Selecting a Visual Communications System Provider
Seven tips for emergency management personnel in higher education institutions
By Inova Solutions
Emergency management personnel at colleges and universities across the country have recognized the importance of visual message boards as part of a holistic emergency notification strategy. Visual message boards are among the most reliable and cost-effi cient mass alerting technologies on the market. Most importantly, they eff ectively fill a critical gap left by other notification media such as voice/siren systems and SMS/text message alerting.
Not all emergency message boards are created equal, and the consequences of selecting a low quality product or provider can prove disastrous during a system test or actual emergency. Here are a few standards which should be considered when selecting visual communications devices.
- Needs Assessment
- Integration with Existing Systems
Like other means of notifi cation, visual message boards are most eff ective when they are one piece of a larger strategic communication puzzle. The more notifi cation “layers” or “modes” you add to your infrastructure, the better. For example, SMS/text message alerting is a popular notifi cation technology employed by many schools, but cell towers are unreliable and can be too overloaded during an emergency to serve as the only means of notifi cation. Emergency managers must also account for those who have not registered their cell phone with the school system, or who do not have access to it at the time. These limitations and others can be addressed by adding other notification solutions, such as “smart” LED signs.
Since many higher education institutions already have some kind of emergency notification system in place, it is vital that additional technologies fi t into this preexisting infrastructure. In an emergency, there is often no time to fumble with multiple message delivery systems and cumbersome procedures. When all components of a mass notification system integrate with each other, the result is a more streamlined, efficientand reliable process.
Look for a message board vendor that has been tested alongside leading mass notification platforms to be sure that the technology works together well.
Since every campus has diff erent needs and challenges, be wary of vendors that offer a “one size fits all” solution. It may not meet the unique requirements of your campus’ physical layout, internal processes, protocols or technology infrastructure. Ask your vendor to personally visit your campus to evaluate relevant factors and make recommendations for placement, installation and implementation of a visual notification system. If your vendor does not have the expertise or willingness to participate in a customized on-site needs assessment, consider that a red flag.
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