Innovation Isn't the Goal. Better Outcomes Are.
How Becklar approaches purposeful innovation in the mPERS industry — and why the outcome always comes first.
I’m genuinely excited about where the mPERS industry is headed.
We’ve seen technology reduce response times, extend battery life, enhance fall detection, and make devices smaller and easier to wear. At the same time, smartphones, smartwatches, and smart-home devices are becoming an increasingly familiar part of everyday life for older adults and their caregivers.
That creates both a challenge and an opportunity for mPERS.
We can no longer assume purpose-built medical alert technology exists in its own category. Instead, we have an opportunity to complement emerging technologies while continuing to deliver what makes purpose-built safety solutions valuable: simplicity, reliability, long battery life, professional monitoring, specialized fall detection, two-way communication, and support for caregivers.
The companies that succeed won't simply be the ones that innovate the most. They'll be the ones that innovate with purpose.
Why Does Innovation Matter?
The mPERS landscape is changing in three significant ways.
Innovation helps companies adapt to changing customer needs, differentiate themselves, and create sustainable growth. In mPERS, the landscape is shifting — and that shift demands a thoughtful response.
Competing Technologies Are Closing In
Smartphones and smartwatches now offer emergency SOS, fall detection, location services, and other safety features — entering territory that medical alert providers have traditionally occupied.
Caregivers Expect More
Caregivers want technology that doesn't simply respond to emergencies. They want to feel more connected, informed, and confident in the safety and independence of the people they care for.
Older Adults Are Embracing Technology
The question is no longer "Will an older adult use technology?" It's "What technology will make the biggest difference in their life?" — and that's an important distinction for mPERS.
The goal isn’t to build technology simply because we can. The goal is to build technology that solves a meaningful problem.
What Does Purposeful Innovation Look Like?
In a safety-critical industry, innovation shouldn’t simply mean something new, complicated, or technologically impressive. Every additional feature has a cost — it can introduce complexity, require more interaction, consume battery life, create false alarms, or make a product harder to use.
At Becklar, we start with a simple question:
Does this meaningfully improve the experience or outcome for the senior or their caregiver?"
If the answer is no, it isn't worth pursuing.
Sometimes innovation means adding capability. Sometimes it means removing friction:
- Making a device last longer between charges
- Improving emergency communication
- Reducing response times
- Making fall detection more effective
- Giving caregivers better tools and information
In each case, the technology is important — but it’s not the goal. The outcome is the goal.
How We Approach Innovation at Becklar
Start with the person. Validate the solution. See it through — from concept to deployment.
At Becklar, we start with the people who use our products and the problems we’re trying to solve. We stay focused on their needs, validate whether a solution actually addresses those needs, and see the work through from concept to deployment.
That discipline has led to capabilities we’re proud of:
45+ Days Battery Life
Achieved with the new Belle X2 device
9.4-Second Avg. Response Time
With AI helping qualify alarms
HD-Quality Two-Way Voice
Designed for real-world use
Advanced Fall Detection
Identifies potentially serious events
Device Management & API
Helps partners deploy and integrate mPERS technology efficiently
These capabilities matter because they address real problems. That’s the difference between adding technology and creating value.
Our work today helps protect nearly 1 million active mPERS subscribers — and that responsibility shapes every product decision we make.
What's Next?
The technology landscape will continue to change — and so will we.
Artificial intelligence, connected devices, wearables, smart homes, and other emerging technologies will create new possibilities — and new expectations.
As an industry, we need to ask:
- Where can emerging technologies genuinely improve safety and independence?
- Where does purpose-built mPERS provide unique value?
- Where can the two work together to create something better than either could provide alone?
Contact Us
Want to learn more about enterprise and individual connected safety solutions in your industry?
Purposeful Innovation Comes Down to One Principle
The companies that get this right won’t confuse new technology with progress. They’ll continue listening to the people they serve, reducing friction, improving outcomes, and evolving as customer needs evolve.
- Start with the person
- Identify the problem.
- Use technology to improve the outcome.
In other words, they’ll innovate with purpose. And that’s exactly what we intend to keep doing at Becklar.
Trevor Thompson
Becklar: Director of Product Management, Personal Health & Safety
Trevor leads Product Management for Becklar’s Personal Health & Safety division, guiding the strategy, development, and deployment of mPERS and connected safety solutions. His product management experience spans healthcare, supply chain, and connected technology. Trevor is passionate about purposeful innovation—using technology not for its own sake, but to solve real problems for seniors and the caregivers who support them. He earned a degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Weber State University and an MBA from the University of Utah.