What Is Computer Aided Dispatch Software And Why Is It Important
Some events occur in life that need immediate attention and action. In the event of an emergency, the dispatch team is responsible for gathering, organizing, and relaying necessary information to emergency services. All public safety organizations should have an effective dispatch team to ensure their smooth working in any emergency. Even a few seconds of miscommunication could endanger someone’s life or valuable property. So, an effective dispatch system must be present in organizations, such as the police department, fire safety department, emergency medical services department, or even a private security organization.
What Is Dispatch Software?
Up to the early to mid-nineties, dispatch was done manually. Information was written down in logbooks and journals to keep track of units. Printed maps and calls were used to track people and pinpoint places. If an emergency was reported, it was written on forms by dispatchers. As you can imagine, the manual system was an inefficient one that faced numerous errors and was difficult to manage. Computer-aided dispatching was introduced into the system to solve this problem. Modern CAD systems didn’t only solve the problems of the manual system but also brought tons of other improvements.
One of the most important functions or improvements of the CAD system was the incorporation of 911 emergency servers into the dispatch system. It essentially means that the dispatchers would get instant access to the emergency caller’s details, including their name, address, and phone number so that they could follow through on the emergency. The most modern CAD software includes access to the records management system, which contains the necessary information for dispatchers.
Importance Of Computer-aided Dispatch Software
Although dispatch software is necessary for public safety departments, an increasing number of other organizations, such as security companies, utility providers, and even delivery services are utilizing computer-aided dispatch software because of the organized system it provides, making it easy for these organizations to manage their tasks effectively. CAD software provides numerous benefits to an organization, some of which are listed below.
1. GPS Tracking
Tracking has come a long way since its beginning. Almost everyone today can be tracked through GPS on their phones. One of the major benefits of using CAD software is its ability to track your personnel through GPS tracking. Moreover, the CAD software would also get you access to the instant location of the emergency caller, hence helping you deal with any emergency instantly.
2. Optimize Routes
Another great benefit of utilizing computer-aided drafting software is its ability to optimize routes for you. The CAD software has access to maps from all over the world and is programmed to optimize the most convenient route for you to take; this would reduce not only response time but also minimize the chances of human mistakes.
3. Enhances Data Exchange
Both government and private organizations can benefit from the enhanced data exchange process of CAD software. The software enables multi-organizational communication that can help coordinate events. In cases of disaster, multi-organizational communication allows law enforcement departments to contact the relevant service providers, such as power, water, traffic, or other services. Joint efforts in a public organization event can also result in a better experience for customers.
4. Rapid Response
In an emergency, your response time can make all the difference. Even mere seconds could affect the severity of a loss, so your response time must be as minimal as possible. Dispatch software can play a huge role in ensuring rapid responses by sending out timely alerts. The CAD organization will give your management enough time to send out the necessary help. The software ensures good communication, which, in turn, results in a rapid response from your organization.
For non-emergency organizations, such as utility providers or food delivery companies, a quick response will result in good customer reviews and your overall business benefits.
5. A More Organized System
A CAD software would ensure a well-organized and efficient system that would result in better performance for both public and private organizations. The software contains options, such as activity log functions, time-stamping feature, advanced scheduling option, and its unit posting assignment feature. All of these come in handy when working with a large employee team, especially if your job is mainly in the field. Even taxi services have been highly benefited by using dispatch software.
6. Versatile
Another great quality of dispatch software is its versatility. The software is highly flexible and can be implemented into various systems. It can be designed uniquely to match your specific needs and fit perfectly into your organization. By providing easily transferable features, CAD software ensures seamless data exchange between different systems and devices.
7. Clear communication
A CAD system will ensure clear communication between your management team and the emergency reporter. The dispatch software can be designed to send alerts, reminders, and tasks to each team member. Moreover, further instructions can be sent using the dispatch software regarding the task.
Integrated chat features from the dispatch system can be used to store information regarding each order or incident. The software stores all messages from an incident into the records management system, keeping a record of specific details that could come in handy later.
8. The New Age Is Digital
Gone is the time when dispatchers have to do things manually. In this day and age, almost every aspect of our lives has been transferred to digital. Whether it’s for work, social life, or entertainment, we’re dependent on technology. Although it’s sometimes wrong to depend too much on technology, in this case, technology is making the whole process of dispatching a lot more convenient and faster.
The benefits provided by computer-aided dispatch software will enable your team to be more effective and work faster than ever before. Because of the variety of features provided by CAD arrangements, tracking, organizing, and managing field operations have become a lot easier than before. This software is now considered essential for not only public services but also for private organizations. CAD reduces your stress levels and your company’s workload while making the process more efficient.
