Employee benefit consultants and advisers are being offered access to a new health screening and support tool that uses both genetics and artificial intelligence to help employees improve their overall wellbeing.
The tool is known as syd, and is being launched by iamYiam, a health tech firm.
The tool uses big health data, AI, genetics and academic research to give users a personalised picture of their predispositions across 58 different aspects of physical and mental health. This includes diet and fitness and advice which is personalised to an individual’s genetic make-up.
Analysis from the team indicate there is around 80 per cent engagement at launch from employees.
Employees get a mobile app, which details their likelihood of being adversely affected across these different categories, as well as information on how to improve their health and wellbeing health in this area. The app is focused on a range wellbeing issues – which includes high blood pressure, obesity, iron, calcium and vitamin levels, cholesterol levels, hypertension, anxiety, depression, insomnia — where individuals can take steps to improve these measures.
It does not include genetic tests for life-threatening conditions like cancer or heart disease.
Corporates receive high-level anonymised data which gives them a clearer picture of the health and wellbeing on their workforce.
Syd – which stands for ‘See Yourself Differently’ was launched by Romanian scientist Lorena Puica. After a number of years of personal health challenges she created this health platform to better understand and improve her own wellbeing.
The app is based on scientific research from more than 200,000 clinical trials which have linked 820,000 genetic biomarkes with these various wellbeing traits.
Those using the tool will need to do a saliva DNA test, which can be completed at home. Personal recommendations will then be sent through to the app, while anonymised aggregated employee data provides dynamic predictive analytics to corporates.
Costs to employees range from £200 to £250 depending on the size of the workforce. This benefit is being offered on both a paid-for and voluntary basis. Commission is paid to advisers recommending the product.
Syd senior adviser John Dean says this gives companies a snaphshop of the quality of life for their employees and understand the workforce’s key health risks. Benchmark tools allow them to compare results to others companies by location and sector.
He adds: “I have spent the last 30 years in the health and wellbeing sector and I know that HR departments spend their precious budges on products and services that often do not get used or valued. Syd changes this as the service is aimed at all employees with personal and relevant support to help them live healthier lives.”
Syd chief executive and found Lorena Puica says that the high level of engagement is a sign of the value being created. “When corproate launch an innovated product it creates a real buzz in the workforce.”
She said this products was “relevant and inclusive” and can deliver very high levels of employee engagement.