VIRTUAL assistant technology is being used at Wiltshire Council to speed up the authority's payroll service.

A digital transformation programme is underway to use technology to improve council services.

The council want to increase the number of services digitally available and claim it will save the council £5m every year by 2021.

Speaking in November last year, former leader of Wiltshire Council Jane Scott said embracing digital services were key to the future running of the council.

She said: "We have to be even more efficient year on year. One way to do this is to look at digital services and how this can create further solutions to make us more efficient, while at the same time remembering that there are some people who do not use digital. We still need to offer that face to face contact.”

Ian Blair-Pilling, cabinet member for digitalisation, said: "New, exciting, streamlining technology is a key part of our strategy and will shape how we deliver our services in the future, in the most cost-effective and efficient way for Wiltshire residents and businesses.

"We are an innovative council, and we plan to capitalise on further technological advancements to deliver our business plan."