Author: admin

In today’s manufacturing industry, the concept of the “smart factory” has become increasingly important. Smart factories leverage advanced technologies to improve operational efficiency, increase productivity, and reduce costs. The key to building a smart factory lies in the use of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). In this article, we will explore the concept of the smart factory, the technologies that make it possible, and the benefits that can be achieved.

What is a Smart Factory?

A smart factory is a highly automated and connected factory that uses advanced technologies to streamline processes, reduce waste, and improve overall productivity. A smart factory is often referred to as the fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0, as it represents a major shift in the way manufacturing is done.

In a smart factory, machines, products, and people are all connected, creating a seamless flow of information that can be used to optimize the manufacturing process. This connection is made possible through the use of IIoT devices, which collect and transmit data from machines, products, and other systems. This data is then analyzed using AI and ML algorithms to provide insights into the manufacturing process and identify areas for improvement.

The Role of AI, ML, and IIoT in Achieving a Smart Factory

AI and ML are critical components of a smart factory as they enable the automation of many processes and the analysis of vast amounts of data. AI and ML algorithms can identify patterns and trends in the data collected from IIoT devices, enabling manufacturers to make data-driven decisions that improve operational efficiency.

The use of IIoT devices is also a key component of a smart factory. These devices are connected to the internet and can collect data on a wide range of variables, including temperature, pressure, and vibration. This data is then transmitted to a central system, where it can be analyzed and used to optimize the manufacturing process.

One example of how AI, ML, and IIoT can be used to achieve a smart factory is predictive maintenance. In a traditional factory, machines are serviced based on a predetermined schedule. This approach can result in unnecessary maintenance, leading to downtime and increased costs. With IIoT devices, machines can be monitored in real-time, allowing for predictive maintenance. AI and ML algorithms can be used to analyze the data collected by the IIoT devices to identify patterns that may indicate a problem. This allows for maintenance to be performed only when necessary, reducing downtime and costs.

Another example of how AI, ML, and IIoT can be used to achieve a smart factory is quality control. In a traditional factory, quality control is often performed manually, leading to inconsistencies and errors. With IIoT devices, products can be monitored throughout the manufacturing process, allowing for real-time quality control. AI and ML algorithms can be used to analyze the data collected by the IIoT devices to identify potential quality issues before they become a problem.

Benefits of a Smart Factory

The benefits of a smart factory are numerous. By leveraging advanced technologies such as AI, ML, and IIoT, manufacturers can improve operational efficiency, increase productivity, reduce costs, and improve quality control. Some of the key benefits of a smart factory include:

1. Increased Efficiency: A smart factory is highly automated, enabling manufacturers to produce more products in less time.
2. Improved Productivity: With real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance, downtime can be minimized, leading to increased productivity.
3. Reduced Costs: By eliminating unnecessary maintenance and reducing downtime, costs can be significantly reduced.
4. Improved Quality Control: Real-time quality control and predictive maintenance can improve product quality,

Conclusion:

The SMART factory represents the future of manufacturing, and it is becoming increasingly important for organizations to incorporate new technologies and techniques to remain competitive. The integration of AI, ML, and IIOT in the manufacturing process can help businesses achieve increased efficiency, reduced downtime, improved quality, and lower costs.

However, to realize the full potential of these technologies, organizations must implement them strategically and with a clear vision of their goals. It is essential to partner with experienced vendors who can help guide the way and provide the necessary tools to make the most of the available technologies.

By leveraging the power of AI, ML, and IIOT, manufacturers can transform their operations into SMART factories, giving them a significant advantage in a highly competitive market. The path to digital transformation and industry 4.0 may seem daunting, but with the right partners and strategies, it can be a seamless transition to a brighter future.

In recent times, critical events have grown in the frequency of occurring, cost, and severity. The pandemic had mostly gone but created a big knock-on supply chain crisis. Meanwhile, natural disasters grow more numerous and more expensive by the year.

