PRODUCT FEATURE GUIDE
Core platform

The distinction between native apps and hybrid apps is an important one. In summary, native apps are superior in terms of performance, user experience, feature access, and security:

1. Performance

• Native Apps: They are known for their high performance and responsiveness. Since native apps are developed specifically for a particular platform (iOS or Android), they are optimised for that platform's hardware and ecosystem, ensuring smooth and fast performance. This is particularly important for graphics-heavy applications or those requiring complex calculations.
• Hybrid Apps: While hybrid apps have made progress in closing the performance gap, they still lag behind native apps, especially in terms of graphics performance, smoothness, and overall responsiveness. This is because they rely on web technologies and a bridge to communicate with the device’s hardware.

2. User Experience (UX)

• Native Apps: Ability to adhere closely to the specific guidelines and standards of each platform (like iOS's Human Interface Guidelines or Android's Material Design) means native apps can provide a user experience that feels intuitive and seamless for users of that platform. This includes gestures, animations, and navigation patterns that users are already familiar with.
• Hybrid Apps: Hybrid apps, while capable of offering a user experience, struggle to match the level of platform-specific optimisation of native apps. This leads to a user experience that, while functional, might not feel as polished or as integrated with the user’s device.

3. Feature Access and Integration

• Native Apps: They have full access to device features and capabilities such as the camera, microphone, accelerometer, GPS, and push notifications right out of the box. This allows for deeper integration with the device's hardware and native features, offering more possibilities.
• Hybrid Apps: While hybrid apps can access some device features through plugins and APIs, this integration is not always as seamless.

4. Development and Maintenance

• Native Apps: Developing native apps means maintaining separate codebases for iOS and Android, which can increase development and maintenance costs. However, this approach allows for optimisations that can significantly enhance performance and user experience.
• Hybrid Apps: This "write once, run anywhere" approach can lead to compromises in performance and user experience.

5. Security

• Native Apps: Offer stronger security measures because they have better access to device-specific features and updates. Native development allows for the implementation of platform-specific security features and more direct control over data handling and storage.
• Hybrid Apps: Security in hybrid apps can be a concern, especially since they depend on web technologies that might be more susceptible to web-based vulnerabilities.

Our apps are available for iOS and Android compatible devices.

iOS and Android are the two leading mobile operating systems. According to the latest data (March 2024), Android dominates the global smartphone market with a 70.69% share, while iPhone (iOS) has a 28.58% market share. Collectively, holding a 99.27% share.

Our apps provide optimal user experience across a wide range of device screen sizes and resolutions. By adopting a portrait responsive design, the apps are compatible with small smartphones, a larger phablet, or a tablet. This adaptability improves usability, engagement, and accessibility, providing users with a seamless experience that is both consistent and intuitive regardless of their device choice.

Based on the typical setup, various roles within an organisation might be involved in reporting critical events or incidents. Here are some of the key roles that are commonly responsible for using and interacting with Reporter:

Security Teams:

Responsible for safeguarding people, assets and brand. Their assignment instructions vary from monitoring access, conducting patrols, responding to incidents, medical emergencies, enforcing policies and completing standard/emergency operating procedures (SOPs/EOPs) when required. Their role ensures a secure environment for occupiers and visitors contributing to overall safety and well-being.

Operations Managers:

In charge of overseeing the day-to-day operations, these managers use incident management systems to ensure any operational disruptions are quickly addressed and managed.

Health & Safety Officers:

These individuals are crucial in environments that require strict safety standards and would use incident management systems to report safety incidents, ensure compliance with health regulations, and maintain workplace safety.

Control Room:

A Control Room or Security Operations Centre tends to serves as the nerve centre for monitoring and managing all building risks, operations and systems. Highly trained operators respond to emergencies, centrally managing and coordinating incident response and critical communications through pre-authorised, automated operating procedures.

Customer Support Teams:

These teams often use incident management systems to report issues affecting customers, track resolution progress, and communicate updates to ensure customer satisfaction and support.

Human Resources (HR):

HR may use the system to report and manage incidents related to workplace safety, employee disputes, or compliance violations.

Facilities Management:

Responsible for the physical assets and infrastructure of an organisation, facilities managers might report incidents relating to building maintenance, safety issues, or utilities disruptions.

Building Management Teams:

Oversee operations, maintenance, and tenant services, ensuring smooth functioning and occupier safety and experience. Teams include Engineering, Housekeeping/Cleaning, Logistics, Post Room and Lobby. Teams receive critical alerts with linked instructions, role specific incident reporting (i.e. lift entrapments or unclean areas) and the allocation of incident-related tasking.

Front of House/Reception:

The role of front of house encompasses managing the reception area, greeting and directing visitors, handling inquiries, and ensuring a welcoming atmosphere. They play a crucial part in security by monitoring entry points and may also coordinate mail, deliveries, and maintain the appearance of the lobby area.

Loading Bay/Logistics

A critical role in facilitating the smooth transportation of goods - managing incoming and outgoing deliveries, ensuring efficient loading and unloading processes. These teams are responsible for maintaining safety protocols, controlling access to the loading area, and preventing congestion - contributing to uninterrupted building activities, tenant satisfaction, and minimising disruption.

Quality Assurance Teams:

In industries where quality control is critical, such as manufacturing or pharmaceuticals, QA teams would report incidents of non-compliance or deviations from standard protocols.

