5 questions to...
Dario Buttitta
Interview with the Executive Vice President Public Sector & Healthcare of Engineering.
Dario Buttitta began his career in the IT sector in 1986, starting in technical roles and progressively moving into the commercial area.
In 1990, he was appointed as an Executive at Engineering. In the following years, he took on increasingly important roles in the Finance and Industry markets.
Since 2003, he has been focusing on Public Administration and Healthcare, and in 2010, he was appointed General Manager for this Division.
In 2010, he was also awarded the title of Knight of the Italian Republic.
Since 2023, he has been serving as President of PNT Italia, the company tasked with developing the National Telemedicine Platform.
1. IN YOUR OPINION, WHERE DOES ITALY CURRENTLY STAND IN TERMS OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION? AND WHAT ROLE DOES ENG PLAY IN THIS PROCESS?
Italy is making significant progress, and a positive signal is also coming from the South, with regions like Puglia, Calabria, Campania, and Sicilia innovating service delivery models and adopting integrated platforms aimed at greater administrative simplification, digitization of processes, dematerialization, and multichannel interaction with citizens and businesses.
However, to fully achieve the set goals, we must continue to work seriously on some key areas, starting with operational administrative tools and widespread adoption, meaning the uniform implementation of digital technologies across the entire country. The nation cannot advance at two different speeds, and citizens deserve public services that meet their needs.
We must overcome existing territorial disparities and the resistance to change, which risks hindering real progress.
Another crucial point is cybersecurity, to protect data, digital assets, and critical infrastructures from increasingly frequent hacker attacks.
For over 30 years, Engineering has been supporting Italian public entities in this journey, contributing to the creation of a more efficient and sustainable government system, thanks in part to our ecosystemic approach that places people at the center. Our commitment encompasses all aspects, from core processes to promoting a new digital citizenship, with constant attention to the opportunities offered by European funding.
2. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OFFERS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN TERMS OF PROCESS AUTOMATION, DATA ANALYSIS, SERVICE PERSONALIZATION, PLANNING, AND POLITICAL DECISION-MAKING SUPPORT. HOW DO YOU SEE THE SITUATION IN ITALY? AND WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS FOR THE NEXT 3 YEARS?
It's no longer a question of "if" but only "when." Let me explain: the impact of Artificial Intelligence is evident in every aspect of our daily lives, and the Public Administration cannot avoid it. We no longer ask if initiatives or applications will be implemented to improve the efficiency, transparency, and accessibility of public services but rather when and how they will be deployed to ensure accessibility for all.
Many public entities have already implemented digital avatars/chatbots to answer citizens' FAQs, reducing wait times and improving user experience. Additionally, repetitive tasks can be automated, freeing up resources to focus on more strategic activities.
AI will play an increasingly central role in governance, both in delivering more personalized services to meet real user needs and in supporting strategic decision-making through predictive analysis, better allocating economic resources.
However, all of this must be accompanied by an ethical and responsible approach and adequate training for public administration staff. The real challenge for the Public Administration is to be ready to lead the change that is already underway. Reaction speed is everything.
3. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, NATIONAL SECURITY, TRANSPORTATION: IN YOUR OPINION, WHICH FRONTIER TECHNOLOGIES WILL HAVE THE MOST IMPACT IN THESE CRUCIAL AREAS FOR THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, AND WHY?
As mentioned earlier, Artificial Intelligence will certainly be key, but also Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and the Internet of Things (IoT). AI will play a leading role, enabling rapid data analysis to make decisions based on real information, especially in emergency management, where time is critical. This is also true for prevention, anticipating potential developments of a situation and their impacts on people and territories, and supporting military strategies and operations in maritime, land, air, space, and cyber domains.
IoT allows us to monitor and manage public infrastructures, such as bridge safety, optimizing operations and increasing efficiency. It also helps reduce waste, such as in water resources, which is vital in many areas of Italy, especially in recent years.
Finally, RPA reduces time and costs - critical issues for the Public Administration - improves response capabilities, minimizes human error, and enhances scalability.
Looking at the bigger picture, a holistic strategy is essential, promoting database interoperability and adopting Cloud solutions. This is where public-private synergy becomes strategic for constant innovation efforts.
4. CHANGE MANAGEMENT IS OFTEN CONSIDERED THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE FOR THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS AND WHAT OBSTACLES REMAIN TO BE OVERCOME?
There are several interconnected factors. The ongoing evolution of innovation and the growing use of AI demand greater attention to the human element, making change management increasingly important.
Engineering plays a fundamental role in promoting a shift in perspective and guiding the inevitable transformation by introducing solutions that maximize effectiveness.
The Public Administration’s bureaucratic structure is notoriously rigid and complex, and adequate financial and infrastructural support must be considered.
Providing public managers with the right skills to manage digitization processes and transferring best practices for organizational change management, with maximum transparency and no additional public budget burdens, means genuinely believing in the digital transformation of the PA at every level and generating value for the community.
This is a medium-to-long-term commitment where PAs are not alone, as private entities become strategic partners, supporting staff, monitoring the effectiveness of initiatives, and preventing waste.
AI, like any other frontier technology, will not eliminate jobs but, if used correctly, will improve current work, providing valuable support to staff for more operational tasks and management for governance and more strategic initiatives..
5. A MORE AGILE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT AND COLLABORATION WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR: MUCH HAS BEEN DONE, BUT THERE IS STILL A LOT TO DO. HOW CAN THESE BE STRATEGIC LEVERS FOR CREATING MODERN, CITIZEN-CENTERED SERVICES?
Encouraging collaboration between public entities and private partners is fundamental to developing innovative solutions that must be co-designed using Design Thinking and Human-Centered Design approaches.
Private entities can offer additional resources and expertise to the Public Administration, aiming to improve the quality and efficiency of public services.
There are many ideas, but the challenge is that public tenders often cover broad, general scopes, risking the undervaluation of territorial specificities. Projects should not only be evaluated for their cost but also for their long-term social, technological, and environmental impact.
Unlocking these tools can significantly boost the digitalization of the Public Administration, rewarding projects that focus on innovation and sustainability - key words of our time that must be translated into concrete actions.
For over 30 years, we have supported the Public Administration in creating a more efficient and sustainable government system through our ecosystem approach that puts people at the center.
Dario Buttitta
Executive Vice President Public Sector & Healthcare, Engineering
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