Need behind Critical Event Management Platform

A confluence of forces, including the pandemic, related disturbances, escalating climate disasters affecting economic infrastructure, cybersecurity events, and digital disruptions, is creating the need for Unified critical event management solutions.

Critical event management platforms are software and related products designed to manage an institution’s preparation, response, and recovery relating to critical events that impact continuity, operations, brand and safety. Besides multi-dimensional events or “all hazards,” these platforms also address small and large-impact events alike. The rationale: many organizations prefer using the same platforms to manage more routine, smaller events, as those they use for larger-impact events.

Core components of Unified critical event management Platforms

And a growing technology market addresses this use case. According to an independent research advisory firm, the market comprises “Platform and related products designed to enable organization-wide, cross-functional response to critical events, using a combination of proactive risk intelligence, incident management (both digital and non-digital), emergency communications, Crisis Management and mostly Data driven analytics.”

This comes from a convergence of technology and vendor markets, including communications, incident response, and crisis management.

Relatively new developments in Unified critical event management aren’t happening in a silo, either. Technology trends are entering critical event and emergency management from the larger world of digital innovation like AI, Big data, Cloud and Microservices. Interfaces and experiences, business enablers, and productivity revolution are some of the overarching themes that have emerged in technology today. Each has made a significant impact on Unified critical event management.

As a result, technology customers are turning their backs on single-use, or point, solutions, whether for communications, collaboration, or information capture.

They find it difficult to get business cases approved for such solutions. Instead, customers have been looking for end to end platforms with multiple use case solutions to ensure continuous improvement. We recommend the following:

Crisis management: 

Advanced solutions apply best practices to plan for, respond to, and manage critical events and exercises. Built on international standards, such as ISO 22398, the solutions enable faster response, better collaboration using plans and playbooks, smart workflows, and real-time dashboards and insights, ensuring better incident response, decision-making, and continuous improvement.

Crisis communications: 

These single systems help organizations manage complex communications, centralizing, approving, and standardizing their crisis response. these solutions provide effective communication pathways for all aspects of incident management.

Incident response plans and checklists: 

Best-practice libraries include do organizations can easily create crisis strategies and action plans for different types of events that define the required strategy, action items, completion time targets, and people involved.

Emergency management: 

These tools provided all that is needed to manage any incident effectively through the entire lifecycle of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, following ISO, ICS, and other national standards. They keep your whole team following the same plans, communicating on the same platform, and viewing the same operating picture – from any place or device.

Critical infrastructure protection:

Innovative solutions keep up with the escalating risk to key assets, assessing those risks in advance and monitoring critical facilities throughout the emergency response process.

Welfare checks: 

The solutions enable organizations to send welfare check messages to their event response staff or any other type of contact. Organizations can easily collect their replies to identify who needs assistance and prioritize follow-up actions.

Incident and resource mapping: 

Comes equipped with powerful mapping tools to create multilayer maps, integrating both external feeds and any information housed within the platform.

IT Event Response: 

Comes equipped with powerful machine learning, event orchestration, and Incident response automation to empower IT teams with sophisticated automation capabilities that quickly and accurately orchestrate the right response, every time.

CEM Platforms, such as Zapoj, can provide all the products needed to manage any critical event effectively through the entire lifecycle of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, following ISO, ICS, and other national standards.

Introduction:

In today’s digital age, IT services play a critical role in the success of any business. However, IT service downtime can have a significant impact on an organization’s bottom line. In this article, we will discuss the cost of IT service downtime and how it can be prevented.

The Cost of IT Service Downtime:

IT service downtime can be costly for an organization in several ways. Some of the most significant costs include:

1. Lost revenue: When IT services are down, businesses may lose the ability to process transactions, take orders, or provide customer service. This can result in lost revenue and potential long-term damage to the company’s reputation. According to a study by Gartner, the average cost of IT downtime is $5,600 per minute.
2. Productivity loss: IT service downtime can also result in a loss of productivity as employees are unable to access the tools and resources they need to do their jobs. The same study by Gartner estimates that the average cost of IT downtime per employee per hour is around $450.
3. Compliance penalties: Some industries are subject to compliance regulations, and IT service downtime can result in penalties or fines.
4. IT recovery costs: In addition to the direct costs of IT service downtime, organizations also have to bear the cost of IT recovery, including fixing the issue and restoring services.

