D. Suhair bint Sanad Al -Muhannadi
At a time when the Kingdom of Bahrain goes on a confident and reliable pace towards a comprehensive digital transformation, the new population card is highlighted as one of the prominent features of this ambitious stage, and as one of the most prominent achievements of the state in keeping pace with modern technical development, it is a multi -use card, elegant in its design, smart in its functions, and represents a true translation of the Kingdom’s vision, and an indication of real government awareness of the importance of facilitating transactions and raising efficiency Institutional performance.
This advanced step in smart cards, as each development project, needs parallel readiness in implementation and field follow -up.
As the reality, in some of its small details, still shows some of the observations that deserve to be paid to, a passing personal experience that prompted me to meditate on this gap between ambition and implementation, I was standing in front of one of the municipal waste bags exchange devices, I carry my new card, but the surprise that the device did not recognize it, fortunately and quickly, I kept the old card that saved the situation, but what dug in My mind is the position of that elderly man who got rid of his old card with confidence after receiving the new card, and he did not find another way to spend what he needs.
The matter does not stop at the elderly alone, but rather extends to include people with special needs, and women who need smooth services that respect their time and circumstances, it is a wide segment of society that we need to see in the eye of the technical decision.
That scene was not an exception, but rather a repeated picture. As soon as the story was presented to some friends, it was found on similar experiences, indicating that modern cards have not yet been activated in some way in some service points.
A successful digital transformation is measured by the smoothness of its use, and the extent of the citizen’s satisfaction with it in the details of his daily life, from this standpoint, I suggest with all love and keenness that the concerned authorities take the following measures:- Updating all service devices to support the new card urgently. Acceptance of the card.- Providing a quick communication channel for the elderly and people with special needs, to deliver the service to them or arrange their attendance at an easy time.- Publishing official instructions in service centers and websites urge citizens to keep the old card temporarily.- A periodic review of the user experience based on citizens ’observations. Digital transformation is a daily experience that people feel.
We trust that state institutions always respond to the voice of the citizen, and therefore the technology must take into account the human being, so let us succeed together this civilized shift, and that technology be a bridge to rest, and Bahrain remains a living model in smart, balanced, integrated, and human transformation.
* Media and academic researcher
