Custom Tech Without the Complexity: What Healthcare Administrators Should Really Be Looking For
Below is an article by Empara CTO Mike Nigels in Healthcare Business Today.
For healthcare administrators, staying ahead in technology while keeping costs under control has never been more challenging. The pressure to innovate is immense, but so is the risk of investing in technology that doesn’t deliver real value.
With AI dominating headlines, it’s easy to get swept up in the hype. Yet the truth is far from the promise of limitless automation and data-driven intelligence. According to MIT Sloan, only 10% of companies see significant financial benefits from AI. The hard reality is that most organizations simply aren’t ready to execute AI-first strategies on their own. They lack the foundational infrastructure and end up chasing complex, flashy tools that add little to no value to their operations.
This is particularly relevant for healthcare administrators who are drowning in operational complexity and high call volumes. Claims confusion, outdated systems and the never-ending demand for support are pushing teams to the brink. A clear opportunity for AI to help automate and streamline exists, so why isn’t it more successful?
The Real Problem: Building from Scratch is Unrealistic
The idea of building a custom tech stack may sound promising at first. Imagine a completely tailored platform built from the ground up to fit your organization’s every need. It sounds impressive—until you realize exactly what it entails.
Building from scratch doesn’t just mean developing software — it means maintaining it, securing it, and keeping it up to date with the latest regulations and technology advancements. You’ll need dedicated engineering teams to build, update, and troubleshoot. You’ll need ongoing support to handle the inevitable issues. You’ll need to train new staff every time the system evolves.
It’s not just a project — it’s a long-term commitment. And for most healthcare administrators, it’s simply not feasible. According to McKinsey, roughly 70% of digital transformations fail, often due to the lack of skilled talent and readiness to implement and sustain the technology. A build-first approach demands the kind of resources usually reserved for technology companies.
It begs the question: Why would you invest in becoming a tech company when your primary focus should be enhancing member experience and cutting costs?
What to Look for in a Technology Partner
Instead of building from scratch, consider partnering with a technology provider that offers the best of both worlds: customization without the hassle. The right partner should deliver a configurable, adaptable platform that you can make your own without having to develop it from the ground up.
Here are a few critical questions to ask potential partners:
Can the platform be customized to meet the unique needs of your members and clients without requiring extensive IT support?
Does it include ongoing updates and support to ensure the system evolves with your needs?
Is the technology easy to integrate with existing systems, or will it require a complete overhaul?
Will the partner provide the right balance of innovation without burdening your team with complex, unnecessary features?
Let’s Change the Conversation
Too many healthcare administrators are falling into the trap of thinking they need to build it all from the ground up to stay competitive. The reality is, it’s not about building or buying — it’s about finding the right partner who understands your challenges and delivers practical, adaptable solutions.
The goal shouldn’t be to build technology just to say you did it. The goal should be to leverage the right tools to make healthcare administration more efficient, less burdensome, and better aligned with the needs of your team and your members.
You don’t have to be a technology company to deliver high-quality, tech-enabled healthcare administration. You just need the right partner.
Empara is shaping the healthcare businesses of tomorrow – enabling people, partners, and processes on a single, customizable AI-powered engagement platform built for what’s next. Learn more.