It’s important to note that the actual cost of IT service downtime can vary widely depending on the specific circumstances, such as the nature of the business, the size of the organization, and the specific services that are impacted.

How Zapoj IT Event Management Reduces IT Service Downtime:

IT event management is a critical function in ensuring that IT services are intelligently  monitored, and any issues are identified and resolved quickly using IT Service Ownership. Zapoj, a cloud-based Critical event management Platform, can help organizations streamline their IT event management process and ensure that their IT services are always available. Here’s how:

• Real-Time Event correlation and Alerting: Zapoj IT event Management consumes metrics data coming from monitoring tools of IT services, and if any issues are identified, it immediately sends alerts to the IT team. This ensures that the IT team can quickly identify and respond to any issues, thereby minimizing downtime.
• Automated Incident Management: Zapoj automates incident management by creating a centralized incident management system that brings all the stakeholders involved in resolving the issue together. This ensures that the issue is resolved quickly and efficiently, thereby minimizing the downtime.
• Root Cause Analysis: Zapoj provides root cause analysis of the incidents, which helps the IT team identify the underlying cause of the issue. This ensures that the IT team can take proactive measures to prevent the issue from occurring again.
• Customizable Dashboards and Reports: Zapoj provides customizable dashboards and reports that provide insights into IT service performance and help identify any potential issues. This ensures that the IT team can take proactive measures to prevent any issues from occurring.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, IT service downtime can have severe consequences for businesses, ranging from productivity loss to reputational damage. Zapoj IT event management can help organizations minimize the downtime and ensure that their IT services are always available. With its real-time monitoring and alerting, automated incident management, root cause analysis, and customizable dashboards and reports, Zapoj provides a comprehensive IT event management solution for organizations of all sizes.

As anIT operations professional, you understand the importance of delivering high-quality IT
services to your organization’s employees, customers, and partners. One key aspect of
achieving this goal is IT service ownership. In this blog post, we will explore what IT service
ownership is, why it is important, and how you can effectively implement it in your organization.

What is IT Service Ownership?

IT service ownership is the process of identifying, managing, and delivering the IT services that
support an organization’s business objectives. It involves establishing a clear understanding of
the services that the IT department provides and who is responsible for their delivery. This
includes not only the technical aspects of the service but also the service-level agreements
(SLAs), service catalogs, and service-level objectives (SLOs) that define the service’s
performance and availability.

Why is IT Service Ownership Important?

IT service ownership is important for several reasons. First, it ensures that IT services are
aligned with the organization’s business objectives. By having a clear understanding of the
services that the IT department provides, you can ensure that they are meeting the needs of the
organization and delivering value.

Second, IT service ownership helps to improve communication and collaboration between IT
and the business. By clearly defining the IT services and the roles and responsibilities of IT and
business stakeholders, you can ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards
the same goals.

Third, IT service ownership helps to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of IT operations.
By having a clear understanding of the services that are provided and who is responsible for
them, you can ensure that resources are being used effectively and that services are delivered
in a timely and efficient manner.

How to Implement IT Service Ownership

To effectively implement IT service ownership, there are several key steps that you can take:

1. Define the IT services: Identify the IT services that your organization provides,
   including the technical details and the SLAs and SLOs that define the service's
   performance and availability.
2. Establish roles and responsibilities: Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of IT
   and business stakeholders for each service, including who is responsible for service
   delivery, support, and management.
3. Create a service catalog: Develop a service catalog that describes the IT services and
   the details of how they are provided and supported.
4. Measure and monitor performance: Establish metrics to measure and monitor the
   performance of the IT services, including availability, performance, and customer
   satisfaction.
5. Continual improvement: Continuously review and improve the services, performance
   and the processes, implement ITIL or similar framework to ensure that the services are
   meeting the organization's business objectives and delivering value.

