22 | Northern Enterprise Awards 2022 Oct22232 Most Innovative Nationwide Housing Management Technology Provider 2022 Alertacall was founded in 2004 by James Batchelor, the original inventor of the “I am okay” button. James, CEO of Alertacall, was inspired by the changing needs of Eveline, his own staunchly independent grandmother, and her desire to remain in her own home for as long as possible. By combining ingenious technology and contact with people who care, Alertacall has helped improve the lives of tens of thousands of people by supporting them to feel safe, connected, and informed. Recent recipients of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, Alertacall now provides an awardwinning alternative to hard wired systems. Digital Switchover is an opportunity… Hard wired alarms and warden call systems were designed at a time before most people had access to telephones, and well before the invention of mobile phones. When introduced, they provided a method for a housing officer or scheme manager to communicate with residents. Social Housing providers now have an opportunity to reimagine service offerings and improve efficiency. Alertacall’s Digital Switchover Solution At the heart of Alertacall’s alternative to hard wired systems is a portable 8-inch touchscreen, with built-in connectivity requiring no hard wiring. The core service includes eight different methods of communication between landlords and tenants, including a free repairs reporting app, an anti-social behaviour (ASB) reporting app and flexible two-way messaging. The touchscreen is then augmented by smoke detectors, dispersed alarms, and video door entry to provide a complete Digital Switchover solution. In addition, there is the option of video calling with other residents and housing staff, and the OKEachDay daily contact service. The portable touchscreens can be placed conveniently for each resident, and they love being able to use the door entry system from the comfort of their chair, without the need to use a panel on the wall. Improved contact means residents are better informed and feel safer in their own home. This is achieved through WiFi, avoiding the need to hard wire individual properties, resulting in less disruption and cheaper installation costs. Is WiFi reliable? The right WiFi is extremely reliable. High quality hospital grade WiFi is a completely different animal to the set-ups we have in our homes. Many critical systems already rely on WiFi, such as in the military, hospitals and in organisations where high security is essential. Multi-network sim cards and back-up batteries give added piece of mind around continuity of service. Saffron Housing Trust used Alertacall to move from hard wired alarm systems through 230 homes and saved several hundred thousand pounds. Tracey Harris, Head of Wellbeing and Partnerships commented that: “It has been a very positive experience working with Alertacall, with no negative comments from customers. The technology upgrade has been well received by tenants and is in line with our digital agenda. The service has also enabled Saffron to get important messages to our tenants in a timely fashion. Company: Alertacall Website: www.alertacall.co.uk Email: contact@alertacall.com LI: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/alertacall-ltd
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