It’s been rough going for public safety agencies across Canada, particularly over the last two years. Calls are up, staff is down, and demand is higher. As such, organizations seeking digital transformation as a means of keeping pace are scrutinizing available technologies to find the best solutions.
Now is a good time to embrace technology. Newer platforms can be more resistant and resilient to cyberattacks, comply with next-generation requirements, improve service quality, and offer operational efficiencies.
These benefits are important, but there are other considerations to keep in mind.
The dispatcher experience
Technology is great, but you need people to run it. Dispatcher staffing and burnout are common challenges at centers across the country, and new digital technologies mean new user interfaces and additional training. As such, successfully adopting new tech means bringing dispatchers into the decision-making process and leveraging internal champions can make the transition easier and reduce change-resistant staff attrition. Dispatcher feedback on the front end of the process may also reduce surprise problems downstream.
Transparency and data
The growing importance of data cannot be underestimated, and new public safety platforms have responded with improved ways to collect, analyze, and share data. Moreover, they can help officials communicate how data is used for policing, identifying crime trends, and allocating resources. Implementing public safety solutions that improve data analysis and sharing is vital to the digital transformation journey.
The value of that data is twofold. First, agencies can leverage data analytics to make informed decisions and improve operations and services. Second, residents are asking for more transparency from the agencies that serve their communities. Combined, implementing public safety solutions that enhance data analysis and sharing is vital to the digital transformation journey.
Closing thoughts
Demands on public safety agencies will continue to increase, and agencies recognize the need for digital transformation. Having a full understanding of longer-term IT benefits, dispatcher experience, and changing demands from residents will help you pick the right public safety platform for your agency and community.
Want to learn more?
The Connected Cities and Services Summit at HxGN LIVE Global 2022 brings together experts to discuss the information, capabilities, and systems necessary to solve these challenges for public safety, transportation, utilities, defense, smart cities, and more. Learn how digital reality solutions deliver the situational awareness and insights needed to streamline planning and operations and improve results. Register today.
