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MASS NOTIFICATION PLATFORMS
A Mass Notification System (MNS) is a communication platform that allows organizations to instantly send emergency alerts and critical information to large groups of people across multiple channels during emergencies or important events.
What a Mass Notification System Does. A mass notification system can rapidly distribute alerts through several communication methods at the same time, including:
- 📱 SMS text messages
- 📧 Email alerts
- 📞 Automated voice calls
- 💻 Desktop and mobile notifications
- 📺 Digital signage and screen alerts
- 🔊 PA speakers and intercom systems
- 📲 Mobile app push notifications
This multi-channel communication ensures that alerts reach people whether they are inside a building, across campus, or offsite. These systems are widely used in schools, universities, hospitals, businesses, and government facilities to ensure people receive timely warnings and instructions during critical situations.
The primary function of mass notification systems is to quickly alert people to potential threats or emergency situations and direct them how to respond to those situations.
VISITOR MANAGEMENT PLATFORMS
A Visitor Management System (VMS) is a digital security solution that tracks, verifies, and manages visitors entering a building or facility such as schools, offices, hospitals, or government buildings.
Instead of paper sign-in sheets, a VMS automates the check-in process and records who is on-site in real time. A modern VMS helps organizations control access and improve safety by:
- Registering visitors digitally when they arrive
- Scanning government IDs and verifying identity
- Screening visitors against watchlists or criminal databases
- Printing temporary visitor badges with names and photos
- Notifying hosts automatically when guests arrive
- Tracking who is inside the facility in real time
- Creating digital records for audits and compliance
SAFE ENTRY
VISITOR MANAGEMENT
911inform SAFE ENTRY Visitor Management — a fast, secure, and customizable check-in solution for schools, enterprises, and public safety organizations.
Features include instant ID verification, watchlist checks, SIS integration, badge printing, reporting tools, and real-time notifications powered by 911inform.
SMART BADGES ARE IDEAL FOR:
K-12 SCHOOLS
Rapid emergency response is critical for protecting school communities.
This one-touch badge allows personnel and staff to report threats like active shooters, intruder alerts, and disgruntled students from their classrooms or anywhere on school grounds.
STATE & LOCAL
Most government officials possess and wear identification lanyards to scan in and out of buildings and secure areas with little to no cell reception.
These Bluetooth badges can notify personnel of incidents through LED notifications and a buzzer mechanism.
HOSPITALS
Keep employees safe by discreetly informing them to notify security in an emergency.
Additionally, if patients are at risk of falling, these badges can be worn and utilized to inform nurses of needing help.
SMART BADGE OPTIONS
A smart badge is a wearable ID-style device that goes beyond simple identification and can include the following: panic buttons, sensors, location, and communication features to improve safety, security, operations, and awareness.
Since Alyssa's Law came out in places like Texas, several companies have designed solutions that have panic buttons on then to help teachers and other users to have a way to let law enforcement know they need help and - more importantly - accurate location information that will help save lives when every second counts.
Here are some of the best solutions available today through Brookside as past of the perfect public safety ecosystem.
SCHOOL SAFETY RELATED GRANT PROGRAMS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
te On June 28, 2022, Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dade Phelan, Senate Finance Committee Chair Joan Huffman, and House Appropriations Chair Dr. Greg Bonnen announced $17.1 million in funding to TEA to distribute to school districts to purchase silent panic alert technology (SPAT).
On October 27, 2022, they announced an additional $400 million in funding to TEA to "assist school districts in replacing or upgrading doors, windows, fencing, communications, and other safety measures."
✔️ School Safety Standards Formula Grant – Administered by the Texas Education Agency, this ongoing program provides funding (extended through April 30, 2026) to help public school districts meet state safety standards, including security cameras, communications systems, metal detectors, panic alert systems, and related security technology.
✔️ Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant – Cycle 2 – Also through TEA, this grant (performance period extended through April 30, 2027) funds infrastructure safety upgrades such as secure doors, communications systems, emergency panic technology, and other critical security infrastructure.
✔️ HB 2 School Safety Allotment – State legislation increasing per-student safety funding for districts, usable for safety infrastructure, emergency systems, and panic alert technology.
🔎 These funds can support investments in secure entry systems, access control upgrades, mass notification systems, cameras, locks, panic buttons, and communication enhancements.
📌 Important: Some of these state grants require application deadlines or amendment windows early in the year or coordination with district safety planning.
The Homeland Security Grant Program (administered by FEMA under DHS) provides funding to states for terrorism preparedness, all-hazards emergency planning, training, equipment, and readiness.
These funds are passed through to local agencies by the state, including school safety-related capabilities if aligned with risk assessments. Key components include:
State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) – Helps Texas support planning, communications, emergency operations, and physical security enhancements. These can include interoperable communications, emergency operations centers, mass notification, and equipment purchases where aligned with risk and preparedness goals.
Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) – Focuses on high-threat, high-density regions that include major metro areas; funds preparedness projects that can extend to emergency communications and situational awareness tools surrounding public safety infrastructure.
Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) – Grants from FEMA to support target hardening and physical security enhancements (surveillance, access control, cameras) for nonprofit entities and eligible partners, which may include school-related partners in certain contexts.
⚠️ Note: Direct federal grant funding to schools for security systems typically flows through state agencies, local government partners, or competitive federal grant programs rather than direct single awards.
COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) – Administered by the DOJ, funds safety technology and coordination efforts focused on preventing school violence (e.g., panic buttons, communication tools, threat assessment technology).
FEMA Preparedness Grants – Broader preparedness grants emphasizing state and local emergency response capability (planning, equipment, training).
These are available nationwide and can support emergency management tech and communications enhancements where school districts partner with eligible entities.
HOW GRANTS CAN BE USED?
