We’re piloting NDX:Try, a new platform to help local councils test digital services before they buy

We recently launched a pilot for NDX:Try to help local councils try new and innovative digital and AI services for free before deciding whether to buy them.

You can access the service here: ndx.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk

The platform will provide secure, time-limited access to cutting-edge tools in a non-production environment, with no upfront effort or cost.

It’s designed to help tackle challenges with buying technology that we see across the public sector: organisations with tightly controlled budgets are limited in their ability to use technology for free at the point of use.

The pilot of NDX:Try includes a range of scenarios for councils to experiment and build with, such as:

• LocalGov Drupal: an AI enhanced website management system created by councils, for councils, and supported by UK businesses.
• Minute: an AI-powered meeting transcription and minuting tool that automatically turns audio recordings into structured, actionable minutes — helping councils cut hours of manual note-taking.
• A Chatbot application to support users understanding the impact of different AI models, guardrails, knowledge base, and other configuration on both cost and useability
• Digital Planning Stack (PlanX + BOPS + Digital Planning Register): a complete open-source planning journey — residents submit applications through PlanX's guided digital forms, officers assess them in the BOPS case-management system, and the public track decisions on a modern, searchable Digital Planning Register.
• A completely empty cloud sandbox for free exploration

There are currently 8 scenarios on the platform with accompanying guided walk throughs in addition to access to hundreds of underlying services available from Amazon Web Services, an early supporter and collaborator of NDX:Try.

We’re already in conversations with technology companies of all shapes and sizes to add more, along with broadening out to include a wider range of public sector organisations and use cases. If you have a solution you’d like to be available on NDX:Try, you can get in touch with the team on this email address: Ndx@dsit.gov.uk

Finally, this is a pilot, and therefore everything is experimental, so we welcome your comments and feedback.