Mobile technology has made it possible to reach people almost instantly, no matter where they are. Whether traveling abroad, working from home, or at an office, mobile technology has transformed the way duty of care is implemented.
Duty of Care
Duty of care has become an integral and expected responsibility of organizations, with severe legal, reputational, and financial consequences if neglected. Whether employees travel or work locally, the specter of critical events, ranging from natural hazards to security incidents, is an ever-present concern. If a security manager has personnel in a location where an active shooter incident occurs, they must implement a wide array of protocols and decision-making. One of the first and most immediate actions is to determine who may be impacted and to check on their safety. Effective risk management procedures and fast, accurate intelligence are more important than ever, playing a crucial role in safeguarding personnel and operations and preempting adverse outcomes.
How Mobile Technology Has Changed Duty of Care
“To adapt and protect employees, organizations need a comprehensive risk management tool that empowers personnel across the organization with the intelligence and knowledge they need to stay safe,” says Cathy Gill, Vice President of Product Management at Crisis24.
Mobile technology has played a key role in this regard. The extensive use of smart devices, advancements in technology, and the expansion of global coverage mean that people can stay connected almost anywhere. Users can carry a mini risk management platform with them at all times. With mobile devices, employees are aware of risks, informed of developing threats, can communicate their status quickly and easily, and can reach out for assistance.
“Mobile technology provides various benefits in risk management, such as always-on awareness, on-hand threat intelligence, and immediate communications and distress signaling through location sharing,” Gill says.
Aspects Of Mobile Technology That Make the Difference
Crisis24 Horizon Mobile best uses the strengths of mobile technology to safeguard personnel. It provides real-time updates and location-based warnings, made possible by positioning data, and keeps the user informed of events in their direct vicinity. Even if itineraries change at short notice, the threat intelligence users receive will always be relevant to their location. Apart from developing threats, the platform also informs users about established threats, such as if they are approaching a higher threat location, for example a neighborhood with elevated crime levels. While written risk assessments can be accessed anytime on the app, incorporating this intelligence into its functionality and into the push notifications the user receives provides a tangible and tactical benefit.
Mobile technology in the risk management space has been an inflection point for how organizations can approach their duty of care responsibilities. Critical components in providing a duty of care to personnel are knowing what threats are occurring, where your people are, and who may be at risk. Through mobile technology, an administrator or security manager can get accurate geographic locations of their people, increasing the accuracy of their threat exposure considerations. This can also be done without compromising privacy by only sharing a last-known location and not providing a breadcrumb-style trail.
Communications and the Benefits of Mobile Data in a Crisis
When an incident occurs, communicating and confirming safety or coordinating a response is essential. Crisis24 Horizon Mobile enables users to receive and reply to messages within the app. At the same time, the device itself can also handle other Horizon communication channels, such as email, SMS, and text-to-voice calls. Communications can also flow the other way, either through a check-in notification for the user to confirm they are ok or via a crisis signal when someone needs immediate assistance. “Where mobile technology has revolutionized a ‘crisis signal’ is that positioning data and other information can now be shared simultaneously, which can be critical in emergency situations,” says Martin Williamson, senior product manager at Crisis24.
Getting Buy-In is Essential to Success
However, the success of any risk management program depends on its adoption and buy-in across the organization. Mobile technology simplifies this process. Apps are ubiquitous nowadays; they are easily downloadable and widely used. As a fully native iOS and Android application, Crisis24 Horizon Mobile seamlessly integrates with native features of the operating system. This includes applying the accessibility configurations set on the device to the user’s experience within Horizon Mobile. With the app supported in multiple languages, this further reduces the barrier to user engagement, making it more accessible to all personnel. The app’s design, intuitive navigation, and functionality provide a seamless user experience, boosting its adoption and use.
Conclusion
With risk management now in people’s hands, mobile technology has advanced capabilities and fosters a culture of shared awareness and responsibility throughout organizations. It is undeniable that further developments in the mobile technology sector will open more innovative ways to protect your organization and your personnel.
