We talk IoT – The Internet of Things Business Podcast podcast

No app required: The NB-IoT pill dispenser changing medication management in care homes — We Talk IoT #85

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Around 50% of medications are not taken on time. In ageing societies, the consequences range from hospital readmissions to preventable deaths. The costs run into millions of euros every year.

In this episode, Daniel Böber, hardware developer at wirewire, explains how his three-person team tackled this problem with the ANABOX smart. A connected pill dispenser that runs on NB-IoT, requires no Wi-Fi, and is already deployed in nursing homes across Europe. The patient never touches an app. The carer does.

Daniel discusses the deliberate design choice to keep the device analogue-looking and the digital layer invisible to the patient; the regulatory journey through EU MDR Class I certification and pharmacy approval; and what it takes to get a health insurer to add a hardware product to its catalogue. He also reflects honestly on what went wrong, including a full hardware redesign after elderly users couldn't open the compartments, and on wirewire's broader ambition to digitalise everyday objects unobtrusively.

#NB-IoT #SmartHealth #IoT #MedicationManagement #HealthTech #AgeTech #WeTalkIoT

Summary of this week's episode:

01:37 Wirewire and Mission

02:28 Why Doses Get Missed

03:52 Inside the Smart Pillbox

04:59 Why NB IoT Connectivity

06:30 Caregiver App Design

08:41 Patient Alerts and UX

10:31 Real World Rollout

14:16 Costs and Reimbursement

15:24 Break and Sponsor

15:50 Regulatory Approval Journey

17:06 Insurance Listing Explained

18:09 Scaling Across Europe

19:38 Analog Products Made Smart

21:06 Startup Lessons Learned

22:46 What’s Next and Partnerships

24:22 Hardware Advice and Support

 

Show Notes:

 

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