ITEC 2026 arrives at a defining moment for the Technology Enabled Care (TEC) sector. The conversation is no longer about whether digital transformation is coming - it is about how safely, quickly, and sustainably providers can navigate it while protecting vulnerable service users and maintaining operational stability.
Across the UK telecare landscape, 2026 is proving to be the year where strategy meets operational reality.
The digital switchover is now an operational challenge, not a future concept
With the retirement of the legacy analogue phone network approaching, most providers are deep into transition programmes. Yet the real pressure is not the deadline itself — it is the complexity created by mixed estates, evolving device behaviour, and increased service expectations.
Telecare teams are dealing with:
- Analogue and digital devices co-existing across customer bases
- Compatibility and signalling assurance challenges
- Rising installation, testing, and support overheads
- Increased anxiety from service users and families
Digital migration is not simply a device refresh. It is a fundamental shift in how services are delivered, supported, and safeguarded.
Resilience has become central to service design
Traditional telecare models relied heavily on infrastructure that behaved predictably during outages. Digital environments introduce new dependencies — particularly around power and IP connectivity.
Providers must now operationalise scenarios that were previously edge cases:
- Home broadband or router failures
- Local power interruptions
- Network latency or packet loss
- Battery management across multiple device types
This is forcing organisations to rethink resilience, customer guidance, and incident management processes.
Testing and assurance demands are intensifying
One of the least visible but most resource-intensive challenges is structured testing. Device behaviour over digital networks cannot be assumed; it must be validated under real-world conditions.
Operational questions now include:
- Does the device perform reliably across network variations?
- Are installers following consistent validation procedures?
- Can assurance evidence be demonstrated to commissioners?
- How are exceptions and failures managed at scale?
Without standardised workflows, providers risk inconsistent outcomes and rising operational friction.
Telecare is increasingly part of a broader care ecosystem
The sector is evolving beyond standalone alarm services. Telecare now intersects with remote monitoring, preventative care models, and digitally enabled service pathways.
This shift introduces new operational demands:
- Integration with external systems and stakeholders
- Clear ownership of alerts, data, and escalation
- Cross-organisation workflow coordination
- Greater expectations around reporting and insight
The challenge is no longer just technical integration - it is operational alignment.
Workforce pressures are rising alongside technical complexity
Digital telecare environments require broader skill sets. Field teams must understand networking basics. Monitoring teams must interpret more varied device behaviours. Support teams must handle connectivity-related queries.
Providers are navigating:
- Skills gaps in IP and connectivity troubleshooting
- Increased training and onboarding demands
- Higher service desk and support volumes
- Resource constraints during migration peaks
People, not technology, often become the limiting factor.
Funding constraints complicate transformation programmes
Digital transition carries unavoidable cost implications - devices, connectivity, logistics, testing, training, and platform evolution. Yet funding models and procurement cycles do not always align with technical urgency.
This tension creates operational risk:
- Delayed replacements or partial migrations
- Extended reliance on legacy technologies
- Budget pressures on already stretched services
- Difficult prioritisation decisions
Data protection and governance expectations continue to rise
Telecare providers operate within a highly sensitive data environment. As services become more connected, governance requirements expand.
- Operational considerations now include:
- Data sharing controls and auditability
- Supplier and platform assurance
- Access management and security models
- Incident response readiness
Compliance is no longer a back-office function - it is operationally embedded.
Communication and trust remain critical success factors
Even perfectly engineered migrations can fail from a service perspective if communication is unclear or poorly timed. Providers must manage perception, confidence, and reassurance throughout periods of change.
This introduces a human-centred operational challenge:
- Supporting vulnerable users through transition
- Reducing confusion around digital services
- Managing inbound contact surges
- Protecting provider reputation
Why these challenges matter at ITEC 2026
ITEC has always been about more than technology. It is about delivering safe, reliable, person-centred care through technology and the operational realities of 2026 highlight why that distinction matters.
The organisations that succeed this year are typically those that:
- Treat digital migration as a structured operational programme
- Prioritise resilience and service continuity
- Standardise testing and deployment processes
- Strengthen workforce capability
- Embed governance and security into everyday operations
Let’s talk at ITEC 2026
If these challenges resonate with your organisation, you are not alone. Providers across the sector are facing similar pressures, risks, and transformation demands.
At ITEC 2026, Stand 22, we’ll be discussing how telecare providers can:
- Reduce migration risk and operational disruption
- Improve resilience and service reliability
- Simplify device management and workflows
- Strengthen security and governance
- Create scalable digital service models
Whether you are early in your transition or managing a complex digital estate, we would welcome the opportunity to exchange insight and experience.
Meet us at Stand 22.
