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Voice and SMS Alert for Emergencies and Disaster Recovery
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Hosted Alert Notification
X-on Alert is a hosted Alert Notification service that allows your organization to contact and inform a number of people such as staff and customers when time is of the essence. Phone calls, SMS alert text messages and emails can be sent simultaneously to predefined groups making the service ideal for emergency alerts, disaster recovery and staff contact.
Individuals can react to confirm that they have received the information and advise their actions. More detailed information can be posted simultaneously on dial in phone services, web and wap sites.
Real time status and audit reports give you clear visibility on the progress of an alert. |
X-on Fixed and Mobile Telephony
X-on has been involved in the design and build of phone alert notification systems since 1989 and managed critical installations for companies such as ICI and National Grid. Since 1999, the company has concentrated on hosted systems and provides information services for clients including HSBC, Shell and BT. X-on processes many thousand phone calls and text messages daily.
Outsource
By hosting the hardware, X-on removes the cost of ownership, including capital equipment purchase, line rentals and on-site maintenance. An alert can be started from a secured web form or by dialling in, for example from a mobile in the field. The ubiquity of the Internet means that progress can be monitored from any one or a number of locations. |
| APPLICATIONS |
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Business Continuity |
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Emergency Team Callout - Chemical warnings, Flood, Fire, Major Incident |
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Staff Information - Building Closure, Company News, Team Management, Resource Management |
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Investor Information - Pricing, Share Issues |
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Buyer Information - Ticket Availability, Offers |
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Community Warnings - Neighborhood Watch, Senior Citizen Monitoring, Health Information |
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Contact and Response
The media used to contact an individual can be tailored to each person, the group, alert or organization. More than one method can be used simultaneously. Some examples are:
| Outbound |
Acknowledgement |
More Information |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
| Automated Phone Call |
Key press to acknowledge message.
Key press to advise of action to be taken. |
Dial back to get more detailed information (PIN coded or CLI access). |
Immediacy.
Tone of message may convey subtleties.
General to all phones. |
May not be able to take while driving, in meeting etc. |
| Text Message, Flash Text |
Delivery receipt for acknowledgement.
Respond to SMS with action to take (Two way SMS). |
Dial in to voice service.
Access web site. |
Immediacy to very large groups.
General to all mobiles. |
Mobile users only. May be ignored. |
| WAP Push |
Delivery Receipt.
Respond on WAP Site. |
Connects mobile to WAP site for detailed information and response options. |
Immediacy.
More detailed information than SMS. |
Integration with mobile user group needed. |
| Email Delivery Receipt |
Email or web site acknowledgement. |
Web site. |
Detailed information within message. |
Delays, email saturation. |
Defining a User
Information on users may be entered from a web form, or the X-on hosted database can be more closely integrated with existing personnel records. The method of integration will depend on the source and format of the data.
Information on individuals may include:
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Name |
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Mobile Numbers (unlimited) |
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Fixed Numbers (unlimited) |
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Email Addresses (unlimited) |
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Priority |
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Times and dates available |
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Deputy |
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Group Membership (unlimited) |
Defining an Alert
A template may be set up for possible alert scenarios, which could include such information as:
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Which users and/or groups to contact |
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Contact methods to use (One type or many types) |
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Number to contact within groups (Any one/Fixed Number/All) |
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Number to receive positive acknowledgement from (Any one/Fixed Number/All) |
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What messages to play initially and after acknowledgement |
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What text information to give initially |
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Personnel authorized to initiate alert |
Some of the above can be chosen at the point at which the alert is started. Generally, a particular hosted application will be discussed with a view to minimizing the choice of information when defining templates and starting alerts, when time is of the essence.
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Starting an Alert
An alert can be started from a PC or by dialling into an automated telephone system. Activation may also be linked to other systems, such as alarms.
The method used to activate a particular alert will always be discussed to fit a client application so as to minimize the amount of information to be given at the time.
For example, a particular password may always be linked to a pre-defined message to be played and the groups to be contacted. |
Or the administrator may be prompted for either the groups to contact or the initial message to play, or both. A control room may require a link to a 'panic button'.
Once an alert has been started, a second phase of response can be put into action, such as a recorded message for more detailed information, or to inform the press with less detailed information.
Monitoring Progress
A monitor of the contact progress by individual can be viewed in real time.
Changes can be made during the progress of the alert, or it may be cancelled with the option of informing those who have been contacted at the point of cancellation. |
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Alerts may be defined that are successful once a particular number of contacts within a group have acknowledged.
Reviewing the Results
On completion, reports can be automatically emailed to a management team to review the audit trail of the alert.
Testing
When used for emergency information, an essential part of the X-on Contact service is to agree and establish a regular test procedure that fits the structure of the client's alerts. Tests may be triggered automatically or manually.
For further information on X-on Alert please Contact Us
or Call Sales on 0870 345 5577. |
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