Conclusion

IT service ownership is an essential aspect of efficient and effective IT operations. By
identifying, managing, and delivering the IT services that support your organization’s business
objectives, you can ensure that your IT services are aligned with the organization’s needs,
improve communication and collaboration between IT and the business, and improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of IT operations.

Introduction:

In today’s fast-paced business environment, IT teams are under constant pressure to deliver
high-quality services and keep up with the ever-evolving demands of their customers. One of the
key challenges that IT teams face is balancing the need for ownership and accountability for IT
services with the need for effective team management and on-call management . In this article,
we will explore the relationship between IT service ownership, team management, and on-call
management and how they intersect to ensure the delivery of quality IT services.

IT service ownership:

IT service ownership is the process of assigning responsibility and accountability for the
delivery of specific IT services to an individual or team. This includes the management of
service-level agreements (SLAs), service continuity, and incident management. IT service
owners are responsible for ensuring that services are delivered in a timely, efficient, and cost-
effective manner.

Team management:

Team management is the process of organizing and overseeing the work of a group of individuals. This includes setting goals and objectives, assigning tasks and responsibilities, and providing feedback and coaching. Team management is essential for ensuring that IT services are delivered in a consistent and efficient manner.

On-call management:

On-call management is the process of managing the availability of IT staff for handling incidents and service disruptions outside of regular business hours. This includes the
development of on-call schedules and procedures, as well as the provision of training and support for on-call staff. On-call management is essential for ensuring that IT services are
available and functional 24/7.

The intersection of IT service ownership, team management, and on-call management:

The intersection of IT service ownership, team management, and on-call management is critical
for ensuring the delivery of quality IT services. IT service owners are responsible for ensuring
that services are delivered in a timely, efficient, and cost-effective manner, while team management is essential for ensuring that IT services are delivered in a consistent and efficient
manner. On-call management is critical for ensuring that IT services are available and functional 24/7.

When IT service ownership, team management, and on-call management intersect effectively, IT teams can deliver high-quality services that meet the needs of their customers. They can also respond quickly and effectively to incidents and service disruptions, minimizing downtime and ensuring that services are always available when they are needed the most.

Implementing IT Service Ownership, Team Management, and On-Call Management:

IT service ownership, team management, and on-call management can be implemented by following these steps:

1. Assign ownership and accountability for IT services to specific individuals or teams.
2. Define and implement team management processes, including goal setting, task assignment, and feedback.
3. Develop and implement on-call management processes, including on-call schedules and procedures, training, and support.
4. Continuously monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of IT service ownership, team management, and on-call management processes, and make adjustments as needed.

Conclusion:

IT service ownership, team management, and on-call management are all critical components of delivering high-quality IT services. By effectively navigating the intersection of these three concepts, IT teams can deliver services that meet the needs of their customers and respond quickly and effectively to incidents and service disruptions. By following the right steps, IT teams can implement IT service ownership, team management.

Sivaraman Subramaniam

In today’s digital age, cybersecurity risks are one of the most significant threats to businesses of all sizes. Cyber attacks can result in data breaches, financial losses, reputational damage, and even legal liability. To effectively manage cybersecurity risks, businesses need a comprehensive approach that involves identifying and assessing risks, implementing risk mitigation strategies, and monitoring and adapting to changing risks.

The Zapoj Critical Event Management (CEM) platform is a powerful tool that can help risk management professionals in implementing cybersecurity risks. Here are some ways Zapoj CEM platform can help:

1. Real-time Alerts and Notifications

Zapoj CEM platform provides real-time alerts and notifications, which are critical in responding to cyber attacks. Alerts can be configured to trigger when specific events occur, such as the detection of a security breach, an attempt to access a restricted area of the network, or the triggering of an intrusion detection system. Notifications can be sent to the appropriate stakeholders, including IT security staff, management, and other key personnel.

2. Centralized Incident Management

Zapoj CEM platform provides a centralized incident management system that enables organizations to quickly respond to cybersecurity incidents. The platform allows IT security staff to track incidents, analyze data, and take appropriate action. The system also facilitates collaboration between IT security staff and other key personnel, such as legal, compliance, and public relations.

