Keeping technology at the heart of our purpose

In 1967, Bupa’s head office became the home of an early Mainframe Computer. It?was so big it took up two floors when it was first installed.

A decade later, in 1976, Bupa acquired the UK’s first full body scanner. This was another?important moment for us, as we’d only started providing healthcare a few years earlier. CT scanning technology has of course since been adopted worldwide, saving countless lives through clearer initial diagnosis, and Bupa recognised its immense value as we became one of its pioneers in the UK.

This month, Bupa is celebrating a big milestone: 75 years of caring for customers. From taking leaps of faith with medical equipment like CT scanners, to the information systems we use (albeit with hardware that is a bit smaller these days!), to video consultations with GPs and other healthcare professionals, I’ve been reflecting on how technology has evolved since the British United Provident Association was formed in 1947.?

Our ambition to be the world’s most customer-centric healthcare company demonstrates our commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences. Digital health services have a major role to play in this, like Blua, our digital health proposition initially pioneered in our Spanish business, Sanitas. We have now enabled over three quarters of a million video consultations since?launch. Video consultations are just the beginning of what we think of as connected health, providing customers with additional services such as health coaching and chronic disease management.

One of our priorities is for every Bupa business to have a digital health offering and we’re making progress rolling these out across the globe. Last year we launched or scaled digital health solutions in the UK, Spain, Australia, Poland, Hong Kong, Mexico, Brazil, and Chile, making it easier for customers to access healthcare in their own time, on their own terms – and lowering our carbon emissions.

As we look towards an increasingly digital future, we know that continuing to develop our peoples’ digital skills is crucial. Our Digital Skills Academy is focused on building those core capabilities and our upcoming global hackathon in June will give colleagues an opportunity to further strengthen their digital muscles and play their part in our transformation.

As we commemorate 75 years of caring, it’s clear to me now, more than ever that technology is at the heart of delivering on our purpose – helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world.?