The Better Security, Better Care programme (BSBC) commissioned Alma Economics to develop a tool that adult social care providers can use to estimate the indicative return on investment and financial savings from adopting digital technology.

To enable this, we first undertook an evidence review of existing digital technologies such as telecare, and workforce planning software. Then, we developed case studies to evidence the impacts of digital technology adoption in social care, which were subsequently checked through several interviews and a round-table discussion with BSBC stakeholders and adult social care leads. For each case study, we monetised: (i) financial savings and efficiencies; (ii) implementation costs; (iii) wider NHS efficiencies; and (iv) health and wellbeing outcomes for patients.

All results were then aggregated and collated in a user-friendly dashboard, allowing social care providers to change key assumptions such as the number of care workers and technology areas for investment, and tailor results to their setting.