Maren Jervell Lund, Senior Advisor, Innovation Norway UK & Ireland, dives into the next era of care. In this article, Lund encourages leaders to rethink the approach to hospital infrastructure for improved systems and patient outcomes, drawing on the real-life approaches of countries like Norway who are tackling operational inefficiencies head on.
As health systems across Europe strain under mounting operational and financial pressure, attention is turning to a part of the hospital few patients ever see. Beyond the high-profile advances in AI diagnostics and precision medicine, there’s a growing recognition of the quieter systems that keep daily care moving. Often referred to as operational intelligence, these tools are less about clinical breakthroughs and more about making hospitals function better, behind the scenes, across departments and in real time.
Operational intelligence is stepping into the spotlight
Many conversations in HealthTech focus on the excitement surrounding AI diagnostics and clinical tools. However, hospitals are increasingly turning their attention to the systems that support day-to-day care behind the scenes. Tools that automate admin, improve internal communication, and help managers track performance are proving essential in keeping overstretched services running smoothly and scaling sustainably.
According to Philips, operational intelligence (OI) can drive ‘structural and behavioural change’ by integrating real-time data with clinical workflows. Business intelligence dashboards have been shown to reduce wait times by up to 22% (HIMSS Analytics, 2020), and NHS trusts using OI platforms have saved millions by improving bed utilisation and reducing delays (NHS England).
A practical push from Norway
A growing number of B2B HealthTech companies from Norway are tackling operational inefficiencies head-on. Rather than selling complex new layers of tech, they focus on refining what’s already there – streamlining check-ins, connecting siloed data, and improving internal oversight. Norway has invested heavily in digital health infrastructure, with strong public-private collaboration and government support through bodies like Innovation Norway. This has created fertile ground for scalable, export-ready companies.
Several firms emerging from this ecosystem are already embedded in Norwegian hospitals and gaining traction abroad. Developed in Norway’s highly regulated market and supportive business system, they offer pragmatic solutions that improve how hospitals manage patient flow, departmental coordination, and workforce oversight. With UK-facing trade activity increasing, they are well-positioned to support NHS priorities in operational improvement.
Fixing core infrastructure, not adding complexity
At the heart of these systems is a focus on simplicity and integration.
- Convene replaces inefficient, inconsistent and costly manual check-in and payment systems with a self-service kiosk that integrates with existing Electronic Health Records (EHR) and management software. Since 2010, it has served over 100 million patient interactions, and works with the vast majority of hospitals and GP practices in Norway. It releases human and financial resource to focus on what really matters; the patient experience.
- DNV Imatis provides digital solutions that automate logistics and streamline workflows, ensuring tasks and responsibilities are followed through without falling between the cracks. With real-time visibility and seamless communication across departments, the platform supports clinical and operational staff in managing patient flow, resources, and capacity more efficiently. Hospitals using DNV Imatis have reported productivity increases of up to 20%, driven by more effective coordination and workflow execution. DNV Imatis can be layered into existing EHRs and infrastructure, reducing implementation complexity.
- EG CheckWare replaces fragmented paper-based assessments and manual follow-up routines with a fully digital platform for clinical data collection, patient engagement, and remote treatment. Since its launch, EG CheckWare has enabled over 11 million digital patient interactions, significantly reducing administrative workload and improving data quality. The platform integrates with existing patient records and national health infrastructure, enabling data sharing and continuity of care. EG CheckWare is currently in use across multiple NHS trusts and is used in 95% of the public trusts in Norway.
Why this matters for the NHS
With NHS trusts under pressure to cut delays and improve patient flow, operational tech offers a way to upgrade hospital infrastructure without disruptive overhauls. These systems are designed to integrate with existing workflows, helping to reduce friction, make better use of staff time, and lay the groundwork for long-term service improvement.
They also provide a strategic backbone for other digital tools. Without good data visibility and real-time coordination, even the most sophisticated AI system struggles to deliver value. Operational intelligence ensures that hospitals are not only digitised, but digitised in a way that actually works. As budget scrutiny intensifies, these quietly effective systems may prove essential in doing more with less.
The road to smarter care
Operational intelligence may not garner the same attention as headline-grabbing clinical technologies, but its role in transforming hospital systems is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. The Norwegian approach shows how targeted, infrastructure-focused tools can support hospitals to work more efficiently, without requiring large-scale overhauls. For NHS trusts, this kind of quietly effective software could help shift the dial on performance where it’s needed most.