3. Automated Workflows

Zapoj CEM platform provides automated workflows, which can help streamline incident response processes. Workflows can be configured to automatically trigger specific actions when an incident occurs, such as alerting IT security staff, launching an investigation, or initiating a remediation plan. This automation can help reduce response times and minimize the impact of a cybersecurity incident.

4. Customizable Dashboards and Reports

Zapoj CEM platform provides customizable dashboards and reports that allow IT security staff to quickly and easily access the information they need to make informed decisions. Dashboards can be configured to display key metrics, such as the number of incidents, response times, and remediation rates. Reports can be generated to provide detailed information on specific incidents, such as the root cause, the impact, and the response.

5. Integration with Other Tools

Zapoj CEM platform can be integrated with other cybersecurity tools, such as intrusion detection systems, firewalls, and security information and event management (SIEM) systems. This integration allows organizations to centralize their cybersecurity tools and processes, which can help improve efficiency and reduce response times.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Zapoj CEM platform is an essential tool for risk management professionals looking to implement cybersecurity risks. With its real-time alerts and notifications, centralized incident management system, automated workflows, customizable dashboards and reports, and integration with other cybersecurity tools, Zapoj CEM platform can help organizations quickly detect, respond to, and mitigate the impact of cyber attacks. By leveraging the capabilities of the Zapoj CEM platform, businesses can create a more resilient and secure IT infrastructure that is better equipped to navigate the challenges of the modern business environment.

Sivaraman Subramaniam

Introduction:

Resilience officers play a critical role in ensuring the continuity and stability of an organization
during times of crisis. They are responsible for identifying, assessing, and managing risks and for
developing and implementing plans to mitigate those risks. In this article, we will take a closer look at the role of a resilience officer and how critical event management helps in their day-to-day operations.

A Day in the Life of a Resilience Officer:

A typical day for a resilience officer may involve a wide range of activities, including:

1. Identifying and assessing risks: Resilience officers are responsible for identifying and assessing risks to the organization, including natural disasters, cyber threats, and other potential disruptions. They use a variety of tools and techniques, such as risk assessments and scenario planning, to identify and evaluate potential risks.
2. Developing and implementing plans: Once risks have been identified and assessed, resilience officers develop and implement plans to mitigate those risks. This may include creating emergency response plans, business continuity plans, and disaster recovery plans.
3. Monitoring and updating plans: Resilience officers continuously monitor and update their plans to ensure they remain current and effective. This may include conducting regular drills and exercises to test the plans and identify any areas for improvement.
4. Communicating with stakeholders: Resilience officers communicate regularly with key
   stakeholders, such as senior management, employees, and other departments, to ensure they are aware of the risks and the plans in place to mitigate those risks.
5. Responding to crises: When a crisis occurs, resilience officers are responsible for activating and implementing the organization’s emergency response and business continuity plans. They also play a critical role in coordinating the organization’s response and recovery efforts.

How Critical Event Management Helps:

Critical event management (CEM) is a framework for identifying, assessing, and managing risks to the organization. It includes a set of tools, techniques, and best practices for managing critical
events and is an essential component of a resilience officer’s toolkit.

CEM helps resilience officers in several ways:

1. Identifying and assessing risks: CEM provides a structured approach for identifying and assessing risks, which helps resilience officers to prioritize their efforts and focus on the most critical risks.
2. Developing and implementing plans: CEM provides guidance on developing and implementing plans, which helps resilience officers to ensure their plans are comprehensive and effective.
3. Monitoring and updating plans: CEM provides a framework for monitoring and updating
   plans, which helps resilience officers to ensure their plans remain current and effective.
4. Communicating with stakeholders: CEM provides guidance on communicating with stakeholders, which helps resilience officers to ensure all stakeholders are aware of the risks and the plans in place to mitigate those risks.
5. Responding to crises: CEM provides guidance on responding to crises, which helps resilience officers to effectively coordinate the organization’s response and recovery.

