Mass notification systems are platforms for communicating information to a large number of people at once. The ability to rapidly communicate the right information to the right people is crucial in the event of an extreme weather event, natural disaster, public safety crisis or other event that impacts an organization and its stakeholders.
Mass notification systems have evolved alongside technology, and today they allow organizations to reach stakeholders located anywhere around the world on a variety of platforms within minutes. Many systems also enable two-way communication, so business continuity teams can make sure stakeholders are safe and collect responses to help determine next steps.
Many organizations have begun to implement some form of MNS as part of their critical event management and business continuity plans.
When a hurricane is about to hit, companies need to alert employees in affected areas so they can take any necessary precautions. Those employees should also have a way to reach out to let their employers know that they are safe, too.
In the event of an active shooter on a school campus, the school’s administration needs a way to alert everyone immediately so they can lock classroom doors as they wait for the police to arrive. These alerts should also be silent, if possible, so they don’t reveal the locations of stakeholders to the shooter.
And in the event of a cyberattack, business leaders need to be able to immediately detect the threat and alert employees, partners and vendors so they can take appropriate action. Most modern mass notification systems enable administrators to send out different messages to different groups of people. For example, IT personnel might be prompted to patch up vulnerabilities and recover any lost data, while other employees might be advised to change their email passwords and turn on two-factor authentication.
In the above situations and during any type of critical event, there are a variety of benefits to using a mass notification system, including:
Depending on the software you implement, your MNS might also enable on-demand conference calling, so leaders can discuss the crisis and form a plan of action.
When crisis hits, every second can be the difference between life and death, and an effective mass communication system can help any type of organization alert stakeholders and respond immediately.
A mass notification system is valuable for a variety of situations. In addition to alerting stakeholders of any relevant threats, here are some other applications for an MNS:
Trusted mass notification systems can send out messages through a variety of channels, including email, SMS, mobile push notifications, desktop applications and more. By utilizing a variety of channels, you can ensure your employees and stakeholders not only receive the message but also understand its importance and respond straight away.
We’ve come a long way since the phone tree was the height of mass communication technology. Technology has certainly evolved, but some systems are more effective than others, and an MNS that works for another organization might not be right for yours.
Here are a few features to look for as you decide which mass notification system is best for your organization:
If you’re having trouble selecting a mass notification software, most vendors offer a free demo so you can talk to the vendor, get a walkthrough of the solution, and help determine which solution is right for your organization. Effective communication is an essential component when responding to any type of critical event. A mass notification system can be a valuable asset to your business continuity efforts by mitigating risk and ensuring rapid communication.
Communication is an essential component in reducing the overall impact of natural and human-made emergencies. Emergency mass notification systems have proven to be a reliable and simple solution when lives and property are at stake.
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