Mr. Roshan Mahant for being awarded “Digital Transformation & Innovation Leader of The Year – Information Technology”

Driving Innovation in implementing e-governance enterprise platform in public sector: The Roshan Mahant Journey

Roshan Mahant, B.E., MTech., is a seasoned solution architect and developer in the e-governance platform implementation. His journey has been characterized by a relentless pursuit of innovation, with pivotal roles in conceptualizing, leading, and launching cutting-edge solutions for government state agencies such as Michigan gaming control board (MGDB), Iowa Board of Nursing (IBON), Iowa Board of Medicine (IBM), Iowa Dental Board (IDB), Business Tax System (BTS) San Jose, New South Wales (NSW) Australia.

Mr. Mahant has achieved notable success in implementing enterprise platforms for the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). He has meticulously analyzed and digitized the business workflows of five departments: charitable gaming, organizations, suppliers, dealers, and locations —integrating them into the enterprise platform Amanda.

Roshan’s leadership on the CHIPS project for MGCB left a lasting impact that transcended outcomes. Through the utilization of innovative solutions and industry best practices, he played a pivotal role in empowering MGCB to conduct Millionaire party licensing seamlessly.  Currently, his efforts enhanced customer satisfaction and fortified trust in the institution’s service.

Roshan’s expertise was instrumental in developing the back-office workflows for charitable gaming license processing for the state employees. His in-depth understanding of the AMANDA application enabled the state to digitize its business processes effectively.

Mr. Mahant’s architectural expertise and innovative solutions have been crucial to the organization’s success in implementing e-governance for charitable events at MGCB. This has streamlined the licensing processes for users to manage licenses for over 31,000+ Millionaire Party Events, 7000+ organizations, 1000+ locations, 900+ suppliers, and 6000+ dealers.

In addition to the mentioned innovation, Mr. Mahant has introduced several new features to improve e-governance. These enhancements include:

• Round-Robin algorithm for task assignments
• Creating custom tag badges
• The ability to create password-protected ZIP files for secure email transmission to customers.
• The capability to merge multiple files from attachments into a single file, whether from a local drive or the web.
• A user interface for managing Amanda team members, allowing users to enable and disable team members.
• Content Manager Integration
• Generating files from emails and attaching them under attachments, allowing email communications to be stored in the content manager.
• Enabling encryption and decryption of attachments.
• Portal DevelopmentThe conversation below dives into Roshan Mahant’s remarkable journey, his myriad accomplishments, invaluable insights, and her visionary perspective.

Can you share your journey into digitizing e-governance? What initially drew you to this field?

My journey into digitizing e-governance began as a natural extension of my passion for developing impactful software solutions. Over the years, I have accumulated over 20 years of experience in software development, working on various high-stakes projects across multiple industries, such as finance, insurance, healthcare, gaming, and taxation.

I initially entered the e-governance field when I was tasked with architecting and implementing complex workflows for government agencies: Iowa Board of Nursing (IBON) in 2016, where I helped streamline the Nursing licensing and complaint processes. The project involved building a robust public portal for users to submit applications, make payments, and manage documents—all integrated into a secure back-office Amanda system. It was an exciting challenge to build solutions that improved public services, simplified regulatory processes, and ensured transparency.

What drew me to this field was the opportunity to use my technical skills to make a meaningful difference in public administration. Digitizing e-governance allows governments to become more efficient and citizen-focused by leveraging technology, which aligned perfectly with my desire to work on projects that blend technical innovation with real-world impact.

Throughout my career, I have enjoyed navigating the intersection of technology and public services, creating solutions that optimize user experience while maintaining compliance and security standards. Each project, whether it’s licensing systems or business tax management, reaffirmed my commitment to using technology to empower both government agencies and citizens.

What were some of the key challenges you faced when starting out in e-governance platform implementation, and how did you overcome them?

When I first started working on e-governance platform implementations, one of the biggest challenges I faced was managing the complexity of integrating various systems while maintaining compliance with government regulations. E-governance platforms often require interaction between multiple databases, services, and external systems, all of which need to be synchronized and operate seamlessly. For example, when working on the Michigan Gaming Control Board’s platform, I had to architect a solution that could manage both a public-facing portal and a secure back-office system while integrating with document management and payment systems.

Another key challenge was ensuring data security and privacy. Given the sensitive nature of the information processed in government systems—such as licenses, tax information, and regulatory compliance data—it was crucial to implement robust security measures. This meant creating secure workflows for document management, encryption for stored data, and ensuring that public access was strictly controlled through role-based authentication and authorization.

Governments often have multiple departments with differing priorities, and coordinating among them required clear communication and collaborative planning. To address this, I focused on managing cross-functional teams and ensuring that all stakeholders—both technical and non-technical—were on the same page regarding project timelines, objectives, and expected outcomes. Agile methodologies, particularly sprint planning and regular feedback loops, were crucial in overcoming these challenges.

What are some of the key projects or achievements in your decade-long career in data security that you are most proud of?

