Across government programs worldwide, the stakes for managing fraud, waste and abuse (FWA) have never been higher.
Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar that could have been used to fund public health, education, or infrastructure. In a previous blog, I discussed the movement toward increasing public sector productivity by addressing fraud, waste and abuse (FWA) with data and AI.
A global survey by Coleman Parkes highlights the success of the data and AI movement in the public sector, as well as where the future of FWA detection and investigation technology is headed.
A look at FWA maturity: Three groups, one shared goal
The survey found that public sector organizations typically fall into three stages of FWA maturity:
- Responders – Still building their analytics foundation and automating manual processes.
- Explorers – Using analytics and looking to optimize what they already have.
- Innovators – The trailblazers, using AI to scale and refine their fraud management operations.
Understanding where you are on that spectrum can help you see what’s possible – and where to focus next.
What are leading fraud innovators doing differently?
Turning complex data into clear connections with network analytics
Top-performing agencies are utilizing network analytics to gain a deeper understanding beyond individual transactions and uncover the broader story. By mapping relationships between people, organizations and events, investigators can identify suspicious clusters or hidden links that manual reviews might miss.
Think of it as moving from “finding a needle in a haystack” to “seeing the whole haystack’s pattern.” These insights enable agencies not only to detect fraud more quickly but also to build stronger cases for prosecution or recovery.
Centralizing fraud analysis for faster, fairer outcomes
Leading fraud innovators are consolidating their FWA activities into a single, enterprise-wide analytics platform. This move streamlines investigations, reduces the cost and complexity of managing multiple systems and accelerates legitimate claims processing – so citizens receive benefits sooner.
The unification of data integration and AI governance activities is one of the greatest benefits offered by a centralized fraud detection and investigation platform. As Jennifer Robinson, SAS Global Government Strategic Advisor notes, “By adopting an enterprise-wide data and AI platform, governments can unify [information spread across systems], ensuring they provide timely and convenient services to their citizens.”
What is the future of FWA management?
The study signals that the public sector is poised to transform its approach to combating fraud, waste and abuse through the adoption of AI and even generative AI (GenAI) technologies. As leading fraud innovators continue to scale their successes, they set a benchmark for others to follow. Many are out to prove that a centralized, integrated approach to FWA management can yield remarkable results.
The journey from manual processes to AI-driven platforms is not just about enhancing productivity; it is about fostering transparency, accountability and trust in public institutions. As more agencies mature from foundational responders to leading innovators, they’re proving that modern, AI-driven fraud management can do more than catch bad actors – it can make public programs work better for everyone.
