Healthcare systems are under relentless pressure to do more with less—modernize infrastructure, integrate siloed technologies, improve patient and staff experiences, and deliver measurable outcomes at scale. While much of the industry conversation focuses on clinical transformation, many of the moments that define a healthcare experience happen quietly in the background: a patient meal delivered safely, a staff member accessing a secure area without friction, or a visitor navigating a campus with ease.
With the recent rebrand of Transact + CBORD to Illumia, the organization signals the completion of its post-merger integration and a sharpened focus on unifying those everyday experiences under a single, connected platform. The move coincides with new leadership and a broader strategy aimed at simplifying complexity while elevating the human side of healthcare operations.
According to Arun Ahuja, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Healthcare & Corporate, the unified brand directly addresses a core challenge healthcare systems face today: fragmentation.
“The rebrand to Illumia signals that we’re aligning our business around the same priorities healthcare systems are focused on: modernization, integration, and a seamless experience across services,” Ahuja says. “Whether it’s patient meals, dining, campus access, or tuition payments, these everyday touchpoints shape how people feel in a hospital or on campus.”
Solving the Problem of Siloed Experiences
For large healthcare systems, decades of point solutions have often resulted in disconnected workflows that increase risk, slow operations, and frustrate staff. A unified brand, Ahuja explains, is more than a marketing exercise, it reflects a structural shift in how technology is designed and delivered.
“By integrating the experiences Illumia helps reduce complexity, connect previously silo’ed systems, and make operations more efficient and reliable,” he says. “In many ways, we’re modeling the same synergies we help our customers achieve—creating enterprise-grade solutions that are connected, easy to use, and built around the people they serve.”
That integration matters at scale. As health systems grow through mergers and regional expansion, consistency becomes critical, not only for efficiency, but for safety and experience. A unified platform enables faster adoption, shared best practices, and technology that supports both staff and patients across diverse facilities.
“For large healthcare systems, that means less friction, faster adoption, sharing of best practices across industries, and technology that truly supports both staff and patients at scale,” Ahuja says.
A Leadership Transition Built for the Next Phase
The rebrand also arrives alongside a leadership transition, with Greg Brown stepping into the role of Chief Executive Officer in January 2026. Brown brings more than 25 years of experience scaling SaaS companies through periods of rapid growth and transformation, most recently serving as CEO of Udemy, where he led its evolution into a $750 million enterprise learning platform and advanced its AI strategy.
From Ahuja’s perspective, the timing is deliberate.
“Greg brings incredible energy and momentum to Illumia,” he says. “He’s spent his career scaling SaaS businesses and applying AI in ways that create real impact, not just technology for technology’s sake.”
That pragmatic approach aligns with healthcare’s current reality, where innovation must deliver measurable value without adding burden.
“With his leadership, I see Illumia accelerating innovation that truly empowers healthcare teams; smoother integrations, smarter insights, and tools that make daily workflows easier, safer, and more intuitive,” Ahuja adds. “I’m excited about the opportunities ahead to help hospitals operate more seamlessly and deliver better experiences for the people who depend on them every day.”
Where Mission-Critical Operations Meet Human Experience
Illumia positions itself at the intersection of mission-critical operations and human experience—a space that is often overlooked but deeply consequential in healthcare environments.
“At Illumia, our philosophy is focused on ensuring that we design technology that simplifies the complicated, behind-the-scenes work so healthcare teams can focus on patient and resident care,” Ahuja says.
That philosophy comes to life through solutions like NetMenu, which connects patient nutrition, clinical requirements, and operational workflows into a single system.
“By connecting systems like patient nutrition, staff workflows, and facility operations, hospitals can manage thousands of daily tasks without added stress or errors,” he explains.
In practice, that integration delivers tangible benefits.
“For example, a hospital using NetMenu can track every patient’s meal order in real time, automatically adjust for dietary restrictions, and give staff a clear view of workflow priorities, all without adding extra steps,” Ahuja says. “The tangible value is fewer mistakes, faster operations, and staff who have more time to focus on care.”
