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Buy or build: 6 advantages of buying a white-label digital healthcare solution

The healthcare industry is rapidly evolving and adapting to modern technologies. One of the most significant advancements is the rise of digital service solutions. Healthcare providers can now offer telemedicine, patient management systems, and other digital services that improve patient care and streamline operations. However, deciding whether to buy or build a digital service solution can be a challenging decision, especially for smaller healthcare providers.

BeeHealthy’s parent company, Mehiläinen, is one of the largest privately owned healthcare providers in Europe and decided already +10 years ago to invest in digital services. Being a frontrunner, Mehiläinen had no choice but to build the platform themselves. In 2019, Mehiläinen started providing their platform to other healthcare providers as a white-label SAAS so that other healthcare providers did not have to go through the same burdensome journey.

While building a solution from scratch might seem like a more customised and flexible option, buying a white-label digital service solution offers several advantages. White-label digital service solutions are pre-built software applications that are designed to be customised and rebranded by businesses. Essentially, these solutions provide the underlying technology and infrastructure for a particular service, while businesses can apply their own branding, features, and functionality on top. Here are some advantages of buying a white-label digital service solution.

1. Shorter time to market

Building a digital service solution from scratch can take months or even years of development, testing, and deployment. By contrast, white-label solutions are pre-built and ready to be customised and launched quickly. This can significantly reduce the time to market, allowing businesses to start providing their services to customers sooner.  

2. Lower costs

Developing a digital service solution from scratch can be a costly endeavour, requiring a significant investment in software development, infrastructure, and resources. White-label solutions, on the other hand, are typically more cost-effective, as they eliminate many of the development costs associated with building a solution from scratch. Businesses can leverage the pre-built infrastructure and technology of a white-label solution to reduce costs and achieve a faster return on investment.  Also developing new features and modules is cheaper as multiple clients share the costs.  

3. Proven technology 

White-label solutions are developed and maintained by experienced technology providers who have a track record of success. By purchasing a white-label solution, businesses can leverage the expertise and technology of a proven solution provider, reducing the risk of developing and deploying a solution that may not meet their needs. White-label solutions also often come with technical support, maintenance, and updates, ensuring that the technology stays up to date and reliable.  

4. Customisation 

One of the most significant advantages of white-label solutions is the ability to customise the solution to meet specific business needs. White-label solutions are designed to be flexible and can be customised to include branding, features, and functionality that align with a business’s unique requirements. This level of customisation allows businesses to differentiate themselves from their competitors, providing a unique service experience that can drive customer loyalty and retention. 

5. Scalability 

As businesses grow and evolve, their digital service needs may also change. Building a digital solution from scratch can limit a business’s ability to scale and adapt to changing market conditions. White-label solutions, on the other hand, are designed to be scalable and can accommodate changing business needs over time. This scalability allows businesses to expand their services and reach new markets without the need for significant redevelopment or re-implementation. 

6. Access to expertise and insights 

Purchasing a white-label digital service solution can provide healthcare providers with access to the expertise and insights of experienced technology providers in digital healthcare. This can include best practices for telemedicine implementation, insights into patient engagement and user experience, and guidance on regulatory compliance. By leveraging this expertise, healthcare providers can make informed decisions and improve the overall effectiveness of their telemedicine services. 

In conclusion, buying a white-label digital service solution offers several advantages over building a solution from scratch. It allows businesses to deliver exceptional customer experiences and grow their businesses, without the burden and risk of developing a solution from scratch.  

BeeHealthy’s extensively tested platform for patient engagement is employed by prominent healthcare providers across 10 countries, making it well-equipped to facilitate your digital transformation. 

Interested in seeing the BeeHealthy platform in action? Request a demo.

Immediate access and convenience – patients love Digital Clinic over traditional visits

In Finland, the traditional and most preferred model to seek help for illnesses and other health issues is to have a face-to-face appointment with a medical doctor at a health clinic. Therefore, patients do not easily or self-evidently think that digital chat-based appointments are a suitable solution for them. Willingness to use digital chat-based appointments is higher in younger people whereas older age groups are more reluctant in adopting digital services. For comparison, 27 % of Finns between 15-34 years of age used chat-based appointments in 2020 whereas only 5 % of those older than 55 did that. 

However, the COVID-19 pandemic created a spike in the demand of digital health care services. Then, daily consultations jumped up from 500 to 6000, which shows that Digital Clinic, fully digital healthcare platform for patients and healthcare providers developed by Mehiläinen, became a critical enabler to health care during the pandemic. Since then, Digital Clinic visits have grown exponentially as users have seen the fast, efficient and easy-access service it offers.  

Small, urgent or unsure medical needs, such as prescription renewal or referrals, are common reasons for seeking medical help through Digital Clinic. Digital Clinic allows patients to check whether they need medical help or a face-to-face appointment. Some illnesses, for example urinary tract infection, have symptoms that make it difficult or even impossible to go to a health clinic. In these cases, Digital Clinic is a very appreciated, fast solution.

Quick access to treatment

74 % of Finns rate speed of service as the most important factor when choosing their health care provider. When in need of medical help, patients want to get the appointment at their earliest convenience. Digital Clinic has an advantage over the traditional solution because patients can access medical help within minutes or even seconds without leaving their home, independent of time and place. 

In addition to speed of service, patients don’t want to bend on quality of service; medical expertise, confidence-inspiring interaction and politeness are elements of high-quality service patients expect. Studies indicate that patients’ expectations towards a chat appointment are the same as towards a face-to-face appointment. 

From the patient’s perspective, the most prominent advantage of Digital Clinic is the fact that the clinic offers fast 24/7 access to medical help without leaving their home. When patients visit Digital Clinic with medical needs that can be treated at the clinic, their feedback is positive and genuinely positively surprised. This occurs especially after their first visit or when critically urgent needs could be solved. These positive experiences typically inspire them to recommend the clinic to their circle of friends and acquaintances. Digital Clinic has revolutionised the way health care is provided and how patients more and more perceive it as their first place to seek medical help.

Digital Clinic
A fully digital healthcare platform developed by Mehiläinen provided for both healthcare providers and patients. Digital Clinic enables agile work for health care professionals and enables quick and easy access to patients in matters related to their health. In Digital Clinic, patients are able to get prescriptions and referrals quickly, find a professional nearby and reach out to health care professionals through chat in minutes. Digital Clinic offers quick, accessible and affordable health care.

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