Key information

  1. Reference: OCC0120A
  2. Date updated: 26/08/2022
  3. Level: 3
  4. Route: Digital
  5. Regulated occupation: No

Details of the occupational standard

Information Symbol

T-Levels logoT Levels focus on vocational skills and can help students into skilled employment, higher study or apprenticeships. Each T Level includes an in-depth industry placement that lasts at least 45 days. Students get valuable experience in the workplace; employers get early sight of the new talent in their industry.

Occupation summary

This occupation is found in organisations, large and small, in all sectors, and within public, private and voluntary organisations. Organisations of all types are increasing applying digital technologies across all their business functions to maximise productivity. The demand for people who can support and implement these digital operations and digital change projects is increasing. Organisations of all types are increasingly supporting their service users though online and digital channels. Organisations are developing omni-channel approaches to meeting customer needs to deflect telephone and face-to-face contacts and so reduce costs.

The broad purpose of a Digital Support Technician is to maximise the effective use of digital office technologies, productivity software and digital communications. These will include collaborative technologies, and digital information systems.

A Digital Support Technician will select one of the following two options.

A Digital Applications Technician (DAT) helps their organisation and its internal users to maximise the use of digital technologies. They help organisations adapt to and exploit changes in technology to meet objectives and maximise efficiency. They ensure effective use of digital office technologies, productivity software, digital communications, including collaborative technologies, and digital information systems.

A Digital Service Technician (DST) supports external customers and clients through a wide variety of digital channels. A DST helps them access and receive services and provides coaching and support to them in their use of the digital systems. A DST will support external customers and clients to complete and submit data remotely. They will help them to diagnose and resolve problems with their access to and use of digital tools.

In their daily work, Digital Support Technicians interact with a wide variety of internal or external users of digital systems. They will communicate through digital channels, by phone and/or face to face. Digital Support Technicians work under general direction, using discretion in identifying and dealing with complex issues. They receive clear instructions and have their work reviewed at frequent milestones and determine when issues should be escalated to a higher level. Digital Support Technicians interact with and influence others, having working level contact with colleagues or customers. They may supervise others or make decisions which impact the work assigned to others or to other phases of projects. A Digital Support Technician plans, schedules and monitors their own work within limited deadlines and according to relevant law, standards and procedures.

Digital Applications Technicians (DAT) devise digital productivity solutions and roll them out in the organisation. They work as digital champions, training and supporting colleagues to make the best use of digital tools and diagnose problems. They provide internal end-user application support. The DAT may also assist with digital operations and digital change projects.

Digital Service Technicians (DST) help customers and clients register for and access data, products and services through online and digital channels. This can be as part of a sales or customer service process. They support and coach external users in their use of these digital systems. They diagnose and resolve external users’ digital problems with accessing and using digital tools. A DST also advises on related hardware and software problems. They use software packages and tools such as collaborative technologies, to interface effectively with external end-users. They will use a variety of digital channels to maximise effective external user support and to resolve external end-user problems. A DST will use and maintain information systems such as Customer Relationship Management tools to manage service delivery, improve user experience and increase efficiency.

 

Typical job titles include:

Applications and on-line service executive Data administrator Database administrator Digital applications specialist Digital champion Digital coach Digital service advisor Digital service agent Digital service support Digital support professional Digital systems operator Digital transformation associate Ict support analyst It operations technician Operations technical specialist Service centre operator Technical support professional

Core occupation duties

Duty KSBs

Duty 1 Provide technical support to customers through a range of communication channels

K1 K6 K8 K10 K13

S1 S4

B1 B2

Duty 2 Manage their time, prioritising their digital support workflow to meet critical milestones

K13

S2 S9 S10

B1 B4

Duty 3 Apply relevant policies and legislation appropriate to their role, and follow appropriate escalation procedures

K4

S3 S4 S8

B1

Duty 4 Undertake basic data analysis utilising appropriate digital technologies

K5

S2 S5

Duty 5 Maintain security of data by applying the appropriate policies and complying with legislation

K3 K4 K8 K11

S3 S11

B1

Duty 6 Support continuous improvement activity within the organisation

K7 K9 K14

S9

B5

Duty 7 Resolve digital issues using the appropriate tools and technologies

S4 S5

B2

Duty 8 Collaborate with stakeholders to manage expectations, escalating as appropriate

K2 K9 K16

S1 S8

B3

Duty 9 Take responsibility for own continuous professional development (CPD) by keeping up to date with technological developments

K11 K12 K15

S7

Duty 10 Document actions to ensure a clear audit trail and progression of issues

K5 K14

S5 S6 S11

B4

Option duties

Digital Applications Technician (DAT) duties

Duty KSBs

Duty 11 Take appropriate action when application problems are identified

K17

S13

B1 B3

Duty 12 Support application users, advising on how to optimise productivity

K17 K18 K20

S12 S15

B2

Duty 13 Provide application training to users as required

K17 K19 K21

S14

B1 B4

Duty 14 Source information to support, advise or guide as appropriate to the audience

K17 K18 K19 K21

S14 S15

B3 B4

KSBs

Knowledge

K17: principles of productivity software applications used to create, update, edit, manage, and present data and information including how to support stakeholders in their use. Back to Duty

K18: the features and benefits of digital information systems and how these are used to maintain application support. Back to Duty

K19: working practices for the productive use and administration of stakeholder’s applications. Back to Duty

K20: organisational approaches to incorporating different digital applications across business functions and the implications for their stakeholders. Back to Duty

K21: approaches to the training and support of stakeholders to make the best use of the organisation’s applications. Back to Duty

Skills

S12: support digital operations or digital change and transformation activities. Back to Duty

S13: investigate application problems and enable resolution to maintain productivity and improve quality of service. Back to Duty

S14: coach and guide stakeholders to develop their applications skills to use digital systems effectively. Back to Duty

S15: monitor data to analyse systems use and provide insights to recommend use or applications developments. Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: work independently and take responsibility to maintain productive and professional working environment with secure working practices. Back to Duty

B2: use own initiative when implementing digital technologies and finding solutions to stakeholder’s problems. Back to Duty

B3: professional approach to dealing with stakeholder’s problems. Back to Duty

B4: self-motivated for example: takes responsibility to complete the job. Back to Duty

T Level in digital support services

Awarding organisation: NCFE

Qualification type: T Level Qualification level: 4 Qualification approved: 17/12/2020

Crown copyright © 2025. You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. Visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence

Is this webpage useful?

Thank you for your feedback

Tell us about your experience