About Digital Iceland

Iceland is one of the leading nations in the world in the field of digital services. Digital services are used to create a strong society with increased competitiveness that leads to value creation and a foundation for prosperity. Digital services are clear, secure, simple and fast. The user experience of the service is comparable to the service as it is best. The public and companies in Iceland can get directly to the material, anywhere and at any time, which saves people valuable time. At the same time, the impact of the service on natural resources is reduced.

Policies of the public sector in digital and tech

• Digital Policy

• Cloud Policy of the Icelandic Public Sector

• Data Security Classification of the Icelandic government

• Governance Framework for Microsoft Azure

1. Support organisations on the Digital Road

Support organisations on their digital journey with advice and implementation of Digital Iceland's core services.​

2. Develop and operate the digital infrastructure of the public sector

Ongoing development and operation of core services.​

3. Simplify people's lives by putting the user first

An educational role so that the public trusts and dares to use the services that will be digital. Understand your own benefits.​

• Increased competitiveness

• Better public services

• Safer infrastructure

• A more modern work environment

Increased competitiveness

The public and enterprises can use the potential of digital services and public infrastructure for increased innovation, value creation and democratic participation.

Emphasis:

• The public and enterprises have easy access to information that public bodies possess concerning the person in question.

• Society has knowledge and knowledge of the potential of technology, such as digital service platforms and artificial intelligence.

• The potential of digital infrastructure is being used to increase democratic participation through interaction and public consultation.

• Public sector data is accessible and exploitable, taking into account data protection considerations and individual consent.

• Digital services and innovative solutions are developed in cooperation with a diverse group of companies and experts, for example, through the deployment of open-source software.

• Legislation provides for digital services and communication.

Better public services

The public and enterprises have equal access to outstanding public services that are provided based on the needs of users in an efficient and efficient manner.

Emphasis:

• Digital services are accessible to society as a whole and adapted to the needs of different groups.

• Digital communication, through Iceland.is, is the main means of communication between the public and companies.

• As a general rule, data need only be recorded once in communication with the government and data travels between institutions instead of people.

• The operation of web systems and digital services is economic and meets the highest possible security conditions.

• The web services and the data transfer layer of the public sector are coordinated according to the Icelandic technology policy.

• The coordination and efficiency of software solutions is ensured.

Safer infrastructure

Information technology will be managed in a secure, efficient and efficient manner through a solid infrastructure that meets both public demands for basic services in institutions and promotes greater flexibility of public services.Emphasis:

• The working methods of IT systems are challenged and based on international standards.

• Strong technology infrastructure supports safety, efficiency and innovation objectives.

• The safest technology in data transfer and access control to information is practical.

• The information of the public sector is always handled according to its sensitivity and security level.

• The basic systems of government are based on standardised solutions, with extensive knowledge and experience.

A more modern work environment

Public institutions have the latest technological solutions and modern working environment that encourages progress and flexibility and is the basis for a better and more efficient organization of work. A positive attitude is towards the opportunities of modern practice.

Emphasis:

• Public servants have the knowledge, skills and competence to work in a digital environment and to continuous improvement and innovation in their work.

• Public workplaces work in co-ordinated office software.

• Employees work in project-based work environments.

• The potential of the latest technologies, such as automation, is fully exploited in a responsible manner.

Life has its big moments, one of them being when we start a family. It is a time when we all need public services. Registering partnerships, getting married, having babies, kindergartens, primary schools, etc. – all of it has its place within the government and as members of society we must be able to navigate and communicate with the relevant institutions and agencies.

In the coming years all government agencies and the digital services they provide will change, making the services available to you in a simple and efficient manner on Island.is. Some services are already available but others still require you to print out forms and drive between offices to deliver them. We intend to change that.