Conclusion:

Being a resilience officer is a challenging but rewarding job. It involves a wide range of activities,
from identifying and assessing risks to developing and implementing plans and responding to crises.

Critical event management (CEM) is an essential tool for resilience officers, providing a structured
approach for identifying, assessing, and managing risks. CEM helps resilience officers to prioritize
their efforts, develop and implement effective plans, and effectively coordinate the organization’s response and recovery efforts during a crisis.

It’s important for resilience officers to stay current with the latest tools and best practices in the
field. Regular training and education can help them to stay informed and equipped to handle the
challenges they may face.

Overall, the role of a resilience officer is vital to the continuity and stability of an organization during times of crisis. By using CEM and other tools and best practices, resilience officers can navigate the
challenges and successfully mitigate risks to the organization.

It’s important to note that the role of resilience officer and critical event management may vary
depending on the organization and it’s important to consult with experts in the field and adapt the
approach to the specific needs of the organization.

Situational awareness in emergency management

In emergency management, much is made of the importance of situational awareness.

Understandably so. Up-to-the-minute knowledge of objects, events, people, system states, interactions, environmental conditions, and other situation-specific factors is critical to mobilizing a rapid, efficient, and effective emergency response.

Situational awareness, however, is not an aim in and of itself. Knowledge and understanding of the current disaster situation, as described in the U.S. Army Field Manual, is meant to promote the timely, relevant, and accurate assessment of an operation – to facilitate real-time decision making.

Situational awareness, as such, is the means. Decision support is the end. And key to decision support is the collecting, analysis, and understanding of historical inefficiencies, through the creation of data models. Where responses include multiple agencies and entities, as they so often do in emergency management, those data models will cluster together diverse, event-specific data sources –lots of them.

Challenges of Situational awareness in emergency management

That’s not the only challenge to effective decision support in emergency management.The aim of decision support is to enable agencies to detect and report incidents automatically, as well as dynamically adapt resource allocation and dispatch approaches, even if the environment in which the emergencies occur changes.

To do so, agencies must develop incident forecasting models that:

1. can generalize across large geographic areas,

2. have high spatial-temporal resolution, and

3. handle high data sparsity.

It’s not that easy, though. Further complicated by the fact that agencies must respond to daily incidents and large-scale disasters, alike; and the decision support capabilities needed to deal with these two types of events vary greatly.

Disasters and security attacks, for instance, are likely to hinder operations by knocking out communications. In such incidents, agencies will require forecasts over fine spatial and temporal resolutions, argue experts; yet, learning incident prediction models at high resolutions in this context is extremely difficult due to data sparsity

And as mentioned above, achieving situational awareness itself requires information from lots of different data sources – sources which are often noisy.

Why does it matter? Well, integrating noisy data sources into real-time incident detection models is complex. Rendered even more complex because the learning procedures that go into these models must also be adaptive.

With those challenges affecting the delivery of effective decision support in emergency management, agencies often inquire what can be done?

As this guide will argue, Data Driven Dashboard capabilities within emergency and disaster management software can help.

can generalize across large geographic areas, have high spatial-temporal resolution, and handle high data sparsity.

The rise of Data Driven Dashboards

Dashboard systems that provide real-time, relevant information on the current state of the organization to executive-level decision makers aren’t new. They first emerged in the 1970s, taking off in the 1980s, thanks to advances in computer displays and graphical user interfaces.

Subsequent innovation in the 1990s and early 2000 served to lower development costs, widening accessibility of Data Driven Dashboards to lower-level managers. This wider accessibility proved key to the take-off of Data Driven

Dashboard s in the business world. These dashboards, as we know them today, are meant to provide “key, relevant information,” allowing for the summary of volumes of data in meaningful measures. They do so by means of intuitive visualizations, militating against information overload.

Why then don’t many emergency management systems come equipped with them?

Well, the acceptance of Data Driven Dashboards in emergency and disaster management has happened more gradually – often begrudgingly.

