With only a small IT team, the digital transformation has united operations across 30 locations, enhancing sustainable innovation and efficiency simultaneously.
In Singapore, St Luke’s ElderCare (SLEC) operates nursing homes, active ageing centers and senior care centers, having grown from four premises to over 30 locations in the past 25 years, with plans for further expansion.
This steady growth has progressively exposed limitations in its IT infrastructure, which used to rely on 17 disconnected IT systems. It was time to upgrade to a secure, scalable network to support its operations, protect sensitive healthcare data, and enhance experiences for staff, elders, and IT administrators.
The organization required a centralized, cloud-based system to enable innovative care services and maintain efficiency as it expanded. To address these challenges, SLEC implemented a network solution that integrated several technologies, including:
- Wired and wireless access for reliable connectivity
- Wide-area networking to link multiple locations
- Firewall technologies to secure data
- A cloud-based management platform with AI-driven operations
This solution finally chosen by SLEC unified its fragmented systems, providing complete visibility into network performance and user experiences. The AI capabilities proactively detects and resolves issues, reducing downtime and maintenance costs. The centralized platform now allows SLEC’s small IT team to manage the expanding infrastructure efficiently, ensuring scalability for future care centres.
The new network delivered several benefits:
- Improved operational efficiency across all locations
- Seamless connectivity for staff and residents
- Strengthened cybersecurity to protect sensitive data
- Support for innovative services, such as virtual reality for immersive experiences, robotics for geriatric rehabilitation, and a smart transport system for real-time vehicle tracking to optimize elder transportation
These advancements have enhanced care delivery and the well-being of residents while lowering operational costs and network downtime.
SLEC’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr Alan Wong, said: “By modernizing our network, we have transformed how we deliver care — ensuring seamless connectivity, strengthening cybersecurity, and enabling innovative services. This has empowered our caregivers with tools to provide more personalized and efficient care, future-proofing our services.”
According to Perry Sui, Area Vice President (ASEAN, Hong Kong, and Taiwan), Juniper Networks, the incumbent technology vendor: “As Singapore addresses the challenges of an ageing population, we are proud to support SLEC in its transformation… to meet the growing demands of eldercare, by seamlessly scaling its infrastructure. We look forward to continuing our role in enhancing their services, creating a secure, future-ready environment for caregivers, staff, and elders.”
