Ontario Digital Service
Who we are, what we’re doing and how to work with us.
Overview
The Ontario Digital Service (ODS) is a hub of technologists, designers and digital government experts who deliver user-centred products and digital policies using agile processes and data-driven methods. We collaborate with ministry partners to deliver services that make interacting with government simpler and easier for people and businesses.
What we do
Design and develop products and services
We build great, user-centred digital products, services, and platforms for Ontarians.
Our core products like Ontario.ca, Ontario’s Data Catalogue, and Notify (digital reminders), help ministry partners deliver best-in-class online services to the public, efficiently and consistently.
Modernize laws, policies and processes
We develop plans, frameworks, and strategies to support digital and data excellence, and help future-proof the Ontario Public Service as technology evolves.
The ODS collaborate with experts to ensure government’s digital and data laws, directives, and service standards are efficient, secure, and protect privacy.
Create culture change in government
We encourage better service delivery across government by advising and providing guidance on digital initiatives.
We also facilitate culture change across government by assessing digital products through our Digital First Assessment process, providing training, and enforcing standards to deliver high-quality services for all Ontarians.
Examples of our work
Notify
Notify is an enterprise platform that allows the Ontario Public Service to send email, text message, and automated voice calls to the public. Contact the team to learn more.
Ontario.ca Frontend
Develop performant, scalable and secure digital services that are ready to deploy to Ontario.ca.
Simpler, Faster, Better Services Act
This new law significantly improves how government works to deliver services to the people and businesses of Ontario.
Digital and Data Strategy
Ontario’s strategy for building a world-leading digital economy, that puts people first and delivers a more prosperous future for everyone.
We also work on Digital Identity and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Guidance.
Get a job at the ODS
The Ontario Digital Service (ODS) is a great place to work. We hire talented people with expertise in:
Technology
Application architecture and technical advice, front and back end design and development, quality assurance, DevOps, Cloud operations and security.
Digital policy
Implementing policies to support strong Ontario Digital Service product delivery, and building net-new digital and data policies for Ontario.
Content design
Using data and evidence to write content that gives users the answers they need, at the time they need it, in a way they expect.
Experience design
Applying expertise in user research, service design and UX design to understand user needs and create solutions that are useful, usable, and desirable.
Product management
Strategy, vision, leadership, and management of the design, agile development, and operations of digital products.
Data access and analytics
Data-driven insights and analytics, creation and management of publicly-accessible data and data assets, supporting data-related policy and legislation.
Help for Ontario government teams
We offer a number of free workshops and training for staff and teams in the Ontario Public Service or broader public sector. We also offer guidance through our Digital First Assessment process for teams working on large scale public-facing digital projects.
Resources
Digital service standard
The Digital Service Standard sets out 13 points to help Ontario ministries and agencies build and deliver simpler, faster, better government services and products for the people who live and do business in Ontario.
Digital first assessment guidance
Any Ontario government project that involves creating or improving a digital service – whether in-house, or through vendors – needs to meet the Digital Service Standard throughout its development.
Ontario Design System
The Ontario Design System includes things like buttons, navigation and form fields — and defines how they should look and behave. The design system helps you create Government of Ontario products that look consistent, align with the Ontario brand, use tried-and-tested code and are accessible.
Ontario style guide
This guide sets out the rules we use to develop English content for Ontario.ca, while highlighting certain distinctions that exist between the English and French language. Our mission is to deliver information that is easy to find, use and understand — no matter who you are or what type of device you use.
User research guide
User research will help you develop a deeper understanding of who the users are, how they behave, and what that means for the design of your service. This guide is a starting point to learn what works best for your users and services to develop your own approach.
Service design playbook
A crash course on service design that works alongside the 13 points set out in the Digital Service Standard to provide the basics needed to get started on or continuously improve a service.
Notify
Notify is an online, enterprise communication tool managed by the Ontario Digital Service that makes it simple, fast, and affordable to contact your users. Contact the team to learn more.
Ontario.ca Frontend
Develop online experiences and services that integrate with Ontario.ca. Learn more about Ontario.ca Frontend, a free and open-source tool that is created and maintained by the Ontario Digital Service.