Message Received: Crisis Communication Systems

Crisis communication systems automate the process of contacting employees in an emergency

One customer, Kenyon International Emergency Services, a disaster and mass-fatality management company, used 3N to get in touch with its staff during the tsunami that struck Southeast Asia in December 2004. Using a mass notification system was critical to Kenyon, particularly because the company wasn't sure what kind of telecommunication infrastructure was in place, says Putra. Another customer, ISP EarthLink, used 3N to mobilize its IT staff during Hurricane Jeanne in 2004.

Putra also touts the system's everyday business uses, beyond disaster notification. For example, companies can use it to set up conference calls or notify sales representatives of a product pricing change. She also says that credit card companies are showing interest in using 3N to notify customers if, for example, there was illegal activity on their cards.

A recent report from Gartner speculates that 75 percent of the Global 2000 companies will employ an emergency notification system by the end of 2007. Below are two of the other vendors competing for a slice of the notification marketplace.

Dialogic Communications

www.dccusa.com

The company's flagship notification system is The Communicator. Customers include the New Jersey State Police, Nova Chemicals and JPMorgan Chase.

EnvoyWorldWide

www.envoyworldwide.com

Its Notification Services for Business Continuity contacts customers using any device. Customers include Electric Insurance and Southern California Edison.