Digital ‘critical for future success’ in the housing sector
Growing awareness of the 2025 digital switchover driving transformation but many still ‘not ready’ despite risks associated with analogue telecare solutions
While the majority (93%) of housing providers believe that digital will be ‘critical for future success’, many (44%) are not yet ready for transformation, according to a major new industry whitepaper.
According to research carried out by Appello, a leading provider of technology enabled care solutions, in collaboration with the Housing LIN, 86% of housing providers acknowledge the 2025 analogue to digital switchover, which signals a growing industry awareness is driving transformation (the number of housing providers planning for digital has increased from 28% in 2016 to 40% in 2018), yet the sector still shows some resistance.
The report signals why this might be the case, with almost 12% stating that their current telecare provider is unable to monitor digital, highlighting a gap in the market for end-to-end digital solutions providers. Further to this 9% of housing providers still have no digital plan in place; 7% are not aware of digital solutions; and almost 7% do not see digital as part of their current strategy.
The report is the second in a series of comprehensive reports by Appello exploring digital transformation in the housing sector and focuses on the impact of the 2025 analogue telephony switch-off and its impact on telecare services in the sector. In addition, it looks at the broader drivers and expected outcomes of digital and how prepared the industry is today versus 2016, when the initial report was released.
Tim Barclay, CEO at Appello says “This latest report highlights the risks to residents currently using analogue systems. As the telecoms infrastructure transitions to digital, we’re already witnessing an increase in Telecare call failures year-on-year and a decline in service. Recent research by the TSA found a 7.5 percent analogue first-time call failure rate, and we have seen that exceed 10% in some places.”
“With this report we aim to understand where there are obstacles to digital advancement, from budgetary constraints to contractual obligations. At Appello we have seen so many positives for those housing providers who have made the transition away from analogue and are keen to look at why and how to drive digital adoption more widely in the housing sector.”