Deskpro at Public Service Data.AI 2025: Insights and Impact

On 18 September, Deskpro attended Public Service Data.AI 2025 at the Business Design Centre in London, a flagship event for UK civil servants and digital leaders exploring the future of data and AI in government. The Deskpro team had the opportunity to engage with policymakers, technology specialists, and peers across the public sector, gaining valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping digital transformation.

First Impressions: An Engaged and Open Atmosphere

Our team described the event as collegiate, open, and collaborative. Unlike commercial industry events that often carry a competitive edge, this gathering felt cooperative, an environment where delegates and exhibitors alike were there to listen, share, and learn. The focused nature of the event created space for genuine conversations rather than sales-driven exchanges.

Key Conversations: From Strategy to Sovereignty

Discussions ranged widely, reflecting the breadth of public sector priorities. One standout conversation came from HMRC, where strategy leaders are exploring what taxation could look like 30–40 years into the future. Others were more immediate, such as procurement processes within NHS trusts or the management of sensitive data at nuclear sites.

The spectrum highlighted how AI and data are not one-size-fits-all, but must be adapted to the context of each department and challenge. A session on AI and data sovereignty particularly resonated, highlighting the growing emphasis on UK-based, secure AI solutions and underscoring the importance of trust and control in public sector adoption.

What Public Sector Teams Are Thinking About AI

While enthusiasm for AI was evident, most delegates were still in the early, exploratory stages. Many are trialling tools like Microsoft Copilot for practical use cases, such as creating slide decks, translating documents, and drafting documents, rather than deploying large-scale, strategic AI. A common theme was the tension between the desire to innovate quickly and being hindered by bureaucracy, leaving teams eager yet cautious in their approach.

Deskpro’s Relevance: Configurability, Efficiency, and Trust

For Deskpro, the event reinforced our role as an enabler of efficient, policy-driven service delivery. Conversations centered on how organizations engage with both internal and external customers, whether handling tickets, cases, or complaints, and how Deskpro’s configurable platform adapts to each department’s unique policies and procedures.

• Configurability: Public sector leaders valued that Deskpro can mirror their compliance frameworks and processes without forcing rigid workflows.
• Efficiency: With budgets tightening and expectations rising, Deskpro helps organizations do more with less by centralizing requests, prioritizing work, and creating visibility across teams.
• Accountability: By embedding policies into workflows, Deskpro ensures transparency, auditability, and informed decision-making, which are critical for a sector under constant public scrutiny.

In short, our message resonated: Deskpro is not about “one-size-fits-all.” It’s about meeting public sector organizations where they are and giving them the tools to deliver services more efficiently, transparently, and consistently. This unique value proposition reinforces our commitment to being a true partner in their digital transformation journey.

Reflections: Why We Attended

For our team, the most rewarding part of the day was hearing from existing Deskpro users in the public sector who described the platform as “adding real value” and even called themselves evangelists for the product. That affirmation highlights both our impact today and our opportunity ahead: amplifying those success stories and continuing to show where Deskpro can help public sector teams work smarter. It's clear that by focusing on their needs, we can continue to be a key player in helping the public sector realize the full potential of AI.

As one of our team put it:

“Everyone we spoke to thought we added real value. Customers who do use us think we’re the bee’s knees. The challenge is amplifying that message.”

Looking Ahead

Public Service Data.AI served as a reminder that, despite facing immense challenges, such as rising demand, constrained budgets, and the complexity of ethical AI, the public sector also demonstrates a deep willingness to collaborate and learn. We're proud to be part of that conversation, helping civil servants reimagine how services are delivered with efficiency, compliance, and citizen trust at the core.