Initially available in the consumer market, we are now increasingly seeing a number of these filter into the benefits world. Apps are a prime example. While the consumer apps market has shown signs of beginning to reach maturity, benefits apps are still very much a growth area. Find out how this area is developing in Device developments on page 16.
Wearable technology is another area currently receiving a great deal of attention among employers, particularly with regards to informing their health and wellbeing strategy. The aggregated data that can be gleaned from such devices around the key issues impacting a workforce’s health can be a valuable source of information that can feed into the design of an effective health and wellbeing strategy. Read more in Working out with wearables on page 8.
But, perhaps understandably, alongside such progress have come concerns about how such technology, and specifically the data it generates, is being used.
There are a number of issues around data protection compliance and data security that employers must bear in mind (see page 6).
With so much happening in this space, benefits technology will be the focus of several sessions at this year’s Employee Benefits Live, which will take place on 21 and 22 September at Olympia National.
In the closing keynote session on 21 September, Dr Chris Brauer, director of innovation and senior lecturer in the Institute of Management Studies, Goldsmiths, University of London, will discuss whether wearable technology is the future of workplace health.
Meanwhile, earlier that day, Nik Butcher, reward manager at Tesco Hospitality and New Business Development, and Paul Bissell, head of reward and policy at Three, will present on mobile technology and online recognition systems.
I think we’re set to see a lot more development and innovation in this area.
Debbie Lovewell-Tuck
Editor
Tweet: @DebbieLovewell
