As the countdown to the Digital Switchover in the UK ticks closer to 2025, concerns loom large for various sectors reliant on analogue networks. Alarm response centers, telecare providers, and sheltered housing schemes are among those bracing for the impending transition. Despite the challenges, Swedish-based cloud-native SaaS company Skyresponse, in collaboration with our technology partner iotcomms.io, aims to leverage our extensive experience to guide UK stakeholders through this transformative journey.
In our recent webinar ”Analogue to Digital Alarm Management – Navigating the UK 2025 Switchover”, Anders Gränsmark from Skyresponse shared his insights into the Digital Switchover and offered practical solutions to navigate the transition effectively. Here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways:
Why do two Swedish companies hold a webinar focusing on the UK switch over?
Anders highlighted that Skyresponse and iotcomms.io, coming from the Nordic region where digitalisation has long been embraced, recognise the urgent need for a paradigm shift within the care service provision globally. With a wealth of experience in digital alarm management and communication, their joint webinar aimed to equip UK stakeholders with the tools and knowledge necessary for a seamless transition.
Understanding Alarm Management vs. Alarm communication
Anders clarifies the difference between alarm management and alarm communication. While alarm management encompasses receiving, reacting, and routing alarms, it also involves understanding and adapting to changing care service dynamics. On the other hand, alarm communication focuses on establishing end-to-end communication between devices and alarm receiving centres.
“Very simplified, at Skyresponse, we say that alarm management is the ability to receive, react and route any type of alarm. But it’s also managing, understanding and supporting change of care services, whether its for independent, assisted or nursing home alarm management. It’s also understanding and making sure that service users get the right type of assistance at the right time – all the way from predictive and preventing, to analysing and understanding behaviour of all aspects included when an alarm is sent.”
The advantages of cloud-based services
The discussion delved into the benefits of cloud-based services over traditional installations. Anders and the team emphasized the scalability, flexibility, and resilience inherent in native cloud solutions. With infrastructure provided by tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, cloud-based services offer unparalleled efficiency and security, essential for the demands of modern alarm management.
“The speed of new services, amount of human resources and the capacity of the large public cloud service providers makes it almost impossible to keep up with. The use of their infrastructure- and microservices gives companies like us greater possibilities to focus on developing our software instead of adding resources developing the underlying infrastructure services that is needed. Overall, we believe using a native cloud solution reduces the risk, increases the efficiency, and helps us to continuously develop and deliver a better software to the market.”
Anders also explained that cloud-based alarm services are beneficial because they can meet the new demand, where people want what they want, when they want it. And it is important that a solution can meet the needs of a changing society. Having cloud-based solutions will make sure you have the ability to both develop your services to on-going needs, and make sure you stay relevant on the market, even in the future. This will result in users feeling safe with your service to adopt new technologies, Anders explains.
Navigating the new challenges
Anders addressed the critical challenges posed by the Digital Switchover, including the need for equipment upgrades, compatibility concerns, and the looming deadline.
The new challenges that come with the digital switchover are:
- Need for different kind of resources and competences, more IT-focus, change in strategy and new types of services to the market.
- It changes the way we work – and it affects every level in the service delivered. Staff on site, for example nurses, needs to adapt to new ways of working, same for operators in the ARC, scheme managers, business developers, sales resources and so on. Basically, everything is affected in one way or another.
- New type of business models, the whole market is moving from a traditional capex to a more opex based model. Licenses, sim cards, support-services etc. Software and recurring cost/revenue becomes a part of the daily operations and delivery.
With the entire analogue network set to be switched off in the UK in 2025, there's no room for complacency. And Anders highlighted the importance of proactive planning to mitigate risks and ensure a smooth transition.
“The sooner you accept and realize that it will happen – the faster you will be able to plan for it and make sure you have a plan for execution when the time actually comes.”
Preparing for the future
Despite the challenges, Anders remained optimistic about the future of digitalization in care services. He emphasized the need for strategic adaptation, highlighting the potential for streamlining operations, reducing costs, and enhancing safety through digital transformation.
“The possibilities are almost endless. With digitalisation, we’ve seen so many benefits, on so many levels and in so many industries. It happens all around the world in everything we do and with Telecare going digital we’re able to improve the lives for the service users, in so many ways.”
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