International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) Volume: 12 Issue: 07 | Jul 2025
www.irjet.net
e-ISSN: 2395-0056 p-ISSN: 2395-0072
Strategic Integration of Domain Expert Resident Consultants in Government SaaS Migration: Bridging Policy, Technology, and Transformation Raj Mehta Independent Researcher -------------------------------------------------------------------------***-----------------------------------------------------------------------Abstract A key component of the digital transformation of the public sector is the transition of government IT infrastructure to Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms. Although there are many advantages to this change, such as increased service delivery, cost effectiveness, and scalability (Almutairi, 2020), there are also enduring difficulties, such as interdepartmental capability gaps, organizational resistance, legacy system integration, and complex compliance requirements (OECD, 2021; Gupta & Reimers, 2020). According to Tang and Van der Voort (2021), Domain Expert Resident Consultants (DERCs) have become embedded facilitators who help close the gap between technical teams and policy architects. Within agencies, DERCs have extensive contextual knowledge of organizational procedures, which allows them to guide cybersecurity, vendor coordination, risk management, and compliance, enhancing project outcomes and stakeholder trust (Petrov et al., 2022b). Using qualitative assessments of recent case studies including migrations by the UK Ministry of Justice and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and implementation methods, this research critically investigates the strategic importance of DERCs in SaaS migrations. Additionally, it lists the institutional factors that facilitate and hinder DERC integration.
Keywords: Domain Expert Resident Consultants, SaaS Migration, Government Agencies, Digital Transformation, Regulatory Compliance, Change Management, Legacy Systems.
1. Lead In Modernizing government information technology systems has emerged as a top priority for public institutions dedicated to provide services that are adaptable, transparent, and focused on the requirements of residents. Software-asa-Service (SaaS) models have gained a lot of support as part of this agenda due to the promise they provide in terms of cost savings, scalability, rapid deployment, and operational efficiency (Almutairi, 2020). Globally, government organizations of all sizes—from national ministries to small towns—are increasingly using software as a service (SaaS) to replace their outdated legacy systems. However, SaaS migration in government environments presents a unique set of difficulties such as procurement rigidity, compliance audits, and legacy integration — as shown in public sector cloud adoption studies (Janssen et al., 2020). Given these challenges, Domain Expert Resident Consultants (DERCs) are being intentionally designated as crucial enablers of effective software as a service (SaaS) transitions (Zhao et al., 2019; Petrov et al., 2022). Individuals possessing extensive expertise in both the operational domain of government agencies (such as healthcare, transportation, and finance) and the technological foundations of SaaS platforms are referred to as DERCs. One of the most important aspects is that they are integrated within the organization, which gives them the ability to bridge the gap between information technology providers, system integrators, and end users, all while guaranteeing contextual alignment and compliance with public policy frameworks (Zhao et al., 2019). This survey research aims to provide a thorough academic evaluation of the evolving role that DERCs play in the shift to government software as a service. There has been limited study to thoroughly examine the human expertise component, namely the institutional integration of resident consultants (Petrov et al., 2022). This contrasts with the large number of studies that have focused on the administrative and technical aspects of cloud adoption in the public sector. Through an interdisciplinary synthesis of previously published research on cloud computing, public administration theory, and real-world case studies, this study examines the following topics (Tang & Van der Voort, 2021; Costa, 2021):
The strategic and operational responsibilities that DERCs participate in throughout migrations to SaaS.
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