An Introduction to Digital Public Goods and Why Software Industry Should Care?!?

Digital Public Goods (DPGs) are an emerging agenda for digital cooperation.

Recent implementations of DPGs have yielded lessons that Software Enterprises can adopt for their own success.

Many New Career Opportunities are evolving in this field right now!

What are Digital Public Goods?

In its short form known as DPGs are digital resources, such as software and data, that provide maximum social and economic benefit to society. DPGs are freely available to anyone and can be used by multiple beneficiaries, who do not have to pay for them. The concept of DPGs has been gaining momentum as more countries and organisations recognise the importance of digital technology for promoting social and economic development. Policymakers whose entire duty is working on making sure everyone has access to digital public goods will be contacted by different platforms such as governments, businesses and non-profits where they can help improve the whole situation by reaching out to the services they offer.

Digital public goods are electronically available services that citizens can freely use, without restrictions or charges. These services include software for health information systems, digital literacy tools and educational resources. The concept of digital public goods (DPGs) has been gaining prominence as a way to ensure that everyone has access to the benefits of digital technology, regardless of their income, geography or other factors.

What are the latest developments in DPGs in the United States and India?

In the USA, there is growing recognition of the importance of DPGs and initiatives to support their development. For instance, in 2009 a global coalition was established by US government agencies called Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) with this goal. The alliance works to identify, fund, and promote DPGs that address global challenges and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Furthermore, several US-based organisations are contributing to the development of DPGs. The Linux Foundation, for example — hosts several open source software projects that have been classified as DPGs, including HyperLedger blockchain platform and ONAP — a network automation solution.

The government of India has launched several initiatives to promote the development and use of open source software. For example, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) has launched OpenForge — a collaborative platform for developing and sharing open-source code. The platform includes a repository of digital public goods (DPGs) that are available for download and use by anyone without any restrictions or barriers.

Here are some examples of digital public goods in India:

1. The National Digital Library of India (NDLI): The NDLI is a digital library that provides access to millions of books, journals, and other educational resources. It’s free for everyone who has an Internet connection!

2. BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money): BHIM is a digital payments app that allows users to transfer money directly from their bank account using only a mobile phone. Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and available to all Indian citizens, this technology was specifically designed for easy use among people who do not have access or use computers on a regular basis.

3. DigiLocker: is a digital document storage and sharing platform started by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology that allows users to store, access, share their government-issued documents such as Aadhaar card, driving license PAN card. It’s free service provided by MEITY.

4. The Open Government Data Platform is a portal that provides access to various datasets generated by the government, promoting transparency and enabling citizens to use the data for research purposes.

5. MyGov: is a citizen engagement platform that allows citizens to participate in governance and contribute to policy-making. It provides an online forum where people may discuss, offer feedback on, or collaborate with the government about policies.

6. UPI: UPI can be considered another example of a DPG. It is a digital payments system that allows users to transfer funds between bank accounts by sending money links on their mobile phones — and it’s available to all citizens.

Similarly, ONDC is a platform that aims to promote interoperable digital commerce in India. It’s being developed as an open-source project — anyone can access and use its code for their own purposes. By providing a common and open infrastructure for digital commerce, ONDC has the potential to reduce transaction costs in e-commerce and thereby contribute to the growth of India’s digital economy.

Thinking about the possible future of DPGs, it’s clear that the software industry may stand to benefit in several ways. DPGs are motivated by user-generated needs, so their development represents a potential shift away from software businesses focusing on banking and enterprise customers. There are also opportunities for SIs to bring code discovered through collaboration with large communities (like those for open source projects) back into proprietary products and services. Other benefits may also include encouraging innovation — supporting DPGs take time and money to build, which can lead to more rigorous vetting of new ideas.

What is the benefit for a software enterprise to play an active role in developing DPGs?

1. Access to new markets & userbases: The demand for products and services that can help address the world’s social, economic, and environmental challenges is growing. For software enterprises that develop or contribute to DPGs, access to the market they serve can provide new business opportunities and potential for growth.

2. Reputation & Brand building: Developing DPGs can allow a software enterprise to create and market products that are innovative, socially responsible — and profitable. This has a potential to generate investor interest, who are increasingly focused on corporate social responsibility.

