PRODUCT FEATURE GUIDE
Mass notification & emergency communication

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Product feature guide

Feature Focus

Manual notifications

Overview Specification FAQs

In critical situations speed, simplicity, and reliability matters. Every day, critical events impact productivity and revenue, cause production slowdowns, impede team callouts, delay responses to time-sensitive issues or require immediate outreach to those impacted. Mass notification gets the right message to the right people rapidly.

Key benefits

  • Platform prioritises ease-of-use, allowing users to quickly send emergency comms
  • Trigger notifications using geo-mapping and the users location
  • Use radius, polygon and contact libraries.
  • Create content templates
  • Multiple notification methods available – Email, SMS, WhatApp and In-App Notifications
  • Recipient list is fully audited via an event profile
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CUSTOM EVENT DETAIL PAGES
Specification

Speed
When time is critical - quickly send messages across various platforms based on a powerful recipient & location identification tools.

Mapping
Utilise geo-data to target and customise notifications based on recipients' locations, enhancing precision and relevance.

Templates
Predefined formats for notifications & alerts, enabling consistent, efficient comms across different channels & situations.

Channels
Allows customisation and selection of diverse communication pathways to optimise reach and recipient engagement.

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Rapidly launch the notification tool

Select the "Notify" button from any screen in the Command platform to launch the Mass Notification tool.

Send 10,000 notifications in under 1 minute (last test <10 secs) and 100,000 notifications in maximum of 3 minutes (last test <40 secs).

Configuration over content including subject, from, title, selection of content template, creation of custom content using codexes.

Select from a Content template - create pre-defined templates with codexes to automatically populate the notification.

Attachment of maps, images and media direct from the event.

Select the recipients from the contact library - by organisation, category, access level or directly to an individual.

Select the recipients assigned to specific locations - by region, area, site.

To specific contacts located within a geo-radius (configurable radius size).

Delivery methods setup

Internal - InApp - sending to a notification to the 'Reporter App'

External - Email & SMS

Social - WhatsApp (business account required)

Recipients audit

From within the event details, access a list of linked notifications (manual & automated) and open to view the individual recipients.

Access the individual recipients and view the content of the notification that was sent.

MANUAL NOTIFICATIONS
Frequently Asked Questions

A manual mass notification tool is typically used in situations where it is essential to communicate urgent or important information quickly to a large group of people. These tools are invaluable for ensuring that everyone receives the same message simultaneously, enhancing the coordination and management of the situation.
While automated systems and processes are also prevalent, manual systems provide the flexibility to tailor the message specifically to the situation at hand, potentially incorporating real-time updates and personalised instructions.
Here are some scenarios when a manual mass notification tool might be used:
  1. Emergency Situations: In the event of emergencies like natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, hurricanes), fires, or active shooter scenarios, mass notification systems can quickly alert individuals in the affected areas, providing instructions on how to stay safe.
  2. Public Safety Alerts: For broader public safety concerns, such as severe weather warnings, health pandemics, or chemical spills, these tools can disseminate critical information to help people take necessary precautions or evacuate if needed.
  3. Organisational Communication: Companies and organisations use mass notification tools for urgent internal communication, such as informing employees about office closures, system outages, or important reminders. This ensures that all employees are informed simultaneously, reducing confusion and misinformation.
  4. Educational Institutions: Schools, colleges, and universities utilise these systems to alert students and staff about campus emergencies, closures due to inclement weather, or other urgent notifications affecting campus life.
  5. Event Management: For large events, organisers may use mass notification tools to communicate with attendees about schedule changes, venue updates, or emergencies, ensuring everyone receives consistent information quickly.
  6. Government Alerts: Local, state, or federal government agencies may deploy these systems to alert citizens about various situations, such as evacuation orders, shelter-in-place commands, or other public service announcements.
  7. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery: In the event of unexpected disruptions, like IT system failures, power outages, or supply chain issues, businesses can use these tools to communicate with employees, suppliers, and customers about the situation and expected recovery actions.

Using multiple communication channels for sending mass notifications is crucial for several reasons, significantly enhancing the effectiveness, reach, and reliability of the messages being sent. Here are key reasons why employing a multi-channel approach is beneficial:

1. Increased Reach and Accessibility

Different people have different preferences and accessibilities when it comes to communication channels. While some may frequently check their emails, others might prefer text messages, social media, or voice calls. Using multiple channels ensures that you can reach more of your target audience, regardless of their preferred mode of communication or accessibility issues.