We will provide expecting parents with to-the-point information regarding rights and services during pregnancy and after birth. It’s an exciting time and none of us are especially interested in spending precious time searching and surfing between different websites to figure out what we have to do when the baby is born. There’s no need for that as Island.is will tell you about well-child care, the next doctor’s appointment, and remind you when important things like name giving are due.

And as the small – or big – family evolves/develops/moves on, Island.is will be the only stop when the family needs government services, such as assistance from specialists, passport renewals, registering for schools and when the parents start planning their retirement.

Island.is will provide you with the information you need when you need it.

It is testing to search through many different information sites, applications, and forms back and forth between institutions, for example for the sole purpose of handing in a diploma. We do not call that digital services.

What we call outstanding digital services is when we enable you to do all the easy things on Island.is, i.e. when you get a notification in the app that your passport is due for a renewal or that you have a doctor’s appointment at 9.40am tomorrow. That is exactly what we plan to do in the coming years.

On Island.is you should be able to update your own data, and you should also be able to fetch data and documents you need because sometimes you just have to get a criminal record to attach to a job application. Well, you can get the criminal record on Island.is already, but you might have to get information regarding real estate, vehicles, rights, education, your balance with the government or any other certificates.

Island.is will make all of it easier: the information search, the applications and the issue of moving documents between government agencies. You will be able to contact a service representative that will guide you to what you need to get things done in just a few minutes. It doesn’t matter who you are, everyone should be able to use the Island.is solutions, including the elderly, the disabled, and anyone that has, for some reason, trouble with using digital services. We aim to make Island.is a website accessible to all.

When that’s done, you will certainly spend less time on paperwork. Regarding the time you save, you can use that however you please.

Running a company is far from simple when it comes to applications, forms, fees, taxes, and anything else that has to be delivered to different government agencies. For starters, you have to start the company, register it, and apply for whatever permit you need to operate. After that, taxes, statements, wages, and other staff related payments.

At Island.is, we will see big changes as we keep adding and improving our services for companies – collecting all government services in one place with one login for the company. It will become easier to get information regarding the company’s balance with the government, return taxes, and find laws and regulations regarding businesses in Iceland.

We also intend to add even more information and consultation regarding government services, e.g. startups will at one point be able to find information regarding government grants in one place – and faster and more efficient services will of course benefit all Icelandic businesses.

In short, Island.is will be the only hub for taking care of business.

The digital development of Island.is is certainly to the advantage of the people of Iceland, but it also offers government agencies the opportunity to improve their services in the long run.

The changes our teams at Island.is are working on, are all aimed at assisting government agencies in developing their digital infrastructure. Every single agency will be able to use Island.is to improve and further their services, including accessibility and user-friendliness – not just for service recipients but also for service providers.

Government agencies should be able to trust that their services are accessible, safe and fast, their data secure, and application processes and communications clear and simple. Government agencies should always have access to the latest updates of reliable solutions in constant development. This will lower cost and increase efficiency.

After all, it is faster to send files electronically to the user’s account than printing them out, put them in an envelope and send between regions.

Digital Iceland was founded at the beginning of 2018.

Digital Iceland's objective is to help public institutions to improve digital services by making the service more sccessible, simple, and faster. The Digital Iceland team has a very diverse background and works on a wide variety of projects.

Our team at Digital Iceland

Digital Iceland in collaboration with Rikiskaup launched a tender regarding software development based on the Agile concept in January 2021. The tender was comparable to the tender that was awarded at the beginning of 2020.

Partners were sought to take part in leading the digital journey of government. Following this, a collaboration agreement was concluded with 20 software teams. These teams are involved in the development of Iceland.is. These 20 teams that belong to the framework agreement of Digital Iceland from 14 companies that count close to 100 people when all are activated.

We tailor digital services to a user-centered service design. We rely on the Agile methodology and user-centered approach to service development. All service is then designed according to the standard design system of Digital Iceland, which creates consistency in usage and experience across all organizations.

