The theory of ‘competitiveness of backwardness’ can help revolutionise UK social care with cost-effective, innovative solutions. Learn how this unique perspective could drive digital transformation.
Late to the game, but ready to leap
The ‘competitiveness of backwardness’ theory (Gerschenkron 1962) suggests that late adopters of technology can skip earlier challenges and jump straight to modern, efficient solutions. This concept can apply beyond economics. It’s a way to tackle societal issues.
In this blog, I’ll look at how the UK’s social care system, often seen as the underfunded cousin of healthcare, could use its slower adoption of technology as a springboard to leap into the digital age.
The growing technology gap between healthcare and social care
Health and social care in the UK are closely connected, but they often work separately. While the NHS provides medical care, social care helps with daily activities like mobility and personal care. However, social care gets less funding and attention, especially when it comes to technology. Healthcare has advanced with digital solutions like patient records and telemedicine, but social care is still struggling with outdated systems, limited resources and a growing digital gap.
Social care in the UK may be behind on digital investment – but that also means it has the advantage of being less tied down by legacy systems and expensive infrastructure. Like other sectors and countries that have skipped steps and embraced modern tools directly, social care has the chance to leapfrog traditional digital transformation models. The following examples show how starting late can actually be an advantage, if we take the right approach.
Leapfrogging technology: India’s mobile revolution
India skipped the costly rollout of landline infrastructure and went straight to mobile phones. By 2023, over 85% of adults had mobile phones and 80% of households had internet access.
Key advantages:
- cost-effective infrastructure: Mobile networks were cheaper and quicker to deploy, especially in rural areas.
- rapid innovation: The country swiftly adopted 3G, 4G and 5G technologies.
- social impact: Mobile access enabled services like telemedicine and mobile banking, boosting financial inclusion and healthcare access.
Another example: Kenya’s mobile banking boom
In Kenya, limited access to traditional banks didn’t hinder financial progress. Instead, the country leapfrogged brick-and-mortar banking altogether with the rise of M-Pesa, a mobile money platform launched in 2007.
Why it worked:
- minimal legacy infrastructure: With fewer established banks and systems, there was less resistance to new models.
- mobile-first culture: Most Kenyans already used mobile phones, making it easy to adopt text-based banking services.
- wider impact: M-Pesa allowed millions to save, borrow, and transact securely, especially in remote areas , without needing a formal bank account.
5 ways social care can get ahead
Here are 5 ways social care could lead, not lag, in digital transformation.
1. Mobile-first access for social care workers
Care workers are often on the move. Visiting homes, coordinating with families, or updating care notes between appointments. Unlike clinical staff, they typically don’t work from desktops or rely on static systems.
By designing mobile-first apps that prioritise offline functionality, quick data input (such as voice notes or dropdowns), and integration with calendars or maps, we can streamline essential tasks like:
- Logging visits and observations in real time
- Accessing care plans on the go
- Communicating securely with colleagues and managers
2. Affordable wearable technology
A £20 smartwatch may sound basic, but today’s budget wearables can track steps, heart rate, sleep patterns, and even GPS location. This opens up opportunities for real-time monitoring of vulnerable individuals without clinical-grade equipment or over-regulation.
For example:
- Step count and movement alerts can help spot changes in mobility
- Heart rate anomalies could trigger early interventions
- Location tracking may support those at risk of wandering
Used in combination with lightweight dashboards, carers could be alerted to concerning patterns, and families kept informed without needing costly remote monitoring setups.
3. Leapfrogging to AI-powered solutions
Rather than replicating complex hospital data infrastructure, social care can jump directly to AI-powered platforms that analyse unstructured data from notes, voice entries, or messaging apps.
Large Language Models (LLMs) can be adapted for social care.
This could mean:
- Summarising daily care notes into key concerns
- Spotting early signs of decline from fragmented records
- Recommending interventions based on similar historic cases
All without needing an in-house data science team and with options to deploy securely using privacy-first models on cloud infrastructure.
4. Harnessing the power of unpaid caregivers
Around 5.7 million unpaid carers in the UK support relatives and friends, yet most operate without access to basic care management tools.
Simple digital tools such as shared calendars, symptom trackers, or even WhatsApp-style group updates could:
- Help unpaid carers coordinate care with professionals
- Enable them to record and share key insights
- Provide automated guidance or reassurance (e.g. AI chat for common questions)
5. Distributed care records
Unlike NHS care, where centralised Electronic Health Records dominate, social care can explore modular, distributed systems. Cloud platforms like Google Cloud, Azure, or AWS HealthLake offer flexible, scalable options that:
- Avoid the need for large, upfront system procurement
- Let councils or providers add features incrementally
- Support secure access for multi-agency teams, families, and care workers
This approach also aligns with open standards and data portability, making it easier to connect with NHS systems in future.
A path forward for social care
Social care’s current challenges offer an opportunity for rapid progress. By adopting innovative, affordable and scalable technologies, it can skip outdated systems and embrace a digitally advanced future. Doing this will take bold thinking and cross-sector collaboration.
If you’re exploring where to start, take a look at some of the projects we’ve delivered or learn more about how we support health and care teams.
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