2. Redundancy and Reliability

Reliance on a single communication channel can be risky, especially if that channel experiences an outage or disruption (e.g., email server down, cellular network overloaded). By distributing the same message across various platforms, you create a redundancy that ensures the message gets through to the recipients even if one or more channels fail.

3. Improved Engagement Rates

Different channels have different engagement rates. Text messages might have a higher open and read rate compared to emails, but emails can convey more detailed information. Using a combination of channels allows you to leverage the strengths of each, leading to better overall engagement with your message.

4. Preferences

People have varied preferences for how they receive information, and these preferences can change based on the context or urgency of the message. A multi-channel approach allows recipients to receive messages in the format they are most likely to notice and prefer, increasing the effectiveness of the communication.

5. Ensuring Timeliness

In urgent situations, timeliness is critical. By broadcasting messages across multiple channels simultaneously, you maximise the chance that the message is seen promptly, which is crucial in emergencies or time-sensitive situations.

6. Legal and Compliance Reasons

In certain cases, regulations or laws might require that information be disseminated through specific channels to ensure it reaches all relevant parties. Using multiple channels can help ensure compliance with these regulations.

7. Coverage Across Different Situations and Environments

People may not have access to all communication channels at all times due to various reasons such as being in a meeting, driving, or in an area with poor cellular reception. A multi-channel approach increases the likelihood that the message is received regardless of the recipient's situation.

In summary, employing a multi-channel strategy for mass notifications is essential for ensuring that critical messages are effectively communicated to a broad audience. This approach enhances the reach, reliability, and overall effectiveness of communications, especially in emergency or urgent situations.

Sending geo-mapped notifications during a mass notification effort means targeting recipients based on their geographic location. This approach is highly effective and beneficial for several reasons, particularly in situations where location-specific information is crucial.

Here's why targeting geo-mapped recipients is a strategic choice:

1. Relevance and Personalisation

Geo-mapped notifications ensure that the information is highly relevant to the recipients based on their current or registered location. This increases the likelihood that the message will be perceived as pertinent and timely, leading to higher engagement rates. For example, weather alerts or emergency notifications about local incidents are more relevant to those in the affected areas.

2. Resource Optimisation

By targeting messages to specific geographic areas, organisations can optimise the use of their resources. Instead of broadcasting a message to a wide audience, many of whom it may not concern, targeting allows for a more efficient use of communication channels and reduces unnecessary alarm or communication fatigue among recipients outside the relevant area.

3. Effective Crisis Management

During emergencies, geo-mapped notifications can be crucial for effectively managing the crisis. They allow authorities and organisations to send targeted warnings, evacuation orders, or instructions to those in the affected area, enhancing the safety and security of the populace.

4. Enhanced Compliance

In certain jurisdictions, legal or regulatory requirements may necessitate informing individuals in specific locations about particular events or conditions. Geo-mapped notifications ensure compliance with these regulations by accurately targeting the required geographic areas.

5. Reduced Information Overload

People are bombarded with vast amounts of information daily. By ensuring that messages are location-specific, organisations reduce the risk of information overload among recipients. This helps to maintain the effectiveness of communication channels over time, as recipients are less likely to ignore or opt out of receiving notifications.

6. Improved Trust and Perception

When people receive notifications that are directly relevant to their safety and wellbeing, their trust in the issuing organisation or authority can increase. This relevance is often achieved through geo-targeting, which demonstrates a thoughtful and organised approach to communication, thereby improving public perception and trust.

7. Faster Response Times

For recipients in the targeted area, receiving timely and relevant information can lead to faster response times to emergencies, instructions, or calls to action. This is particularly important in situations where seconds can make a significant difference, such as evacuating an area before a natural disaster strikes.

8. Efficient Evacuation and Resource Allocation

In evacuation scenarios, geo-mapped notifications can help manage traffic flow and prevent congestion by providing area-specific instructions. This allows for a smoother evacuation process and enables emergency services to allocate resources more efficiently, focusing on areas with the highest need.

Geo-mapped notifications represent a strategic approach to mass communication, enhancing the relevance, efficiency, and effectiveness of messages, particularly in critical situations where timely and location-specific information can save lives and resources.

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