitalization programs in information dissemination, infrastructure, and public services.
Semarang City began its digital transformation initiative in 2013, initially focusing on citywide internet infrastructure. Additionally, 10,000 AI-based CCTV units have been installed in each neighborhood to monitor waste container conditions.
With its modern data management system, Banyuwangi Regency earned the top spot in the regency category. The Banyuwangi Regency government collaborates with Satu Data Indonesia, Open Data East Java, and Jagoan Data to organize, compile, and present community data.
The official Banyuwangi Regency website provides demographic information, including stunting rates, tourist visits, marriage rates, and education index data.
Professor Syaiful Ali, the lead researcher of GM-DTGI, shared that the project began in 2021 with a research team of 23 experts, including nine from Indonesia and 14 international members.
He explained that the index’s primary purpose is not to rank local governments but to help them improve their digital services for the public.
Professor Ali detailed that the GM-DTGI assessment is based on seven digital transformation pillars and 50 evaluation indicators, covering governance and leadership, cybersecurity and privacy, user-centered platform design, regulations and policies, public administration reform and management change, data governance, and the digital ecosystem.
The GM-DTGI is the world’s first index to evaluate local government digital transformation. Dr. Fitri Amalia, PKSI FEB UGM Coordinator, added that digital transformation cannot rely solely on the central government, as local governments must implement it independently.
“Digital transformation is vital for local governments to meet the demand for fast and efficient services. GM-DTGI is expected to be a tool for evaluating digital governance to support improved public service quality,” she stated.
Below are the top 10 local governments in Indonesia in the city category for digital transformation governance as per the GM-DTGI: Semarang City, Bandung City, Surabaya City, Yogyakarta City, Batam City, Depok City, Banjarmasin City, Pekalongan City, Makassar City, and Tangerang City.
In the regency category, the top 10 local governments in Indonesia for digital transformation governance are Banyuwangi Regency, Sragen Regency, Magelang Regency, Gunungkidul Regency, Central Aceh Regency, Sanggau Regency, Bandung Regency, Cirebon Regency, Sleman Regency, and Pekalongan Regency.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson