DKMS’s app empowers global efforts to fight blood cancer

Founded in Germany in 1991, Deutsche Knochenmarkspenderdatei (DKMS) is an international organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and disorders. What started as an initiative to save a loved one has now turned into a global effort with more than 12 million registrants worldwide.

Today, DKMS is part of the world’s largest network of bone marrow donor centers, having successfully facilitated 115,000 stem cell donations, with an average of 22 donations per day. 

To redefine the landscape of bone marrow donation, DKMS understood that their registration process needed to be more accessible and efficient for both donors and recipients.

In collaboration with Lumenalta, DKMS developed an app to streamline the collection of user information with the goal of simplifying the process of stem cell donor registration.

Despite utilizing a canvassing strategy to actively engage with potential donors, DKMS struggled to meet registration goals. The process of enrolling as a potential bone marrow donor was lengthy and tedious, often characterized by cumbersome paperwork, extensive health-related inquiries, and questionnaires.

This frequently resulted in registrants disengaging midway through the manual signup process and diminishing the pool of potential donors available to save lives.  

What DKMS needed was a complete overhaul of the donor registration process — a better way to enhance user experience and boost donor retention rates.

Recognizing this, DKMS partnered with Lumenalta to build an Android application with an intuitive experience that would streamline the donor registration journey. The app works by having users answer a series of questions to register, qualify, and receive a swab kit. This kit is then sent back to DKMS to determine eligibility and match donors with the right patients.

The app’s registration wizard — a digital assistant that helps users navigate registration steps — guides users through this process, providing clarity for complex aspects and ensuring a thorough, engaging registration experience.

Key to the app’s success is its ability to function seamlessly in both online and offline modes, safeguarding against potential connectivity disruptions and ensuring that no potential donor slips through the cracks.

The app boasts a backend administration panel for data overview and a robust API for real-time information synchronization guaranteeing data privacy.

With these features, DKMS can better analyze information collected through the app and ensure the accuracy and completeness of the data collected. By having access to this overview, DKMS effectively manages their donor database, ultimately enhancing their ability to connect donors with patients.

Moreover, they can ensure they’re following strict health and data privacy laws to protect donor and patient privacy.

Within a month of its launch, the system had already made its first donor match, showcasing the impact of technology combined with humanitarian endeavors.

Now, users interested in registering as donors no longer need to spend so much of their time manually inputting information. Instead, they can help save lives with just a few taps.

The implementation of the app spearheaded a high-impact digital transformation at DKMS, bridging the gap between their mission to save lives and the individuals eager to donate.

This collaboration with Lumenalta went beyond simplifying donor registration; it cultivated a global community bound by a shared commitment, nurturing a sense of belonging and solidarity. It’s proof that smart tech, used the right way, can pack a serious punch in the fight against blood cancer and disorders.