What's Happening?
The General Services Administration (GSA) is set to publish a new playbook titled 'Elimination, Optimization and Automation' aimed at providing federal agencies with tools and strategies to automate repetitive tasks. This initiative is part of GSA's broader
goal to save and automate 1 million hours of workload for its staff. The playbook builds on lessons learned from federal pilots and mature automation programs, offering a blueprint for improving operations across government agencies. GSA Deputy Administrator Mike Lynch emphasized the potential value of sharing these best practices with other agencies facing similar challenges. The playbook includes a multi-phased approach to automation projects, from ideation to deployment, and features an EOA toolkit to accelerate agency initiatives.
Why It's Important?
The publication of the playbook is significant as it addresses the need for increased efficiency and modernization within federal agencies. By automating repetitive tasks, agencies can redirect employee efforts towards mission-critical work, enhancing productivity and operational effectiveness. This initiative also supports the government's broader push towards digital transformation and the adoption of emerging technologies like AI. The playbook's framework has already helped GSA save hundreds of thousands of hours, demonstrating its potential impact on government operations. As agencies adopt these practices, they can improve service delivery, reduce costs, and better meet the needs of the public.
What's Next?
Following the publication of the playbook, GSA plans to promote its adoption across government agencies. Efforts to evangelize the playbook began with a recent Emerging Tech Showcase attended by over 2,000 people. GSA aims to host a governmentwide showcase with a larger audience in July to further highlight the playbook's benefits. Additionally, GSA's shared service platform, USAi, continues to gain traction, with 24 agency agreements already in place and more in progress. The agency is also leveraging OneGov to negotiate discounts on AI and software tools, generating significant savings for the government.
