CareLink

A seamless digital upgrade experience for vulnerable telecare users

Product Design

Service Design

Concept Design

Nov 18, 2024

Image mockup of three onboarding screens for the care link app

OVERVIEW

The story behind the UK's telephone line evolution

The story behind the UK's telephone line evolution

The story behind the UK's telephone line evolution

The public switched telephone network (PSTN)

The challenge

As a design leader at BT Group, I led a design team to work towards solving a time sensitive connectivity issues of informing vulnerable telecare customers about the transformation of the UK’s outdated public switched telephone network (PSTN) into a fully digital, IP-based system by 2025.

This wasn’t just a technical upgrade—it was a human-centered design challenge, requiring thoughtful decisions to address user needs, navigate complex team dynamics, and adapt to unexpected roadblocks like legacy dependencies and resistance to change.

In this case study, I’ll share how design thinking and collaboration shaped my approach to delivering this critical digital upgrade system.

Image of the care link app working with a smart watch worn on an elderly woman
Image of the care link app working with a smart watch worn on an elderly woman
Image of the care link app working with a smart watch worn on an elderly woman

How I tackled this challenge

Vulnerable telecare customers at risk

Vulnerable telecare customers at risk

Realising safety & awareness during the transition was the key to the migration to digital internet lines

The digital upgrade introduced significant risks for vulnerable customers, including the elderly and disabled, who rely on analog lines for critical telecare services like pendant alarms and lifeline monitors. Recognising the potential impact on their safety, I focused on designing solutions to ensure uninterrupted connections during the UK-wide transition.

To understand the full scope, I spoke directly to telecare users and engaged with insurance companies like Aviva and AIG to learn what steps they were taking for the migration. To my surprise, many were doing very little or had little knowledge about the risks. This realisation gave me a deep sense of responsibility to ensure these customers wouldn’t lose access to life-saving services, as the threat of losing connectivity could have life-threatening consequences.

Elderly man pressing a telecare pendant alarm.
Elderly man pressing a telecare pendant alarm.
Elderly man pressing a telecare pendant alarm.

Design approach

Stakeholder systems based networking

Stakeholder systems based networking

When tackling the challenge of ensuring seamless connectivity for telecare users, I knew it was crucial to collaborate closely with both technical and business stakeholders.

CareLink’s UX was developed alongside technical architects to demonstrate the feasibility of integrating new APIs with BT Openreach’s network. This collaboration helped build a catalog of compatible telecare devices within BT Business’s backend system, ensuring secure buy-in from key stakeholders.

One key decision I made was focusing on CareLink’s API innovation, allowing telecare customers to easily check if they required an engineer visit to secure their connectivity. The simplicity of this approach not only met user needs but also streamlined the process for both users and support teams.

This diagram outlines how the new APIs would be developed, ensuring that the telecare device checker could function smoothly, which was crucial for maintaining uninterrupted service during the UK-wide network upgrade.

Snippet of the API system diagram for care link
Snippet of the API system diagram for care link
Snippet of the API system diagram for care link

SOLUTION

Introducing CareLink

Introducing CareLink

A telecare upgrade experience that supports the vulnerable, their families and aids agent support.

A user-friendly in-app experience was designed to support vulnerable broadband customers through a critical digital line upgrade. The solution includes:

  1. Home Screen Alert - A prominent widget informs users about the migration and its implications.

  2. Onboarding Explainer - A clear guide walks users through the upgrade process.

  3. Device Checker - API-powered checks ensure device compatibility.

  4. Engineer Booking - Non-compatible devices trigger an option to schedule an engineer visit.

  5. Confirmation - Engineer appointments are confirmed, with follow-up steps like recycling old devices introduced.

This streamlined approach ensures a seamless and supportive user experience.

Five phone screens showcasing Care Link app features
Five phone screens showcasing Care Link app features
Five phone screens showcasing Care Link app features
Woman viewing her CareLink app with an engineering appointment date
Woman viewing her CareLink app with an engineering appointment date
Woman viewing her CareLink app with an engineering appointment date
BT agent viewing a customer's telecare migration alert.
BT agent viewing a customer's telecare migration alert.
BT agent viewing a customer's telecare migration alert.

Keeping our vulnerable customers connected and protecting their safety is critical as we create new digital products and experiences.

Keeping our vulnerable customers connected and protecting their safety is critical as we create new digital products and experiences.

Tim Carter, BT Design Lead


RESULT

Enhanced agent support & prioritised care

Enhanced agent support & prioritised care

Enhanced agent support & prioritised care

CareLink is currently transforming the agent desktop by introducing the ability to tag and categorise vulnerable customers, enabling BT agents to deliver more personalised support. This development is streamlining workflows and laying the foundation for a smoother transition to digital landlines, ultimately enhancing future services for both residential and business customers.

CareLink is currently transforming the agent desktop by introducing the ability to tag and categorise vulnerable customers, enabling BT agents to deliver more personalised support. This development is streamlining workflows and laying the foundation for a smoother transition to digital landlines, ultimately enhancing future services for both residential and business customers.

1.8M

1.8M

1.8M

Will be impacted by this positive UX change

1k

1k

1k

Visitors every month

MORE WORK