Indonesia has accelerated digital transformation in public administration over the past decade. Rather than simply digitizing paperwork, the government is now promoting integrated digital governance through the Electronic-Based Government System (SPBE). Under this framework, government institutions are expected to connect their business processes, data, applications, services, cybersecurity, and performance accountability into a unified digital system.
Ambon City presents an interesting case study because it has been part of Indonesia's Movement toward 100 Smart Cities, launching numerous digital innovations across governance, economic development, public services, environmental management, and citizen participation. According to the researchers, these achievements provide valuable assets for SPBE implementation, but they remain fragmented unless supported by integrated governance and interoperable data systems.
The research was conducted using a qualitative case-study synthesis. Instead of collecting data from a single application, the researchers reinterpreted findings from previous Smart City research to evaluate Ambon's readiness for integrated SPBE governance. The study combined interviews, focus group discussions, field observations, and government document analysis covering six Smart City dimensions: smart governance, smart economy, smart branding, smart society, smart living, and smart environment.
The researchers then mapped these findings into SPBE requirements by examining whether each digital innovation supported business process integration, data interoperability, application integration, cybersecurity, or digital accountability. This approach allowed the team to identify both the city's strengths and the remaining gaps that must be addressed before full digital government integration can be achieved.
Ambon Already Has Strong Digital Assets
The study found that Ambon has successfully introduced numerous digital innovations across different sectors.
Among the most significant achievements are:
Electronic signatures (e-signatures) used across government agencies.
Command Center 112, which supports emergency monitoring through CCTV.
IETPD achievement of 96%, indicating a high level of electronic government transaction implementation.
QRIS adoption for digital financial transactions.
Ambon One Data, which supports centralized public data management.
OMI Channel, providing communication between citizens and the local government.
Online population administration services.
Digital libraries that improve public access to educational resources.
Waste Bank programs and the Sound of Green initiative supporting environmental sustainability.
These innovations demonstrate that Ambon has already developed an active digital ecosystem. However, according to the researchers, digital innovation alone is insufficient if every government office continues operating its own isolated systems.
Integration Is the Next Challenge
The study emphasizes that Smart City programs and SPBE should not be viewed as competing initiatives.
Smart City focuses on creating innovative digital services, while SPBE provides the institutional framework that connects those innovations into a unified government system.
Currently, several challenges remain.
First, data interoperability is still limited. Different government agencies often use different data formats and standards, making information sharing difficult.
Second, digital capacity varies among government agencies. Some departments have advanced digital capabilities, while others still require significant technical support and staff training.
Third, cross-agency coordination remains weak, resulting in duplicated data collection, repeated verification, and inefficient public services.
The researchers note that citizens often experience the consequences of fragmented digital systems. Even when services are available online, people may still need to submit the same information multiple times because government databases are not fully connected.
Four Priorities for Integrated Digital Government
Based on their findings, the researchers propose a four-dimensional model for strengthening SPBE governance in Ambon City.
The first priority is business process integration, ensuring that government services—from application submission and verification to payment, approval, complaint handling, and reporting—operate through coordinated workflows across agencies.
The second priority is data interoperability, including standardized metadata, secure data exchange, clear ownership, and common technical standards.
The third priority is application and service integration, reducing the number of isolated digital platforms and creating seamless public services.
The fourth priority is digital performance accountability, linking service delivery data with government performance indicators so that agencies can be evaluated using measurable digital outcomes.
In this proposed model, the city's Communication and Information Office (Diskominfo) would act as the technical orchestrator of SPBE integration, while planning agencies, licensing offices, population administration offices, financial management agencies, inspectorates, and technical departments would work together through connected digital workflows.
Practical Benefits for Citizens
The researchers argue that integrated SPBE will generate tangible benefits for residents of Ambon.
Citizens would no longer need to repeatedly submit identical documents to different government offices. Administrative verification could be completed more quickly because agencies would access shared data through secure digital platforms.
Integrated systems would also enable residents to monitor the status of applications, complaints, business licenses, and public services in real time.
For an island city like Ambon, these improvements are particularly important. Better digital integration reduces travel time, lowers administrative costs, and expands access to government services for communities living in coastal and remote areas.
Beyond improving service delivery, integrated digital governance also strengthens transparency. Electronic signatures create secure audit trails, digital financial transactions improve accountability, and Command Center 112 enables faster emergency coordination supported by real-time information.
According to Jusuf Madubun and colleagues from Universitas Pattimura, the future of digital government is not defined by the number of mobile applications or online platforms. Instead, success depends on whether government institutions can connect processes, data, services, and accountability into one integrated system that genuinely improves public service quality.
Recommendations for 2025–2029
The study recommends several strategic priorities for Ambon City over the next five years.
These include:
Establishing stronger technical regulations for SPBE implementation.
Creating a comprehensive government data catalog and standardized metadata.
Integrating priority services such as population administration, business licensing, regional financial transactions, citizen complaints, and disaster response.
Expanding digital literacy and technical training for government employees.
Transforming Command Center 112 into an integrated monitoring hub covering public services, tourism, environmental management, disaster response, and citizen complaints.
The researchers believe these measures will help Ambon move from isolated digital initiatives toward a fully integrated, accountable, interoperable, and citizen-centered digital government.
Author Profiles
Jusuf Madubun is a researcher from Universitas Pattimura specializing in public administration, digital government, Smart City development, and public policy.
Muhtar is an academic at Universitas Pattimura whose research focuses on governance, public administration reform, and electronic government systems.
Judy de Fretes is a lecturer and researcher specializing in regional governance, institutional development, and public-sector innovation.
Wirasti Rahayaan is an academic with expertise in public management, organizational governance, and digital transformation in government.
Honoratus Ruban is a researcher at Universitas Pattimura focusing on public administration, collaborative governance, and sustainable digital government.
Research Source
Article Title: Strengthening Inter-Agency Integration of SPBE Governance in Ambon City
Authors: Jusuf Madubun, Muhtar, Judy de Fretes, Wirasti Rahayaan, Honoratus Ruban
Affiliation: Universitas Pattimura
Journal: International Journal of Applied and Scientific Research (IJASR)
Volume: 4, Issue 7 (2026)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijasr.v4i7.262
Journal URL: https://nvlmultitechpublisher.my.id/index.php/ijasr/index
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