Digitizing public safety paperwork with icomedias

Over the past few decades, governments in Europe, the United States, and other parts of the world have severely cut back their police forces as they struggle to cope with shrinking budgets. Yet recently, the refugee crisis and growing concerns about terrorist attacks have increased demands for police protection.

A Microsoft gold partner for collaboration and content, icomedias has developed a mobile application that helps public-safety officials do more with less. Built on core Microsoft technology including Windows 10, SQL Server, SharePoint, and Office 365, HybridForms enables first responders to spend more time on the road and less time in the office by digitizing much of the paperwork they’re required to fill out.

Rather than returning to the office to fill out the necessary forms, public-safety workers can complete their compliance-required paperwork while working in the field. They can fill out forms using tablets and smartphones in addition to their desktops – and, if they want, verbally dictate any information. They can sign their names in handwritten form, knowing their signatures will be biometrically verified. They can easily enter photos, sketches, fingerprint data, and audio and video recordings into the system to accompany their reports. And they can work even when there’s no Internet access, with the information automatically synched once they’re back online. All this data can be integrated with an agency’s legacy systems, making it possible to work on-premises, in the cloud, or in a hybrid environment.

HybridForms can better prepare public-safety workers for the emergency at hand. For example, officials in the command and control center can electronically send forms with pre-populated information to police officers on their way to a crime location, letting them know what to expect before they arrive at the scene. Similarly, paramedics rushing patients to the emergency room can send information about the actions they’ve already taken so doctors can administer treatment as soon as the patient arrives. With the basic data already entered, first responders don’t have to waste time filling out information after the emergency has passed.

Digitizing information using HybridForms, public-safety agencies can dramatically improve efficiency and cut costs. For example, one European police agency that implemented our mobile app saved 20 to 30 minutes per officer per day, putting 100 additional officers back on the street. By operating more efficiently, the agency will save more than €5 million ($5.72 million) over a three-year period – realizing a return on investment in just two months.

As police departments around the globe struggle to accomplish more with less, digitizing their information on the Microsoft platform is a critical next step. By moving their paper-based processes to HybridForms, they can keep more workers in the field, while significantly reducing costs. To learn more, please see the Microsoft video. Also, feel free to contact us at info@hybridforms.net.

Pressespiegel: Die Originalversion dieses Artikels wurde veröffentlicht auf der Microsoft Website – Solutions for State and Local Government.