Success Story

Building a Strong AI Foundation for Public Sector Innovation

How A Government Ministry Harnessed Expert Procurement to Modernize Operations

Artificial Intelligence has the power to help organizations work smarter, move faster, and innovate more creatively. While the promise is big, many are still figuring out how to make AI truly work for them, especially when scaling up can quickly become costly or complex. 

Rather than treating AI as just another trend, one government ministry recently embarked on a mission to make this emerging technology a strategic priority. Embracing a bold, transformation-first mindset, they set out to deliver services as efficiently as the private sector by using AI to modernize operations. 

To achieve this, they needed a solid foundation, one that would support rapid, cost-effective scaling while keeping data local and secure. They decided to partner with PC Corp and tap into the IT provider's procurement expertise and long-standing vendor relationships to acquire the HPE Private Cloud AI (PCAI) solution, the first of its kind in Western Canada and one of just five at the time in North America. 

 

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits this partnership has brought to the organization: 

AI in Government

Maximizing IT budget efficiency while cutting costs

Many organizations use external public cloud platforms to access flexible, on-demand AI resources without upfront infrastructure costs. While these providers offer powerful capabilities, their consumption-based billing model can lead to rapidly escalating expenses—sometimes three to four times the original budget as projects grow. 

Now that this ministry has partnered with PC Corp to procure a private cloud for their AI development hosted on-premises, they can count on: 

  • No monthly usage costs. Regardless of how much they use the system, they are not paying per usage like they would with public cloud resources since they own the capital asset.  
  • Reduced strain on their operating budget. HPE’s PCAI solution lets them focus on scaling the AI platform efficiently instead of having to deal with the technical debt and steep costs of constant upgrades that legacy systems possess. 

 

Achieving quicker time to value with less burden on their operations

Many companies looking to experiment and innovate with AI end up building their own AI factories. With this complex and resource-intensive process, they must figure out how to integrate various components - servers, storage, software, etc. Then specialized experts need to be hired to assemble the infrastructure and install the necessary software. This approach is not only expensive and time-consuming but also requires highly specialized skills to manage effectively. 

By partnering with PC Corp’s enterprise procurement specialists to acquire the Private Cloud AI solution, the government organization avoided these challenges. Instead of building AI environments from scratch, they procured a turnkey, full-stack private cloud solution where all the essential tools were ready to use. Thanks to this centralized platform, they can now eliminate the operational burden of managing disparate technologies and make AI deployment much more manageable. 

Strengthening control and data security

Although public cloud AI platforms are robust and offer convenient accessibility, they pose risks of data exposure. For instance, a cyberattack targeting the shared infrastructure could compromise sensitive information. Moreover, there is a legitimate concern that confidential citizen data might be inadvertently used to train commercial AI models, potentially making such data accessible on a global scale. 

They needed a simple, low-risk way to explore AI, one that delivered value while keeping their data private. A self-hosted, on-premises solution would give them complete control over data governance, tracking, and security—something especially important for an institution handling sensitive information. 

With the support of PC Corp in procuring HPE Private Cloud AI, the ministry has significantly mitigated the risk of data traversing the public internet. This solution enables the ministry to maintain strict control over data access, uphold full data sovereignty, and ensure that sensitive information remains within their geographic region—managed entirely on their own terms 

Establishing a long-term partnership with industry experts

When integrating complex tools into their operations, the government ministry wasn’t interested in just buying a product; they relied on a relationship with an IT provider built on trust, aligned goals, and a shared understanding of what was at stake. 

And they found that with PC Corp. More than a technology solution, the ministry gained a partner with the technical competency and dedication to help them succeed. 

As a local business with deep roots in the community, PC Corp offered the organization an advantage. They were able to receive support throughout the process that went beyond a transactional purchase, including: 

  • Decades of experience working in the public sector and deep understanding of its unique requirements 
  • Long-standing relationships with industry-leading vendors, like HPE 
  • Team with a malleable and responsive approach who can make quick adjustments 
  • Focus on the outcome rather than the purchase  

The government ministry could depend on our team’s involvement in reviewing configurations for accuracy and managing deliveries with care. They could also offload conversations with the vendor to us, saving time and resources for more critical work and avoiding unnecessary costs or delays when we flagged potential issues early. 

Shaping the Future of Government Services

This government organization faced uncertainty about how to safely use artificial intelligence without compromising its data. After partnering with PC Corp to establish a stable, self-hosted tool that provides more control, they’re confidently setting a new standard for AI adoption in the public sector. 

The ministry is actively exploring how AI can enhance government services, uncovering many practical, high-impact ways to leverage AI for the public good:  

  • Streamlining administrative tasks 
  • accelerating policy development 
  • Improving internal collaboration 
  • Facilitating more responsive citizen communications.  

Looking at their journey, it's clear that thoughtful implementation and the right partnerships can turn emerging technology into real-world results. We're looking forward to continuing to support the ministry’s AI program development and being a part of what they accomplish with their new HPE Private Cloud AI Solution. 

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