But done right, Data Driven Dashboards in emergency management provide the same basic functionality, in that these operational and executive dashboards – still, retaining the single display format, to visualize data and KPIs with charts and gauges and enable monitoring of assets and resources in real-time – allow emergency managers to better comprehend data from complex, data feeds.

What’s more, the visualized presentation of information in emergency services, just like in the business world, enables emergency managers to grasp insights out of noisy data sources, helping them to make more informed decisions, take precise actions, and create more comprehensive strategies during a crisis.

Best practice in Data Driven Dashboards for decision support in emergency management

What’s needed from dashboards, however, differs from there.

Emergency managers rely on operational and executive dashboards to support a different type of mission than their for-profit business counterparts. Tasks that Data Driven Dashboards must support in emergency management include:

Deliver situational awareness in a complex, multi-organizational environment

Alert users to emerging issues and problems in rapidly changing crisis environment. Develop valid estimates of the changing status of the operational environment in complex highly interdependent systems. Deliver timely information to improve decision making.

Furthermore, effective coordination between multiple organizations, as involved in the emergency response, relies on the development of a common operating picture. That means implementing dashboards will require more than just accessing information from multiple sources – the multi-agency context further adds legal, cultural, and organizational challenges than in the business context.

Unsurprisingly, the resultant process often involves multiple protocols and security restrictions. That drastically raises the technical ante and sharply increases implementation costs. Which is why emergency management agency leadership often shies away.

Incumbent emergency management systems often present stark usability issues, complain their practitioners and administrators. These usability challenges limit day-to-day applicability of Data Driven Dashboards – users simply don’t want to use the systems and will go to lengths to create effortful workarounds.

The result: legacy systems, particularly ERPs and CRMs, stand less of a chance of being used properly during a disaster, due to lack of familiarity and proficiency.

Data Driven Dashboard capabilities to consider

All is not lost, though. Emergency and disaster management vendors on the market, such as Zapoj CEM Platform, have done the requisite market research to understand when and how emergency users need information briefly.

As a result, Zapoj have developed Data Driven Dashboard offerings for executive, operational, and day-to-day practices. The platforms enable the following: 

Follow your own processes or use best practices: With graphical drag-and-drop designers, you can create or modify dashboards, data models, forms, charts, templates, and workflows, without a single line of code. Platform capabilities also expand as you need them, even during an incident. 

Coordination among teams: The platforms let you work in a digital “room” of your EOC, as well. There, dashboard and collaboration spaces are provided for emergency teams, such as command, operations, planning, and logistics.

Even better:it’s easy to set up new dashboards with just the tools your team needs.

Maintain situational awareness: Did we mention situational awareness? An annex of decision support but important. And the platforms, designed around google maps, work to help teams create a common operating picture via field personnel updates, GIS feeds, data import, email, and social media.

Work from anywhere: The platforms also communicate with staff and volunteers anywhere they use a web browser or iOS and Android apps. Every dashboard on desktop automatically resizes for mobile devices, making all the same tools available on the go. 

Finally, effective decision support has never been more important to emergency management, as the number and intensity of critical events increases. Too many organizations, though, lack the capabilities to enable effective decision making.

That must change. Luckily, innovative vendors, like Zapoj CEM Platform, have been working overtime to learn how emergency managers prefer relevant data visualized and deliver on those user preferences.

While legacy vendors take a high-handed, take-it-or-leave- it approach, innovators have developed a data driven dashboard for executive, operational, and day-to-day practices. These dashboards bring best practices to the fore (or let organizations use their own), while enabling better coordination among teams and agencies.

The result: teams and agencies can more easily maintain situational awareness from the comfort of an EOC (digital, physical, or a combination of the two), which is key to making the best decisions when it matters most. 

Unlike hurricane seasons or monsoons, there is no longer a single prescribed date for the start of the wildfire season. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has argued wildfires are now year-round for much of the U.S., having burned approximately 3 million acres already in 2022. In Australia, bush fires can happen at any time of the year and vary significantly by region, some now occurring in areas that typically didn’t burn in the past.

