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VIDEOVisit

Role:Head of Product and Design
Completion:0 to 1 in 3 weeks

VideoVisit (Videobesuch) is a video call solution specifically designed for nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. It enabled nursing homes to offer video calls to residents through user-friendly software and an automated scheduling system, making it easy to connect families despite technical and regulatory barriers.

OUTCOME

Within just three months, VideoVisit became profitable and served over 300 B2B customers. It won first place in the government-backed WirVsVirus competition, which had over 28,000 participants, and the VISA Inc. business competition.

The project partnered with organizations like Caritas, Vodafone, and MediaMarktSaturn and gained significant media attention. It was featured in major German outlets, including BILD, Welt, NTV, RTL, Saarbrücker Zeitung, Deutsches Ärzteblatt, Capital, Galileo, and EPD.

#productmanagement #productdesign #branding #naming

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Why VideoVisit was created

Bridging the isolation Gap in nursing homes during Covid-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, residents in German nursing homes faced severe isolation due to strict visitation bans. Many facilities lacked internet access or devices and widely used tools like Zoom or Skype were not viable due to GDPR regulations and even stricter rules for church-affiliated institutions, which manage many nursing homes in Germany.

Adding to the challenge, most elderly residents did not own electronic devices or have the skills to operate them, further limiting their ability to connect with loved ones.

To overcome these barriers, we developed VideoVisit, a solution designed to reconnect families while addressing privacy regulations, accessibility needs, and technological limitations.

How we solved the problem

Automated scheduling and Call software

VideoVisit is a video call solution tailored for nursing homes, featuring an integrated automated scheduling system. It simplifies video calls for residents, even with limited staff or devices, by minimizing caregiver involvement.

The software is fully compliant with GDPR and the stricter privacy regulations of church-affiliated institutions, ensuring data protection and security. Family members can easily schedule calls through the system, which aligns seamlessly with caregiver workflows. At the scheduled time, caregivers only need to bring the tablet to the resident—the call starts automatically at full volume and ends on its own. The streamlined user interface eliminates unnecessary options, preventing accidental interruptions and ensuring an effortless experience for residents.

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Market validation

Understanding nursing homes in germany

The nursing home market in Germany operates as a seller’s market, where demand for care exceeds available spots. Under normal circumstances, nursing homes have little incentive to adopt new technologies to attract residents. However, the COVID-19 crisis created exceptional pressure. Public outrage over residents dying alone without the chance to connect with loved ones forced nursing homes to act.

We addressed this by providing:

  • Integrated partnerships: Collaborations with major electronics retailers allowed us to offer nursing homes a ready-to-use package, including a tablet, pre-installed software, and a data plan.
  • Ease of use: Automated scheduling and a hands-off interface eliminated the need for residents to operate devices, reducing the burden on caregivers.

Through these efforts, VideoVisit became a trusted tool for over 300 B2B customers, validated by the nursing home market’s rapid adoption and positive feedback.

How we solved the problem

Automated scheduling and Call software

The idea for VideoVisit was born during a hackathon, where we worked at an accelerated pace to address pressing challenges. Our initial understanding of the problem came from secondary research, stories circulating widely in the media and interviews with family members and friends, which led us to the following key pain points:

  • Overwhelmed caregivers: Staff in nursing homes were too busy to manually schedule calls or supervise residents during video calls.
  • Lack of technical resources: Many nursing homes lacked tablets, reliable internet connections, and residents often didn’t have the tech skills to use devices independently.
  • Family disconnection: With personal visits prohibited by COVID-19 rules, landlines were often the only means of communication, leaving many families feeling helpless.

After our launch, we relied on direct user feedback, through in-app feedback tools and one-on-one interviews to iterate towards optimal product-market-fit.

Surrounding context

A product made to help during a crisis