Nexer Digital chosen to develop new Data Access Service for Research Data Scotland

Nexer Digital, the human-centred design agency, has been chosen to deliver a six month digital transformation programme for Research Data Scotland (RDS), to support it in its mission to simplify and speed up access to public sector data. 

As part of the £300,000 project, Nexer Digital will design a new ‘Data Access Service’ to reduce the time it takes researchers to identify and access data without compromising scrutiny or security. RDS enables access to, and linkage of, data about people, places and businesses to improve health and social wellbeing in the country.

The newly developed service will create a foundation for a secure, scalable, and sustainable data access platform. This includes re-platforming and re-designing the RDS website to communicate the organisation’s purpose and be an entry point for researchers.

Nexer Digital will create advice for researchers and design a guided, accessible application process enabling researchers to access public sector datasets more quickly and easily. Nexer Digital will also test the solution for usability and accessibility, ensuring everyone, including those with access needs, can use the service.

Hugh Wallace, Chief Information Officer at Research Data Scotland said: “We are delighted to be working with Nexer Digital to help transform how researchers find, use and connect data by making the whole system quicker, easier and simpler to use.

“Data is often locked away in lots of individual systems, across many different organisations, and isn’t in a format that makes access or integration easy.

“One of the main reasons that RDS exists is to simplify and speed up access to public sector data, and in turn enable this data to be used for research purposes in the public good. Working together we have the chance to design and streamline the system to enhance applications and approvals processes and offer an end-to-end digital journey for the first time.”

Shaun Gomm, Commercial Director at Nexer Digital, said: “The work Research Data Scotland is doing is vital to providing simpler access to data and research that already exists. We’re pleased to support them with their mission. 

“Digital transformation should be a considered process and make sure legacy and fragmented systems can be joined in a simple and accessible way, reducing the time it takes to find information, and boosting the number of people that have access to it.”

RDS has previously worked with the Scottish Government Digital Transformation Service to understand user needs, explore a future service offer and formulate recommendations.  

To find out more about Nexer Digital and the work it does, visit nexerdigital.com.