Recent years have seen record-breaking wildfire seasons from other parts of the world from Europe and Siberia to South and North America. In particular, as of mid-July, countries across western Europe are battling intense blazes fueled by an historic heatwave that have forced thousands to flee and caused several deaths. And, according to a recent U.N. report, uncontrollable wildfires are projected to increase globally by 14 percent by 2030, 30 percent by 2050 and 50 percent by the end of the century. 

If these projections hold true, the risk to people, biodiversity and ecosystems would be even more devastating and harder to protect against. As such, the need for public sector organizations to enhance their wildfire preparedness and response plans is more critical now than ever. 

The role of AI-Powered Risk Intelligence information in wildfire response

Monitoring climate variables such as droughts, low humidity, high temperatures and strong winds ​​helps agencies spot potential wildfires. While tools like the European Union’s Global Wildfire Information System which provides a comprehensive view and evaluation of fires play a pivotal role in wildfire preparation and response, access to real-time information is equally critical. The latter ensures public sector agencies have the most up-to-date information on risks and events as they occur, including changing weather conditions and unsafe human activities.

For example, local agencies and first responders can receive real-time alerts on wildfires through Visual Risk Intelligence , a Zapoj CEM platform  product for Safety and Security. It cross-correlates official weather statements and sensor data with eyewitness accounts to provide an early, comprehensive line of sight into wildfires. This prevents delayed, misguided reactions; enables timely, coordinated emergency responses and teams to more easily connect affected communities to rescuers, local governments and surrounding communities before, during and after a fire.

Steps to take in preparation for wildfires

Here are seven practical steps you can take to mitigate the impact of wildfires on the communities you serve:

1. Identify risks proactively. Leverage real-time information, such as the breaking news alerts provided by News agencies and social media, to ensure you can enable the fastest, real-time response to wildfires and their cascading effects.
2. Conduct a vulnerability assessment. Determine the spatial proximity of population groups and critical infrastructure to potential wildfires. Then, enhance wildfire response preparedness in areas more likely to experience large, long-duration fires, or areas more likely to experience high rates of structure loss per area burned.
3. Raise community awareness. To enhance and ensure the effectiveness of initial response, promote and emphasize both structure protection and wildfire prevention in your communities via educational resources and programs, such as signage, classes, radio and news releases, etc.
4. Create an emergency response plan. Establishing or revising your plan can save lives and minimize financial losses. Develop resources and protocols. Plan to have enough emergency kits and evacuation routes for each of the communities you serve. Identify shelter areas. Where possible, run emergency response drills to ensure your communities know what to do during a fire.
5. Prepare for smoke. High levels of fine, noxious particles in the air can cause serious health issues for people who live near or respond to affected areas. Protective masks and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are crucial. Even when fires are considerably far away from where your communities are, residents and first responders can still be affected by the smoky haze brought over by weather patterns. 
6. Communicate with key stakeholders early and often. Providing all stakeholders access to reliable, real-time information can accelerate your response and ensure it’s strategic. Establish open lines of communication between partners at the federal, state and local levels, as well as between and across relevant departments, and maintain them during and after a wildfire.
7. Safeguard your people and data. If your agency is operating in an at-risk area, it’s critical to minimize disruptions to your services. Develop a process for securely transitioning onsite employees to remote work and activate your continuity management plan, which should cover IT operations, supply chains, etc. Ensure employees in the field have access to real-time information relevant to their location, so they can stay safe and aware of changes to their surroundings.

Wildfires are a rapidly rising threat to organizations and communities around the world. In the U.S., the total area scorched by wildfires to date in 2022 is the most at this point since 2018 and, for early June, is  more than double the 10-year average. In Australia, the country’s environment is struggling to fully recover to its pre-fire state—despite having long evolved to adapt to fire—due to the unprecedented frequency and intensity of fires in recent years.

But with a proactive response strategy and the right real-time information, local and national agencies and first responders will be able to address infrastructure and service issues quickly and more strategically, while accelerating efforts to save lives.