DWP provides details of automations created by its Intelligent Automation Garage

Written answer from Minister highlights that the 65 automations delivered by the service include ‘Bundle Builder’ and ‘Think Secure Chatbot’

DWP Minister Mims Davies has provided details of the automations created by the Department's Intelligent Automation Garage (IAG).

NB – in a post on the DWP's careers website, the IAG's delivery lead Lianne Anderton explains that –

'The IAG is a fast-paced and collaborative workspace, using agile working methods to continuously improve and design-led practices to test and explore innovative ideas. We use of a range of technologies, including:

• Robotic Process Automation and Chatbots that stimulate human conversation.
• Deep learning to analyse in a logical way that comes to humans naturally.
• Machine learning that adapts using data without explicit instructions.'

Responding yesterday to a written question in Parliament on the automations created by the IAG, Ms Davies said –

'Since its inception in 2018, the IAG has delivered 65 automations. This has enabled DWP to save money and operational hours as well as increasing accuracy through transforming DWP services, making processes easier for users to deliver better outcomes for our citizens. It has a culture of pioneering new and innovative technologies to reduce the reputational risk and citizen impact across our systems.'

Confirming that the IAG works predominantly in large scale processing across a range of benefits including employment and support allowance, jobseeker's allowance, the Social Fund, carer's allowance and pension credit, Ms Davies added that –

'Automations to date include: Bundle Builder, Letters of Entitlement, Think Secure Chatbot, Budgeting Loans, Employment and Support Allowance Fit Notes, Faster Payments and Department for Communities in Northern Ireland mail scanning. Other supported functionalities include: sending SMS text messages to citizens, generating letters to notify citizens about a change in benefit status and processing benefit payments.'

Ms Davies' written answer is available from parliament.uk