How MedTech can benefit from low-code technology

15 May 2024 Consultancy.eu

The use of low-code technology offers promising opportunities for every conceivable sector. Mark van Meggelen from consulting firm IG&H explains what low-code adoption can offer MedTech companies in particular.

MedTech companies have always been driven by innovations. Although the industry has hardware innovation at the core of its existence, a shift to providing more and more software-based solutions and services has emerged over the past decade.

For example, MedTech companies are increasingly providing optimization services to improve their customers’ workflow and administrative processes, such as for inventory management of spare parts or even optimizing the use of medical devices and deployment in patient care.

How MedTech can benefit from low-code technology

Low-code software can be seen as a major driver in facilitating the business model shift from products to services.

Low-code technology enables application development with minimal coding, thus making it easier to build applications. It uses visual elements, making the development of user interfaces much more intuitive. This also has a positive impact on the customer experience. The technology’s ease of use translates into flexibility and reusability for work processes. This provides businesses, including MedTech companies, with speed and agility – improving time to deployment.

Three reasons how MedTech companies can extract value from using low-code technology:

1. Improve internal processes
Legacy software systems are not always user-friendly for employees. For example, why should hospital staff spend valuable time clicking through a planning system to find an available outpatient-room? Internal operational efficiency can be increased by moving from fragmented IT landscapes to enterprise-wide technology complemented by low-code.

For instance, the front-end experience for employees can be optimized while complex back-office ERP processes remain intact. This translates into several quick wins for MedTech companies such as the reduced need for training because certain processes are standardized. It also saves time because the system is more user-friendly and creates breathing room for incremental innovation and improvements.

2. Unburden healthcare staff and benefit patients
Compounding the problem of staff shortages in healthcare, personnel must also treat more patients. With the capabilities of low-code software platforms, the staff can focus more on providing care to patients because they do not spend unnecessary time administering cumbersome legacy systems which are often not user-friendly.

Low-code solutions can also benefit patients. For those who use medical devices, such as glucose meters for diabetes patients, low-code allows healthcare providers to securely capture and visualize the data generated from these devices remotely. Subsequently, providers can have a data-driven dialogue with their patients and provide appropriate digital health services. This translates into personalized triage with better and more timely interaction between healthcare providers and patients.

Ultimately, it gives the patient more control over desired support and increases self-management to cope with a chronic condition.

3. Optimize the customer service experience
The medical device market is predicted to experience revenue growth of over 4% in the Netherlands between 2023 and 2027. In this regard, a good customer experience is becoming increasingly important, including for parties purchasing MedTech devices.

Low-code offers opportunities to rethink customer services. A company may primarily focus on selling technology to customers, potentially sending updates about the product by e-mail afterward. Alternatively, a low-code mobile application can improve a hospital's client experience: Consider offering an application that provides access to technical support, troubleshooting and education in a retail-like experience.

The benefits include increased sales potential, smarter use of data, improved productivity and a smoother, more comprehensive customer experience. It's a win-win for both MedTech companies and hospitals.

Low-code technology is easy to integrate with other systems and databases. Moreover, companies don't have to wait for improvements in legacy systems. Rather, they can easily make improvements in the user experience and functionalities. This allows MedTech companies to truly work in an Agile way, making continuous product increments over time.

Continuous innovation

While cost savings and increased flexibility are the more obvious benefits, the greater innovation potential with low-code on top of / next to an ERP represents a true opportunity. A flexible low-code strategy makes it easier to iterate. This enables faster responses to changing business requirements and adapting to employee needs or customer expectations. By doing so, MedTech can tap into the innovation potential and create new solutions without relying heavily on legacy IT.

Finally, a low-code platform allows organizations to easily adapt and incorporate new or relevant technologies such as Generative AI or Robotics Process Automation. This can help streamline operations, reduce labor costs and increase efficiency.

With the ability to unlock innovation and speed, low-code technology can help improve healthcare delivery and efficiency. Low-code is a gateway to digital transformation, helping healthcare become a better place.

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