New Wi-Fi Enabled Crowd Alert Tool

Adrian J Cotterill, Editor-in-Chief

GlobalReach Technology this week launched a new tool to help to manage safe social distancing as offices and venues reopen after lockdown.

Chris Bruce, Managing Director, GlobalReach Technology told us “Our customers are keen to reopen, and in some countries retail venues are already back to 40% of normal time footfall, but their priority is that their staff and customers are confident that safety measures are being taken. This is a valuable way to use existing public Wi-Fi networks, to help proactively protect staff, customers and the public, so that they can reopen faster, start to trade and see revenue again.”

Crowd Insights uses existing public Wi-Fi networks to collect anonymous location, volume and movement data, even without user authentication. Pre-set limits identify crowding, triggering alerts to help the venue proactively manage social distancing and keep customers and staff safe.

GlobalReach Crowd Insights uses data from devices and other wearables to monitor, predict, alert and notify with real-time alerts when thresholds are breached. This helps to identify mass gatherings, traffic pinch points, queues, over-capacity that could risk public health, and to find ways to reduce crowding before it becomes a problem.

Offices can also use the tool to manage social distancing as workplaces reopen. The tool provides proof that employers are taking steps to responsibly maintain staff and customer safety and meet government guidelines.

Alerts, real-time and historic reports are delivered through the Crowd Insights dashboard. The information can also be shown on digital displays for citizens, customers, passengers and others to take their own action.

The information can provide long-term understanding of volumes, dwell time and movement, to support security, safety and commercial planning – such as adding more transportation on a popular route, changing traffic flows in a shopping centre or opening times for a venue.


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