When you’re running a business, you will certainly want to do everything in your power to keep it safe. This includes not only safeguarding the sensitive information, although we cannot deny the fact that this is important as well, and protecting yourself against lawsuits. It also, among other things, includes protecting the people in your company against all kinds of threats and in all kinds of emergency situations that could cause harm. Click this to read some more on how to protect them.
Naturally, proper protection starts with proper communication. And, seamless communication cannot be ensured without the right systems in place, including the emergency mass notification systems. These have become a vital part of any business whatsoever, as they ensure that critical information reaches the people at the right time, thus increasing their chances of acting in a timely manner, especially in cases of emergencies, such as natural disasters, health crises, as well as security threats.
No matter what kind of an organization you are managing, be it a healthcare facility, a school, a public space, or a private business of any kind, there is no doubt that you’ll want to keep both the employees and the visitors safe. This is why incorporating an emergency mass notification system into your organization is an absolute must. But, while you may understand that already, there is a chance that you are worried about something else.
To cut right to the chase, you may be worried about the actual process of choosing and getting the right system for your premises. So, that is what we are going to be discussing next. In short, I will share some tips that should help you find and get the perfect emergency mass notification system for your business. Let’s begin right away.
Here is some more on keeping your workplace safe in general: https://business.gov.au/risk-management/health-and-safety/make-your-workplace-safer
1) Figure Out What You Need First
You can’t go shopping without understanding what you need first, can you? Well, no. So, what you have to do here is identify your mass notification needs before going any further. And, how can you do that? Well, there are several important factors to consider.
For starters, there is the size of your audience, important because it will help you determine the size and the power of the system you want to get. Smaller offices may benefit from some basic systems, while larger venues may require more robust setups that have greater coverage. In addition to that, you should also think about the types of emergencies you want to be prepared for, as well as assess which specific communication channels may be right for your audience – phone calls, sirens, text messages etc.
2) Search for Different Providers Online
Once you have identified precisely what you need, you’ll be ready to proceed towards searching for those companies that can offer you these solutions. There are, certainly, a lot of providers out there that will be ready to sell their products. But, it is your task to carefully check out more of them, and more of their products, before making any final shopping decisions. For now, what you should do is use this step to make a list of potential providers.
3) Check the Features of the Products
Once you’ve found a few potential providers, it will be time for you to start checking out their products in more details. And, when checking out some interesting emergency mass notification systems, you should always remember to take a look at their specific features. Since you need these for emergencies, it would be great to opt for those high uptime and fast delivery systems.
But then, you should also consider multichannel capabilities. After all, instead of opting for just a text message or just a siren, you may want to use both of those channels and more, such as mobile app alerts, voice calls, and similar. Great systems will surely be able to support multiple channels, thus making sure that the emergency message is clearly sent across.
4) Check Ease of Use
In addition to the above, you should also check how easy the different systems are to use. You don’t want to wind up in an emergency and then not know how to send the message across, wasting time trying to figure out the setup. This would be rather counterproductive, and definitely not very safe.
In short, you should choose a system that is intuitive and easy to use, especially during those high-stress situations. A simple, user-friendly interface, pre-configured messages, as well as automated alerts can be the perfect features in emergency situations. So, always check the ease of use before making any final decisions.
5) Check Integration Capabilities
Naturally, you will want to be able to easily integrate the emergency mass notification system you choose with any other solutions you may be using. Those can include fire alarms and sprinklers, security and surveillance systems and more. This will allow for even better overall security, ensuring that all systems act together to enhance the safety of the people on the premises. And, it will contribute to preventing miscommunication (more info).
6) Read Some Reviews
In addition to those factors you should consider when choosing this setup, you should also take some time to read reviews written by previous clients. Why is this important, though? Well, in the simplest words possible, this will help you get a better idea about the quality of the emergency mass notification systems you are considering, and there is no doubt that you want that quality to be amazing. Furthermore, the reviews will lead you towards more easily determining the reputation of the suppliers you are thinking of buying from, which should help you make the right choice.
7) Compare the Prices
Finally, what you should do is compare the prices of the different products you’ve been researching. This, of course, doesn’t mean that you should just opt for the cheapest solution, because that’s not the smartest move. In short, you should consider the prices and compare them, but you shouldn’t forget all the other mentioned factors, as keeping all of them in mind is what will ultimately help you make the best decision.