3. Collaboration & knowledge sharing: Collaborating on and contributing to digital product groups provides opportunities to work with other contributors, develop software or other products jointly, participate in the development process. The platform offers a platform where organisations and individuals with similar interests can share information, learn from one another’s successes and failures, form new partnerships — and do all this without even leaving their desks.

4. Access to funding & Support: Many DPGs are developed with the support of governments, international organisations and philanthropic foundations. Several funding opportunities exist for software enterprises that are developing DPGs — from grants to investments! Software enterprises can also explore opportunities to provide funding, mentorship, or other forms of support for DPGs — which in turn helps spur their growth and increase impact. Many of these funding opportunities are specifically targeted at organisations that are working on projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

5. Innovation & learning opportunities: Developing, contributing to DPGs can offer companies the opportunity to innovate by working on projects that address complex social, economic and environmental challenges. They can develop new technologies and approaches — as well as expertise which they may be able convert into different areas of business.

Most open-source software projects have a long life span. The same is true for DPGs. As the digital environment grows, it impacts every aspect of human life, and software enterprises can seek a share in this growth by making their mark in this new area. If they do so, they will be helping to create an open collaborative knowledge-sharing environment that benefits us all. No matter what enterprise you’re in, you should consider building DPGs in order to benefit from both the growing number of stakeholders and the rising demand for DPGs.

What are the job opportunities if you decide to pursue a career in DPG software development?

1. Software Development: DPGs require software developers who can design, build and maintain applications that meet the needs of the public. Developers may work on both front-end (mobile apps) as well as back-end development (web platforms), depending on the specific project needs.

2. User Experience (UX) Design: DPGs require UX designers who can design interfaces that are intuitive and accessible to a broad range of users, including those with disabilities. Such designers may work on wireframes, prototypes — as well as conducting user research and testing, which can help create user-friendly interfaces and improve the overall user experience..

3. Data Science and Analytics: DPGs rely on data scientists and analysts who can analyse large data sets to identify trends, patterns or insights that can inform the development of new software solutions — or improve existing ones. These developers may work with modelling tools, statistical analysis packages or even visualisation programs, many data mining algorithms, predictive modelling and machine learning systems can be used to improve the delivery of public goods.

4. Cybersecurity: Digital public goods, which often deal with sensitive information that can be compromised by malicious cyberattacks, require security professionals who can ensure the integrity of software solutions. Security professionals may work on threat modelling, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing.

5. DevOps: DevOps professionals manage the infrastructure that supports digital public goods. They work with software developers to build and deploy applications, then automate processes to streamline development and deployment.

6. Project Management: DPGs require project managers who can oversee the development and implementation of software solutions, managing teams of developers, designers, and other stakeholders to ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget while also meeting user needs.

7. Quality Assurance (QA): DPGs require QA professionals who are responsible for ensuring that software solutions are thoroughly tested and meet necessary standards of quality and functionality. QA professionals may work on test plans, test cases, or automated testing as part of this process. In the context of digital public goods, this includes ensuring that the software is secure, reliable, and meets accessibility requirements.

8. Technical writing: Technical writers create the documentation and user manuals that help people understand how to use digital public goods. They work closely with software developers and UX designers, creating clear explanations of products’ features for new or infrequent users.

9. Open Source Contributions: Many DPGs are built on open source software, a type of program whose code is made freely available for anyone to use or modify. Open source projects often rely on large communities of developers who contribute expertise and technical skills.

10. Community Management: Communities of users and developers are an important part of many DPGs. Community managers work with these communities to help build and maintain relationships, engage the members in collaboration on various projects, etc.

Discovery, creation and access to digital public goods is a problem that the software industry can help to promote. It is said that through some of the means noted above, “software is eating the world”. That may be so, but the relatively recent development of software as a service (SaaS) models have enabled SaaS providers to minimize the contributions they must make to create shared digital value. However, software companies need not ignore the potential for social good being uncovered by creating DPGs. The future will continue to be evolutionary for DPGs, and any company who taps into its resources will help shape a truly vibrant marketplace for all members of society who use the technology.

To conclude, DPGs are important, publicly available digital resources that offer opportunities for enriching society and creating positive impact throughout the community, while also providing exciting career opportunities for software professionals.

As the world becomes increasingly reliant on technology, there will be an ever-growing need for more people to get involved in creating and supporting these kinds of resources. The creation of DPGs is an exciting area with much potential for social good, as well as engaging, satisfying work for those who are passionate about making a difference and being part of something bigger than themselves.