In this featured piece by Facility Executive, Terry Swanson, president and CEO of Singlewire Software, examines how emergency preparedness has evolved beyond paper binders and phone trees toward digital tools that help businesses plan for and respond to threats like severe weather, violent intruders, and cybersecurity attacks. He explains how visitor management tools can identify potential threats before they gain access to a building by checking photo IDs against banned visitor lists and watchlists, and how connecting these systems to incident management software allows immediate alerts to security personnel. Swanson also details how incident management software can deliver targeted, multi-channel messages across speakers, phones, computers, digital signage, and mobile devices throughout an emergency, and how it supports drills and real-time reporting to help leaders understand what’s happening and who needs assistance.
Key Takeaways
- Terry Swanson, president and CEO of Singlewire Software, writes that visitor management tools can identify potential threats early by checking photo IDs against banned visitor lists and government watchlists at building entrances.
- Connecting visitor management systems to incident management software allows immediate alerts to security personnel who can intervene before a situation escalates.
- Additional integrations, including National Weather Service feeds, chemical or water leak sensors, and AI-enhanced video surveillance, can provide advanced warning of potential issues.
- Incident management software can deliver targeted messages across speakers, desk phones, computers, digital signage, lighting systems, and mobile phones simultaneously to reach people regardless of location.
- Digital drill management tools let businesses assign, schedule, and conduct emergency drills from a single interface, creating digital records that help demonstrate compliance.
Original Story
Prioritizing safety is not a new concept for any business, but the process of creating safe environments is newly evolving. As threats change, so must the tools a business uses to respond to those threats. Severe weather, violent intruders, cybersecurity attacks, and more can all put people at risk, disrupt business operations, and result in costly downtime. But gone are the days of plans stuffed into binders and phone trees. Businesses need easily accessible digital plans that lay out every step of the process for any potential emergencies and safety threats. That means having a thorough understanding of the effects of those emergencies and having tools in place to properly respond and mitigate their impact.