Minnesota has once again received an "A" in the 2024 Digital States Survey—its second consecutive time earning the highest possible rating. Out of all U.S. states, only nine received an "A" and Minnesota is among them.

The Digital States Survey evaluates how well IT organizations align with the governor’s priorities, focusing on demonstrating real results and value for the people they serve. 

Minnesota's Successes

In addition to earning an "A," Minnesota also secured first place in the Continuous Innovation category. This award highlights the state’s leadership in exploring, testing, and applying emerging technologies to enhance government services. The recognition reflects Minnesota’s commitment to prioritizing people-centered technology, driven by collaboration across the executive branch.

We highlighted how emerging technology strategies are widespread across agencies, yielding significant results. Some examples include:   

• Collaboration with Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB): Tested retrieval augmented generation (RAG) technology, enabling natural language interaction with complex documents, and facilitating efficient navigation of financial policies at MMB.
• Department of Public Safety and MNIT Language Access Project: Launched an AI-driven language access project for the Division of Vehicle Services, improving service access for 67% of Minnesota's non-English speaking population. This effort embraced Minnesota’s Modernization Playbook and agile development for integration into standard processes.
• ETO Translation Services: Utilized artificial intelligence to offer translation services to state agencies, focusing on Spanish, Hmong, and Somali languages.
• Statewide innovation: MNIT offers Microsoft’s Power Apps and Power Automate, tools that enable the state workforce to swiftly address business needs with no-code/low-code solutions. Since its statewide launch in 2023, the initiative has led to the creation of 2,721 Power Apps and 6,157 Power Automate flows. These tools have been utilized across 21 agencies, impacting 39,043 users. 
• Drone bridge inspections: Minnesota Department of Transportation initiated a multi-phase project to explore the use of drones for bridge inspections. By 2021, the results were clear— drones reduced costs, improved data quality, enhanced safety for both inspectors and motorists, and minimized traffic disruptions. This research led to the acquisition of 33 drones and the development of advanced 3D models for bridge management. MnDOT continues to refine these capabilities, driving greater efficiency and improving public safety.

Across other areas of the survey, Minnesota highlighted:

• The /mnit/about-mnit/tmf/proposal.jspTechnology Modernization Fund, which has to date funded over 17 projects that have upgraded aging systems, strengthened data security, improved processes, and created efficiencies leading to cost and resource savings.
• Advancements in data management and technology within key programs such as the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program, COVID-19 Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program, Direct Certification, and Minnesota Free School Meals.
• Cybersecurity successes like the Whole-of-State Cybersecurity Plan, cyber risk quantification, /mnit/government/policies/security/eo22-20-faq.jspExecutive Order 22-20, partnership with the National Guard, and improved data security training and policies.
• A transition to product and agile ways of working, in our hiring process, the Product and Agile Center of Enablement, and strategic portfolio management and improvements in the hiring process. 
• Technology successes across state government like Frontline Worker Pay, the Minnesota Crime Data Explorer, the Child care provider hub, a new air quality application, and Farmlink.

Read more in Minnesota's summary in GovTech.

About the Digital States Survey

The Digital States Survey is a biennial national survey from the Center for Digital Government (CDG). It assesses CIO-led organizations’ alignment with governor priorities. Minnesota IT Services submitted the survey in May 2024 and received results on Sept. 26, 2024. A national overview of all 50 states and their grades can be found on the Center for Digital Government’s website.