With the digital switchover in progress, it’s essential housing providers ensure their warden call services meet the demands of the new digital network. But what are the key factors to consider when upgrading your existing systems?
Your warden call services play a vital role in the daily lives of the people living in your properties. If your systems are still using analogue equipment, however, there’s a risk you’re already experiencing compatibility issues with the digital network, which is currently being rolled out across the UK.
There’s a pressing need to upgrade – but it can be tricky to pick your way through the available products.
In this blog post, we explore three fundamental elements to consider, so you can feel confident in choosing the safest, most resilient and future-proofed digital warden call system.
What is end to end digital – and what advantages does this offer?
Manufacturers have approached digital telecare in two ways:
1. By developing new end to end digital systems
These are specifically designed for the digital network and fully digital from end to end. This means the telecare alarm call is sent as a digital signal from when the end user presses the alarm button on their telecare device to when this is received at the monitoring centre.
2. By adapting robust, existing analogue systems
These incorporate an analogue to digital converter, which means the alarm call is still sent as an analogue signal for part of its journey.
The distinction is important because an end to end digital system offers several critical advantages. These include:
– speed of connection and quality of the call
– a more reliable service
– greater functionality
For example, end to end digital systems have no limits on the number of alarm calls made off site at the same time. This means there’s no call queuing, so every resident can receive the support they require in an emergency, without delay.
End to end digital also allows in-depth insights into the health of the system. Telecare devices send a regular signal (or ‘heartbeat’) to the system. This allows for notifications on the status of each device and staff can also proactively check for faults, which avoids unnoticed downtime, streamlines maintenance and improves customer experience.
Ask your manufacturer: Is the system digital end to end or is the alarm call initially sent as an analogue signal?
How do digital warden call systems manage data security?
Effective data security is crucial in today’s world. Digital warden call systems may handle this in one of two ways, using either:
– a Virtual Private Network (VPN), or
– Transport Layer Security (TLS)
VPNs were first introduced back in the late 1990s. This means they are widely understood and provisioned. However, there are also limitations to using a VPN to secure data. As it’s a private network, it needs to be owned and maintained with the ongoing support of IT teams. There are also scalability restraints, with each VPN only able to support a small number of sites.
TLS is a newer method for managing data security. It’s an important standard security protocol that works by adding a layer of code to the messages, making it near impossible to decipher. As a result, it’s widely used across industries such as banking, finance, healthcare and IT. It has the advantage of unlimited scale and, as it’s an encryption rather than a network, it doesn’t require IT maintenance.
Ask your manufacturer: Is data security managed using a VPN or the TLS security protocol?
Future-proofing your digital warden call systems
Digital technology is becoming the new industry standard and it’s essential housing providers keep pace with this.
As we move into a digital environment, it will be challenging to obtain and maintain components for systems that rely on analogue technology, even in part. Ultimately, these will become obsolete and need to be upgraded.
End to end digital systems, on the other hand, can adapt as technology evolves or your needs change. This offers greater longevity and flexibility, with more options for scaling and integrating your systems.
Ask your manufacturer: Is the system future proof or does it rely on older analogue technology?
Helping you make informed decisions
As you upgrade your warden call systems during the digital switchover, there are three key elements to keep in mind:
– choose a true end to end digital warden call system vs one based on older analogue technology
– ensure robust data security
– select a system that is future proof and can adapt to your evolving needs
These factors will enable you to provide the safest, most secure, and most reliable digital warden call service – enhancing the wellbeing of your customers, today and in the future.
Our goal at Appello is to provide all the facts on the digital phone switchover, so you can make decisions with confidence. Take a look at our latest video: What to look for in a digital warden call system, for further information. Or talk to us about your next steps for a pain-free transition to digital telecare.
