WaTech is excited to announce the launch of the Enterprise Data Strategy: Turning Data Into Action: Smarter Decisions, Better Outcomes. This strategy marks a significant step forward in harnessing data as a strategic asset to improve public services, inform policymaking, and strengthen collaboration across state agencies.
Developed through a statewide multi-agency collaboration involving more than 200 data leaders and partners, the strategy provides a unified framework to break down data silos, unlock insights, and create more coordinated, data-informed government services.
“This strategy isn’t just about managing data — it’s about putting it to work,” said State CIO and WaTech Director Bill Kehoe. “By aligning efforts across agencies, we can use data to drive smarter decisions, improve service delivery, and ensure better outcomes for all Washingtonians.”
The Enterprise Data Strategy is built around three key goals:
- Build partnerships to solve statewide challenges – By leveraging strong data foundations, unite state and local governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, communities, and industry partners to combine data, expertise, and innovative solutions to tackle Washington's biggest challenges and strengthen our resilience.
- Ensure data literacy to drive impact – Equip every employee with the skills, confidence, and tools to use data strategically - fostering a culture of data fluency, stewardship, and informed decision-making at every level of government.
- Expand data analytics for smarter services – Accelerate Washington’s data analytics capabilities to generate powerful insights and deliver efficient and effective public services, policy, and programs.
To support these goals, the strategy is built on three foundational pillars:
- Governance as a foundation - Establishing clear frameworks and policies to ensure responsible, effective, and scalable data management.
- Privacy, security & digital trust - Safeguarding data integrity and protecting resident privacy while enabling transparent, ethical data use.
- Equity in action - Embedding equity principles into data practices to ensure fair and accessible services for all communities.
The release of the strategy marks the beginning of a coordinated implementation effort. In the coming months, Goal Teams will be formed to lead the advancement of implementation roadmaps, establish measurable milestones, and align agency initiatives with statewide priorities. These teams will play a crucial role in advancing Washington’s commitment to using data to deliver better government services.