From Fragmentation to a Single Source of Truth
Before adopting a unified, cloud-based platform, many healthcare organizations relied on multiple disconnected systems to manage foodservice and nutrition—creating hidden risks that extended beyond operational inefficiency.
“Before NetMenu, many teams were juggling multiple disconnected systems, which can create hidden potential risks,” Ahuja says. “Duplicate data entry can cause inconsistent recipes, mismanaged allergens, and extra manual work for staff.”
By moving to a single platform, teams across departments gain shared visibility and accountability.
“Now, dietitians, clinicians, and foodservice teams are working from the same source of truth,” he says. “Everyone sees the same information in real time, which reduces errors and makes day-to-day operations much smoother.”
Illumia is now extending that value beyond patient nutrition into retail and visitor experiences.
“We’re excited that we now can take that efficiency one step further by integrating NetMenu with a retail foodservice platform to deliver what we call the ‘Power of One,’” Ahuja says.
That connected ecosystem unifies healthcare foodservice, clinical nutrition, and retail operations on a single platform.
“From cashless transactions and kitchen operations to unified procurement and inventory management, teams gain better control, lower costs, and more consistent execution,” he explains. “We are taking those efficiencies of patient nutrition and bringing it to the cafeteria and gift shops for modern, elevated experiences for visitors, staff, and guests.”
Real-Time Data as a Strategic Advantage
Access to consistent, system-wide data is increasingly essential for healthcare leaders navigating cost pressures, quality metrics, and workforce constraints. NetMenu’s real-time visibility supports decision-making at both operational and executive levels.
“Real-time data has been a game-changer because it gives everyone visibility into production volumes, allergen information, and inventory in real time, and teams can make smarter decisions on the spot,” Ahuja says.
Integration with Epic MyChart adds another layer of safety and responsiveness.
“For example, with real-time integration with Epic MyChart, if a patient’s dietary restrictions change between when a meal is ordered and when meal preparation begins, the system updates immediately to ensure the right meal is delivered to the patient,” he says.
The result is safer care, reduced waste, and more proactive operations.
“Staff can respond immediately to issues instead of reacting after the fact, which not only boosts operational efficiency but also directly improves patient care,” Ahuja adds.
Balancing Standardization and Flexibility
As Illumia brings formerly separate platforms under a shared innovation strategy, one challenge remains central: balancing standardization with the flexibility healthcare organizations need across diverse facilities.
“Standardization and flexibility are not mutually exclusive,” Ahuja says. “Our goal is to create a consistent framework that makes operations smoother while still letting each hospital or care facility tailor processes to their unique needs.”
That adaptability is critical for systems that span acute care hospitals, outpatient facilities, and senior living environments.
“It’s about giving healthcare teams both reliability and flexibility so they can deliver the best care possible,” he says.
Looking Ahead
Under Brown’s leadership, Illumia’s roadmap focuses on making technology a true partner for healthcare organizations, one that improves efficiency, enhances experience, and delivers measurable outcomes.
“Under Greg Brown, we’re focused on making technology a true partner for healthcare,” Ahuja says. “Helping hospitals work more efficiently, improving experiences for patients and staff, and delivering results that can be measured.”
As health systems face increasing complexity, Illumia’s unified approach helps bring clarity, ensuring the technology operating behind the scenes consistently supports the people and moments that define care.
For more information, visit transactcampus.com.
Image Source: ID 213874218 | Hospital Ai ©
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Daniel Casciato is a seasoned healthcare writer, publisher, and product reviewer with two decades of experience. He founded Healthcare Business Today to deliver timely insights on healthcare trends, technology, and innovation. His bylines have appeared in outlets such as Cleveland Clinic’s Health Essentials, MedEsthetics Magazine, EMS World, Pittsburgh Business Times, Post-Gazette, Providence Journal, Western PA Healthcare News, and he has written for clients like the American Heart Association, Google Earth, and Southwest Airlines. Through Healthcare Business Today, Daniel continues to inform and inspire professionals across the healthcare landscape.