Software project management

• First contacts: first contacts with Digital Iceland, expectations, roles and division of tasks

• Analysis & Design: identify problems and user needs clearly beforehand. Technical preparation

• Second approval is triggered

• Development: programming is done. Testing the Solution and Ready for Induction

• Implementation: Induction and training. Both external and internal presentations of a new solution. Assistance for users

• The solution for the air

• Operation: be able to respond to problems. Deciding next steps

Minimum loveable product (MLP)

• MVP enables the solution to reach users as quickly as possible

• Is the smallest possible module to solve the user's problems

• Less is being guessed what the user needs, rather testing and editing and adding

• MVP won't solve every problem for everyone, start small and add

Digital Iceland works in seven-week cycles containing three two-week sprints. At the end of each two-week run, the publication manager shall direct the publication of updates and new services provided by public entities and teams, such as the band director.

The seventh week of the cycle is called the intermediate week, which is designed to allow teams time to review what went well, what went wrong, and what needs to be improved and changed before entering the next cycle.

Good cooperation - strong teams

• Project manager: has an overall overview, can be from a supplier, organization or Digital Iceland

• Project team: Organization and supplier/tender team employees

• Sponsor: Is a employee in an organisation and can help with bigger obstacles

• Product manager of Stafræn Íslands: Is an expert in the environment and products of Stafræn Íslands

We endeavor to make Ísland.is accessible for all users. This means that services must be usable for people with disabilities, older people and people who have difficulties using digital interfaces. We work with various specialists in these fields to ensure a continued emphasis on accessibility as we grow and develop.

Our work centers on the idea that everyone benefits when our services are built first and foremost to deliver the best possible experience for end users. We strive to offer easy-to-use, integrated services in coordination with the various public institutions so that users will no longer need to visit multiple offices to complete their tasks.

Establishing a network of digital services have a positive impact on our environment. Moving to an online platform, we support paperless processes and also reduce the need to drive to various offices.

All the code written for the new Ísland.is has been made open-source. It's our aim that all the software development we undertake is open and readily available since it is a resource we all share in.

Ísland.is on GitHub

The services accessed through Ísland.is may involve sensitive personal information. For that reason there has been much emphasis placed on security issues at all phases of development. We do not use analytics that collect personal data. Furthermore, all services developed by Digital Iceland are subject to regular review carried out by a third party to reveal any hidden vulnerabilities.

We define user personas, their needs and their expectations. We conduct UX research and testing with real users to ensure our services are tailored to their needs. We then design and develop those services based on the research.

All teams ar interdisciplinary and able to design, build, and manage digital services. Teams are independent and have authority to make decisions with the service owner. It enables them to respond quickly and deliver quality work to our users.

We use UX design and Agile methodologies whenever we develop a new service. The design is always in sync with the Digital Iceland design system, which provides consistency in user experience across all governmental agencies.

We aim to review and improve processes regularly. We make sure all teams have the ability, resources, and technical flexibility to do that. We are focused on learning and understanding which tools and systems are necessary to design, deploy, host, manage, and evaluate our services.

We care deeply about privacy. We analyze which personal data our services require, evaluate security, conform to data protection laws, and respect user privacy. We seek advice from professionals when needed.

Our codes are open, i.e. free to use by the public and/or to change as needed. Open source software reduces cost, prevents repetition of work, and increases transparency. We also use open standards, which save time and money.

We guarantee accessible services for all users. That means our solutions have to be easy to use by users with disabilities, the elderly, and those who, for some reason, have difficulties using digital services. Our services must be accessible no matter how much knowledge people may or may not have when it comes to the digital environment.

We test all digital services through all stages of development in a test environment identical to the real one. All services must be clear, simple, and easy to use no matter the device. We test everything related to the services while we develop.

We apply key performance indicators to all our projects and evaluate progress accordingly. Digital services need to be evaluated for constant improvement.

Our goal is that all government services will be available at Island.is. We develop new solutions for Island.is and use existing resources between projects.