Kelly Feist is managing director at Ascom Americas.
Many of us have seen and experienced some of the sweeping digital transformations made in healthcare in the past two years. It was the perfect convergence of the capabilities of technology being available at the right time and the environmental constraints of Covid-19 forcing the innovation to happen. These kinds of advancements don’t usually happen so quickly, and going into 2022, I see a return to a more iterative innovation as we approach year three of the pandemic.
Don’t get me wrong: Iterative innovation is necessary and important, even though it may not make the same headlines as these more dramatic shifts to telehealth and contactless operations. After all, it’s only through iteration that the groundbreaking moments happen.
1. Supply Chain: Yes, you read correctly. While supply chain constraints are challenging in nearly every industry to deliver goods and services, this constraint is creating innovation. I tell my team, "Let’s focus on shoring up our processes, forecasting and operations to mediate the supply chain challenges, but let’s also focus on what we can deliver that’s not dependent upon component parts – software and services." Software can maximize the effectiveness of existing customer hardware in place. Workflows can be optimized to create new capabilities and efficiencies. Software drives recurring revenue, and there are no supply chain constraints on delivering software.
We’re not alone. Others are continuing to evolve the hardware-based, selling-in-boxes model to one that is much more solutions-focused (hardware, software and services combined) to deliver an integrated experience focused on outcomes important to the business being served. When we focus on driving repeatable, scalable outcomes and quantify value based on ROI, we enter a much more strategic relationship with our customers. We become their trusted advisor when this happens, and this is certainly the business I want to be in. While supply chain issues will continue to be a challenge in 2022, do not underestimate the value of moving to a solutions-provider mindset and model. I think you’ll find creativity in stretching to come up with new solutions that move past legacy hardware-first initiatives.
2. Equity In Care: The pandemic shone a spotlight on the inequities evident in the delivery of healthcare in the U.S. and in other places around the world. We see the rate of vaccination correlates with the GDP of nations, and there’s widespread recognition in the industry that more must be done. This fourth industrial revolution spurred by technology could be the most inclusive, if we structure our systems with inclusivity and equity in mind.
