What It Means to Be Purpose-Built
In a world where specialization matters, the concept of "purpose-built" technology has gained significant attention and traction, particularly in health and human services. Purpose-built usually refers to founders and developers having deep commitments to an industry and building solutions using their expertise in that field to build a solution that meets a specific need. For a solution to be truly purpose-built, it must have domain specificity, person-centered design, limited customization, and fast implementation. In health and human services, this means placing the unique needs and pain points of clients, workers, and organizations at the core of the development of new technology.
Why Purpose-Built?
Purpose-built solutions, by design, are intended to improve programs, create efficiencies and enhance the user experience for workers and clients. When technology is not purpose-built, it can incite a host of challenges that inhibit these goals. In the public sector, these are challenges that organizations simply cannot afford. Additionally, using solutions that are not built for purpose can cause unexpected costs, limited innovation, and missed opportunities to maximize the return on technology investments. Technology which has not been specifically designed to address an organizations unique needs, comes with far greater risk than reward, resulting in a multitude of challenges which must later be resolved, costing the organization more of their already strained time and resources.
Diona solutions have all been designed specifically for health and human services programs. There have been years of research and development, usability design and testing, and real-life application that has been injected back into the product roadmaps. Using the native capabilities of the devices that people use every day and incorporating health and human services specific features to support programs and operations positions organizations to maximize the potential outcomes.
Breaking Down the Cost of Technology that is Not Purpose-Built
When considering generic technology solutions, there is an inherent cost that is incurred whether that be financial, procedural or cultural.
Inefficiency and Reduced Productivity: One-size-fits-all technology solutions lack features and functionalities that are essential for tasks specific to health and human services operations. This often requires significant customizations, cumbersome workarounds, and additional manual processes, reducing the overall efficiency and productivity that new technology should be able to solve.
Poor User Experience: Generic technology solutions are typically designed for a standard set of functions, making them less intuitive when it comes to completing tasks that are unique to a particular domain. It creates a steep learning curve when trying to apply the technology in industry-specific scenarios resulting in errors, low user satisfaction, and delays in adoption. Employee morale and job satisfaction often suffer, which in turn, impacts retention and recruitment.
Ongoing Costs and Budget Strain: Adapting generic technology to meet specific needs almost always leads to unexpected expenditures, as customization, training, and ongoing technical support require more resources than initially budgeted. Organizations may find themselves investing heavily in workarounds and add-ons, diverting resources and funds from other critical areas.
Limited Innovation and Adaptability: Technology that is not purpose-built may lack the adaptability and features necessary to keep up with evolving needs. As the public sector changes, organizations relying on non-specialized technology often find themselves reacting to changes and falling behind. This is how enterprise solutions end up becoming outdated and difficult to maintain.
The Purpose-Built Difference
Domain Specific: The Foundation of Purpose-Built Technology
At the heart of Diona health and human services solutions is a deep understanding of health and human services programs and operations. All our solutions have been tailored to meet the unique needs, challenges, and complexities of the most critical programs within health and human services. This domain specificity enables us to excel at delivering solutions that are intentionally designed to meet those needs from both the worker and the client perspectives.
This perspective means that Diona solutions address the intricate requirements of the programs ensuring compliance with industry standards, safeguarding sensitive client data, and streamlining workflows. This holistic view means that our solutions are inherently different at addressing the unique needs of health and human services programs.
Person-Centered: A System of Engagement
A critical aspect of purpose-built solutions is the emphasis on the end-user. The person-centered approach requires designing a solution with the users at the forefront, making it intuitive, efficient, and user-friendly.
In health and human services the end user could be a client, a worker, and in some cases the public. Diona solutions offer features that address the various needs of these different user types. For example:
Diona Self Service empowers clients to manage aspects of their case that engage them, provide transparency and build trust. This is achieved through features like scheduling, notifications, and document uploads.
Diona Visits supports workers in the field providing information in moments of need creating efficiency and informing critical decision-making. Features such as maps, automated note-taking, and offline capabilities play a considerable role in maximizing time in the field where the important work is done.
Diona Reporter makes it easy for other stakeholders, such as mandated reporters, to interact with organizations easily and securely. With features such as anytime access, attaching supporting documentation, and providing feedback loops, reporters can rest assured that information is accurately reported and received for the next best action by the organization.
All these stakeholders have different purposes and needs when interacting with health and human services organizations. Diona solutions are purposely designed to address each of their unique needs.
Limited Customization: Significant Configurability
One might assume that purpose-built solutions are inherently inflexible due to their specialization. However, a purpose-built solution is designed to meet most of the needs within its domain without requiring extensive modifications. This limited customization is a deliberate choice to maintain the integrity of the system while still accommodating flexibility through configurations to ensure that the solution meets the organizations specific needs, rather than just industry specific needs.
For example, Diona’s interface offers various solutions to address different sets of needs. It is designed so that stakeholders have a singular experience with the technology while still allowing for configurations to cater to unique requirements without undermining its core functionality. A standardized approach which limits customizations and provides significant configurability is key to being purpose-built. While the system remains highly specialized and efficient for most users, it also acknowledges that some specific adaptations may be necessary.
Faster to Implement: Efficiency in Action
One of the defining features of purpose-built solutions is the speed of implementation. When a solution is purpose-built, it is ready to be deployed rapidly, making it highly efficient for businesses and organizations seeking to solve specific problems quickly. These quick and visible “wins” also go a long way in improving culture by demonstrating a commitment to the workforce and the clients being served.
It is the speed of implementation that is often a crucial factor in decision-making for organizations looking to adopt a purpose-built solution. It allows them to address their challenges promptly and start benefiting from the system's tailored features without a lengthy and resource-intensive setup or development period.
Diona solutions seamlessly integrate with organization data sources for quick returns on investment, streamlining organizational processes and minimizing manual data entry. As a technology and platform agnostic solution, Diona can extend the capabilities of the current systems of record regardless of the age or technology being used.
Purpose-Built for You
Purpose-built solutions offer significant advantages in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, and user satisfaction. As the health and human services space continues to evolve, purpose-built technology is playing an increasingly prominent role in driving innovation and addressing complex challenges faced at the client, worker, and organization level. Diona is here to help. With deep domain expertise and understanding of the specific challenges of individuals and organizations in the public sector, our solutions are built to make an impact fast, and support the critical ongoing work of health and human services organizations across the country.
To learn more about Diona solutions visit us at: Diona Solutions for health and human services program delivery.