The ever-changing world of regulations and requirements can be complex, especially for highly controlled industries like those creating medical devices. Luckily for those businesses, LFH Regulatory is here to help make sense of the mind-boggling intricacies that come with their trade. Here, Laura Friedl-Hirst, Managing Director of LFH Regulatory, shares how their digital transformation will not only make things simpler for themselves, but their clients too.
Why Digital Growth is Crucial for Regulatory Compliance
Founded in 2019, LFH Regulatory is a trusted partner to organisations as they navigate medical device and In Vitro Diagnostic regulations. Its dedicated experts work with clients across various stages of development. This includes manufacturers of specialist healthcare devices, for example moving and handling equipment to assist professionals in looking after people, and software applications for clinical diagnosis.
Whether it’s a start-up with an innovative medical device idea such as Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), or an established company needing regulatory compliance help, LFH Regulatory provides tailored solutions.
Following its expansion from a business of one to a team of eight, Laura noticed that the company needed improvements to its digital presence and processes to help meet their aspirations for growth.
After reaching out to Digital Enterprise, Laura and the team undertook two key digital transformation projects to help them keep pace with a fast-evolving industry. These efforts have not only improved their internal processes but also opened new revenue streams, positioning them as leaders in their field.
Enhanced Lead Generation: An Indicator of Digital Growth
Despite a solid foundation, Laura recognised that the company’s website was outdated, slow, and difficult to manage. The business needed a platform that better reflected its growth and expertise, so they embarked on a website overhaul as their first project.
“The old website was slow and not user-friendly. The back end was a nightmare to navigate,” Laura says.
The website overhaul included a complete redesign, from a streamlined user interface to enhanced search engine optimisation (SEO) features. They added blogs, interactive videos, and guides to provide more value for visitors. In addition, a Contact Us form and call-to-action buttons were prominently placed to make it easier for potential clients to reach out.
By improving these elements, LFH Regulatory has already seen an uptick in lead generation.
“It’s still early days, but the feedback has been fantastic,” Laura adds. “We’re noticing more engagement on the website, and it now reflects where we are as a company.”
This project has helped create a more welcoming and informative experience for users and allowed the company to integrate new branding that aligns with their vision.
Implementing a Regulatory Intelligence Platform: Fuelling Digital Growth Through Efficiency
In addition to the website, LFH Regulatory also invested in a regulatory intelligence platform, aimed at improving the efficiency of research processes. Before this, the team would spend countless hours pulling data from multiple platforms to keep up with regulatory changes across different countries. This has turned into an additional revenue stream for the business.
Laura explains: “With this new software, everything is centralised. We can put in specific search terms and get comprehensive results, which saves us a lot of time.
“After noticing a real interest in this software, we’re now providing regulatory intelligence as a subscription service. Our clients, who often lack the time and resources to keep up with regulatory changes, can rely on us to manage that for them.”
Transforming Internal Efficiency into a New Service Offering
Regulatory intelligence is becoming essential for businesses in the medical device industry. LFH Regulatory saw an opportunity to meet this need by offering comprehensive reports generated by the software, which sets them apart from competitors.
“We’re providing not just the tools, but also the insights, which is a game-changer for our clients,” Laura says. “What started as a project to improve our own processes and efficiencies of the team, has turned into an opportunity to make a bigger difference to our clients.”
Unlocking Digital Growth Potential with Grant Support
Reflecting on the significance of the Digital Enterprise support, Laura acknowledges that small businesses like hers often face budget constraints, making it challenging to invest in multiple projects simultaneously.
Laura credits Digital Enterprise and their advisor, Martin Howarth, for helping streamline the process and make both projects a reality.
She says: “The whole process was smooth. Martin was always available to answer questions, and we were amazed by how quickly the grant came through. Without the funding, we would’ve had to choose between the two projects. This way, we were able to implement both, which has had a big impact on our business, allowing us to move forward much faster than we would have otherwise.”
Leveraging Digital to Drive Engagement and Remain Competitive
The new website has not only elevated the company’s digital presence but has also made it easier for clients to navigate the range of services offered. Meanwhile, the regulatory intelligence software has enhanced the team’s efficiency and positioned the company as a leader in compliance services for medical device companies. These two projects exemplify how LFH Regulatory is leveraging technology to improve their service offering and stand out in a competitive industry.
As they look to the future, Laura and her team are excited about the possibilities these digital upgrades have unlocked. The website and regulatory intelligence platform are more than just tools; they’re integral to how the business will continue to expand its reach and offer top-notch services to clients across the medical device industry. Thanks to Digital Enterprise’s support, LFH Regulatory is well on its way to achieving its growth ambitions and setting new standards for regulatory consultancy.
With the help of Digital Enterprise, LFH Regulatory expects to:
- Increase the lead generation of their website from five to 25 leads per month, resulting in 4 new clients a month based on current conversion rate.
- Using the new regulatory intelligence tool, the team can improve time efficiency by 50%.
- With increased sales and turnover, they can look to create more jobs in the business, doubling current staff in two years.
LFH Regulatory was named as one of DE3’s Top 30 businesses, read more case studies in our online brochure to find out how we’ve supported other West Yorkshire businesses and the impact the digital investments have had: DE3 Digital Enterprise Top Thirty.