Risk Management & Compliance Officers:

These roles involve monitoring risks that could impact the organisation and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations. They might report incidents that pose a risk to the company or affect compliance status.

IT Staff/Helpdesk:

These professionals are primarily responsible for managing and responding to technical incidents, such as outages, breaches, or data loss. They use incident management systems to log, track, and resolve issues.

Executive Team:

Senior management may use the incident management system to receive updates about significant incidents, oversee the response, and ensure that incidents are handled in a way that aligns with organisational goals.

These roles highlight the cross-functional nature of incident management systems, which are designed to handle a wide range of issues affecting different parts of an organisation. This integration helps in ensuring a coordinated response to incidents, minimising impact, and maintaining operational continuity.

In an organisational setting, a typical staff member can utilise a restricted down version of Reporter to report incidents and receive alerts effectively. This is particularly important for fostering a culture of security, safety and responsibility, where everyone feels empowered to report issues as they observe them.

By providing a straightforward and responsive way to report and track incidents ensures that staff members are actively engaged in maintaining a safe and efficient work environment. This involvement is crucial in building a culture where safety and responsibility are prioritised.

Here’s how a staff member might typically engage with the Reporter App:

Reporting incidents or critical events

1. Accessing the platform:
   • The staff member accesses the mobile app or via a web interface.
2. Filing a Report:
   • Initiate a new report: The user selects an option to create a new incident report. This could be categorised under various types like security issues, building faults, safety hazards, or operational observations/disruptions.
   • Describe the incident: The user provides a detailed description of the incident - normally via some simple touch-point questions relating to the selected incident type, where it is located, and any immediate risks it poses. If you wish, a voice recording with automated transcript feature can be enabled, which is becoming increasingly popular to speed up the reporting process.
   • Attach Evidence: If possible, the user can attach photos, videos, or other documentation to provide further context and evidence of the issue directly from the phone or device.
   • Submit the Report: Once all necessary information is provided, the report is submitted to the relevant department or directly to a centralised monitoring team. A unique reference number with automated severity and priority levels are assigned.

Receiving Alerts

1. Immediate Acknowledgment:
   • Once the report is submitted, the user receives an immediate automated acknowledgment that the report has been received. This reassures the reporter that the issue is being addressed.
2. Updates and Notifications:
   • Status Updates: The system provides regular updates on the status of the incident, such as "under review," "action in progress," or "resolved." These updates can be communicated via email, push notifications, or through the platform itself.
   • Alerts on Similar Incidents: If the system identifies similar incidents being reported or relevant alerts that impact the user (like an area being unsafe), it can notify the staff member to avoid certain locations or take precautionary measures.

Feedback and Follow-Up

1. Resolution Notification:
   • When the incident is resolved, the staff member who reported it receives a notification detailing the actions taken and the outcome. This closure is crucial for maintaining trust in the system.
2. Feedback Mechanism:
   • The platform may allow the reporter to provide feedback on the handling of the incident or to engage in a follow-up survey to assess their satisfaction with the process and the resolution.

Benefits for Staff Members

• Empowerment and Safety: Employees feel empowered to contribute to workplace safety and operational efficiency.
• Transparency and Communication: The system fosters an environment of open communication, where all team members are informed and aware of ongoing issues and resolutions.
• Proactive Involvement: Encourages a proactive approach to problem-solving, where employees don't just walk by potential issues but take active steps to resolve them.

Yes!

We can use access levels to strip back components of the app so they only can access the Alerts module. Staff will receive timely, relevant, and secure information about safety and security concerns. This not only helps in effectively managing incidents but also boosts staff confidence in their safety at work, contributing to a proactive and protective organisational culture.

Here's how Reporter can be tailored to deliver private alerts effectively to your staff:

Alert configuration

1. Personalised notifications:
   • User Profiles: The app can maintain user profiles that specify each staff member's location, role, and other relevant details.
   • Custom Alerts: Based on these profiles, the app can send tailored alerts that are relevant to individual circumstances, such as specific threats to a department or location-based alerts if an incident occurs nearby.
2. Secure communication channels:
   • Encryption: Messages and notifications sent through the app are encrypted to ensure that sensitive information is securely communicated.
   • Access Controls: The app can implement strict access controls, ensuring that only authorised personnel can view certain alerts, especially when dealing with sensitive or confidential information.
3. Real-time updates:
   • Immediate Dispatch: As soon as an incident is reported or detected, the system can immediately send alerts to the relevant staff members, ensuring minimal delay.
   • Continuous Monitoring: The app can provide ongoing updates about an ongoing situation, helping staff stay informed about developments or changes in security status.

Scenario-specific alerts

• Emergency Situations: In emergencies like fires, or active shooter scenarios, the app can push instant alerts to all employees, providing instructions such as evacuation routes or lockdown procedures.
• Health and Safety: For health-related alerts (like chemical spills or pandemics), the app can send specific safety instructions and updates to affected or at-risk staff.
• Security: For security threats, staff or all users (depending on the nature of the threat) can receive alerts with clear instructions.

Interaction and Feedback

• Audits: To ensure that messages are sent and delivered
• Feedback Mechanism: Staff can report back through the app if they are safe, need assistance, or have any other relevant information regarding the incident.

Regulatory Compliance

• Data Protection: The app will comply with data protection regulations (like GDPR or HIPAA) to protect personal information and maintain privacy.
• Record Keeping: The app can automatically log all communications and responses for audit purposes and to comply with regulatory requirements.