Digital transformation isn’t just a buzzword anymore. That’s because with demand for care growing, regulations being tighter than ever, and workforce issues being common challenges, there’s a growing need for care providers to get ahead of these challenges and become future-ready.
In our recent webinar (which you can watch here), Sam Vernon, New Business Sales Manager at OneAdvanced, and Karolina Gerlich, CEO of The Care Workers’ Charity, go into the benefits of digital transformation in the care sector, and practical steps for implementation.
Here’s what stood out from the discussion.
What is digital transformation?
Digital transformation is a strategic and thorough overhaul of an organisation’s operations, processes and culture by introducing or augmenting digital technologies. This revamp looks to enhance processes, improve efficiency and drive modernisation across various functions.
How to implement digital transformation in social care
1. Include stakeholders
Building internal advocates across care teams, managers, and IT staff is crucial to ensure that any solutions being explored are designed and implemented to meet the needs of all users. Engaging care workers early, particularly during the software selection process, can help surface practical insights that decision-makers might overlook. That way, you know you’re choosing something that works in real-life scenarios, not just on paper. And it’s not just about involving those who seem the most ‘tech-savvy’, it’s also about hearing from those who may be a little wearier.
“I would really advise to make sure that you involve some of those people in your decision-making because it has to work for everybody, not just those that are already ready for digital transformation,” shared Karolina.
And let’s not forget about training. Everyone has different levels of digital experience, so you’ll need to take a tailored approach. As Karolina put it, “The training needs to be equitable, not equal.”
Karolina’s advice is simple but powerful: “Take everybody with you, no one gets left behind.”
2. Choose the right partner
Seek software suppliers who fully understand the demands of the care sector, those who look to build partnerships, not just systems. Sam urges organisation’s to “select a provider that really understands the care market and the jobs to be done.”
That’s because a reliable partner will offer tailored support when digitising social care and ensure your investment drives long-term value. Karolina highlighted why this decision is so critical, saying that for many care managers, “Digital transformation and systems they’ve adopted not working and having to look for another system and change again is probably [one of] the most stressful parts of the job. Because there’s just so much work involved, so many people to get on board, so much change to drive that it really needs to be done with the thought of this as a multi-year, if not multi-decade, partnership rather than a short-term product sale.”
3. Plan your implementation
A successful implementation of your digital transformation strategy hinges on doing some thorough preparation before making any decisions. Sam emphasised this point really well, saying “Start to think early about what that implementation looks like, the timeframes, the requirements, the resource. Because how you roll out to your service will vary very differently to others.”
Karolina also reminded those watching not to underestimate the importance of communication after implementation starts. “Often what’s not necessarily thought about enough is the collaboration that has to happen after you’ve implemented software. If there are any teething issues that need to be reported back on, what are the processes there? But also, the kind of values and attitude and culture. If those are similar, that makes it a much better working relationship.”
4. Aim for a gradual rollout
Change is hard, and rushing this kind of transformation can create a level of chaos you’re hoping to avoid. Sam suggests some questions to ask before committing to any rollouts, such as “[What’s] the time frame for that, is it done in phases? Is there a migration of data involved? Is there a parallel run process where you’re running your old system and running the new one? …all of those answers will vary depending on your current source state of play.”
Karolina also suggests that care organisation’s start small and scale up. That’s because having a phased approach lets you address any issues early on and helps your team adjust gradually, saying “Digital transformation needs to be seen as a process rather than an overnight change.”
The role of AI in social care
We can’t talk about digital transformation without mentioning artificial intelligence (AI). Whether it is recognising trends in care delivery, simplifying care notes or offering predictive insights, AI could well be set to transform operations and improve outcomes within care.
But of course, ethical use is so important. Sam and Karolina discuss that organisations and software suppliers should look towards secure, closed AI systems rather than public tools that can put data privacy at risk. “It’s so important that software providers are dialed into delivering ethical AI to their care customers,” said Sam.
Why digital transformation matters
Digital transformation isn’t just about technology. It’s about giving your team the tools to do what they do best and improving the experiences of the people you care for.
Sam touched on the importance of seeing the bigger picture; “We often think of transformation as a cost, but it’s important to think about the overall ROI when making that decision”.
Care organisations are evolving, with transformations like this playing a key role in driving digital social care progress. If done thoughtfully, these changes can set you up not just to meet today’s needs but to thrive in the future as well.
Are you ready to begin your digital transformation?
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to digital transformation. If you’re looking for more guidance or inspiration, download our free guide and take the first step toward transforming the way you deliver care.