One of the most impactful projects was with the Iowa Board of Nursing (IBON). Here, I led the development of a secure licensing system for nursing professionals. The challenge was to safeguard sensitive personal data specifically document. To address this, I developed a tool and integrated it with the enterprise platform, Amanda, which encrypts documents both at rest and in transit. This tool follows the FIPS 140 standards for encryption specified by FBI.

Another achievement I’m particularly proud of was my work with the Business Tax System (BTS) for the City of San Jose. This project required building secure payment and business registration systems while handling sensitive financial and tax information. I integrated the system with the Wells Fargo payment gateway and implemented strict security measures, such as encrypted communication channels and secure SOAP and RESTful services, ensuring the integrity of both personal and financial data. Additionally, I developed an automated testing tool to streamline tax calculations, reducing manual intervention and the risk of human error.

In my current role with the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), I architected the workflow for their Charitable Gaming licensing and inspection system. Data security was a top priority as it involved public-facing portals and back-office systems managing sensitive regulatory data. I built custom security features like secure email systems, PDF bundling, and bulk download capabilities, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of all transmitted and stored data. These enhancements not only improved the system’s efficiency but also reinforced trust in the platform by ensuring data remained secure at every step.

How did your success help your organization?

My contributions have significantly advanced our organization on multiple fronts. Through pioneering product development and strategic initiatives, I orchestrated a substantial surge in revenue, which has bolstered the organization’s financial standing. Introducing cutting-edge solutions and innovative approaches in Amanda implementation propelled our organization to a leadership position in the e-governance platform implementation industry, amplifying brand credibility and market visibility. Efforts in innovating products directly translated to heightened client satisfaction, as evidenced by positive feedback and increased adoption rates among our client base.

Furthermore, by championing innovation and fostering a culture conducive to creativity, I cultivated an environment that drives ongoing improvements and facilitates a culture of excellence within the company.

In summary, my achievements have played a pivotal role in driving organizational growth, enhancing market competitiveness, and nurturing a culture of innovation and excellence.

What do you consider the most rewarding aspect of working in Amanda?

The most rewarding aspect of working with the Amanda platform has been the opportunity to create solutions that directly impact public services and streamline government processes. Amanda’s flexibility as a platform allows for customization that meets the unique needs of various government agencies, whether it’s licensing, permitting, or regulatory functions. Each project presents a unique challenge—whether integrating secure payment systems, developing seamless workflows, or ensuring data security—and solving these challenges has been incredibly fulfilling.

What I find most gratifying is the ability to improve the efficiency and transparency of public services. For example, when working on the Michigan Gaming Control Board’s system, I helped build a public portal that simplified the application process for users while ensuring seamless integration with the back-office system for government staff. Seeing how these solutions help both the public and government employees by saving time, reducing errors, and improving service delivery is deeply rewarding.

You are an author. How did it happen? Can you elaborate on your book publications?

Certainly! My journey as an author began with a genuine desire to share the knowledge and insights I’ve gathered throughout my career. Over two decades, I’ve accumulated a wealth of experience and unique perspectives, and I felt compelled to offer them to a wider audience. Writing research paper and publishing books seemed like the perfect way to achieve this goal. My first book I am writing is “The Art of Decoding Microservice”.  In this book, I dive into the evolution of microservice architecture, Microservice implementation and security, and microservice containerization. It’s been a humbling and rewarding experience to know that my work is contributing to the growth and understanding of others in the field.

Additionally, you have written research papers. How does your research assist in taking the industry forward?

My research in areas like microservices, AI in finance, and cloud optimization is highly relevant to advancing the technology industry. My work helps businesses by creating more efficient, scalable, and secure systems. By improving microservices architecture, my research addresses challenges such as service scalability and flexibility, crucial for cloud-based solutions. Additionally, my exploration into AI applications and cybersecurity enhances financial services, providing new ways to detect fraud and manage risks. This combination of innovation and practical application supports companies in staying competitive and forward-thinking in today’s tech-driven world.

What drives you to continue pushing boundaries and striving for excellence?

What motivates me to continually push boundaries and strive for excellence is the desire to make a meaningful impact and drive positive change. I am driven by a passion for innovation and the pursuit of excellence in everything I do. The satisfaction of overcoming challenges, achieving goals, and surpassing expectations fuels my determination to continuously improve and grow

What do you believe are the most critical skills for an Amanda professional today?

In today’s landscape, professionals need diverse skills to streamline business process into an enterprise platform such as Amanda. This includes technical proficiency in Java programming language, UI technologies, ZK framework, database knowledge and more. Lifelong learning is crucial due to continuous emergence of new treads, requiring ongoing education. Strong problem-solving and attention to detail are essential for analyzing business flows and implementing it within Amanda’s capabilities. Effective communication fosters collaboration and alignment. By mastering these skills, Amanda professionals can navigate challenges and contribute to digital e-governance.

Finally, what are your aspirations or career goals?

I am dedicated to maintaining a standard of excellence in my work and providing support wherever needed. I strongly believe that our industry is at a critical juncture, offering abundant prospects for us to actively contribute to public sector implementing e-governance platform for licensing and permitting. This involves participating in the creation of cutting-edge technologies and solutions and adopt industry best practices.

Mr. Roshan Mahant: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roshan-mahant/