School districts and associated public safety partners can use these funding sources for:
✅ Mass notification systems (silent panic alerts, districtwide alert tech)
✅ Emergency communication networks and radio upgrades
✅ Secure entry and access control systems
✅ Video surveillance & monitoring systems
✅ AI-powered threat detection (gun or weapon detection) when part of a broader security plan
✅ Cybersecurity and network hardening for critical safety and response tech
✅ Training, planning, exercises, and emergency response coordination (Usage must align with each grant’s eligibility and allowable cost rules.)
Best Practices for School Grant Applicants
Coordinate with your regional Council of Governments (COG) and state agencies early.
Align projects with state risk assessments and federal preparedness priorities (e.g., THIRA/SPR for HSGP).
Register in federal systems (Grants.gov, SAM.gov) ahead of deadlines.
Build proposals that clearly demonstrate how technology improves safety and emergency response.
InformaCast On-Premises Mass Notification
InformaCast is a cloud-based mass notification system that delivers critical messages across on-premises and mobile devices, ensuring speed, reach, and reliability during emergencies.
Integrates with existing systems – Works with Cisco phones, overhead speakers, strobes, panic buttons, and more.
Multi-channel communication – Broadcast live, ad hoc, or prerecorded alerts via IP phones, speakers, desktops, and digital signage.
Single management interface – Control devices, alerts, and triggers from one console or desk phone.
Resiliency – Ensures alerts reach the right people even during system failures.
Bells & Announcements – Simplifies scheduling for schools and hospitals with no extra fees.
Targeted notifications – Define groups/zones to reach specific teams, buildings, or areas without unnecessary disruption.
Comprehensive coverage – Uses text and audio across all available channels to ensure everyone receives life-safety alerts quickly.
Bottom Line: InformaCast centralizes and simplifies emergency notifications, improving response times, reducing costs, and keeping people safe.
InformaCast Emergency Mass Notification Software Demo
SMART BADGES
While Kontakt.io’s cloud technology enables mobile apps that help people navigate indoor spaces, our mobile experience goes beyond wayfinding, bringing together insights from across our solutions.
Gain all critical data you need through our APIs—where you are, work you need to get done, the closest equipment, nearby colleagues, customers’ whereabouts, an available meeting room next to you - to name a few.
By contextualizing the data with the user location, we help create innovative enterprise experiences, making a difference for staff and customers.
We combine RTLS, IoT, and AI technologies within a unified platform to address your digital business challenges.
Easy to Buy. We simplify pricing with a single per-bed or per-room model that encompasses all the devices, apps, and services you will need to achieve desired outcomes.
Easy to Deploy. Using AI, cloud, and mobile technologies, our equipment autonomously communicates and validates itself without requiring human intervention, cutting deployment time from months to weeks and days.
Easy to Use. Breaking through static dashboards, our platform integrates ChatGPT to deliver answers in just seconds. Simple and human-centric in design, it’s laser focused on helping users solve their problems efficiently.
Integration: Fully integrated with the Alertus suite of emergency mass notification products; can be configured to work with third-party systems or products
Simple to Use: Reporting an incident or launching an alert is as easy as pushing a textured button with a concave design to allow users to quickly find the button position without observing it and reducing the odds of mis-contact
Wearable: Lightweight with a slim profile. The badges can be fitted horizontally or vertically and attached to a keychain or lanyard alongside others
Facility-Wide Activation: Pressing the panic button multiple times activates notification alerts through all integrated products
Versatile: Use as a personal panic button to inform security and first responders of an incident or immediately launch a systemwide alert for a general emergency
Location Awareness: Bluetooth 5 compatibility offers room-level location accuracy to reduce response time; it doesn’t require WiFi or cell service
Waterproof: Waterproof capabilities enable badges to perform reliably in even the most challenging environment
SMART BADGES WITH PANIC BUTTONS
Whether you work in a secure, secluded, or high-paced, crowded environment, it is critical to reach your staff, personnel, or students during an emergency.
The Alertus Smart Badge allows users to quickly, subtly, and remotely request help when and where they need it most. This discreet, wearable Bluetooth panic button solution enables organizations and K-12 schools to insert a standard ID card or access control card (2.5” x 3.85”) and instantly:
- Report an incident or launch an alert by pushing the concave, textured button on the back of the badge
- Provide room-level location accuracy
- Activate notifications through all integrated products by pressing the button multiple times
WEAPONS DETECTION
ZeroEyes connects to existing security cameras and monitors streaming video feeds looking for firearms.
The AI image classification system processes thousands of images per second and immediately notifies trained personnel in the ZeroEyes Operation Center if an image appears to contain a firearm.
ZeroEyes software analyzes over 36,000 images per second from security camera video feeds and alerts authorities within seconds if a firearm is detected.
DETECTION - ZeroEyes connects to existing security cameras and monitors streaming video feeds for firearms. The AI image classification system processes thousands of images per second and immediately notifies trained personnel in the ZeroEyes Operation Center if an image appears to contain a firearm.
VERIFICATION - All ZeroEyes firearm detections are reviewed immediately by a technician in the ZOC (ZeroEyes Operations Center). Technicians only review images in which suspected firearms are detected.
RESPONSE - Once a technician verifies a suspected firearm, ZeroEyes systems immediately (often within 3-5 seconds) notify facility administrators and law enforcement, who are told the number and location of suspected shooters.
GUNFIRE DETECTION
Shooter Detection Systems empowers communities, workplaces to deploy gunshot detection to increase safety. SDS was created to assist in reducing the growing threat from indoor shooting incidents.
Schools, malls, airports, government and private buildings have all experienced increased shooting incidents over the last few years. In many of these cases, the delay in the time it took to accurately report and locate the shooter has lead to unfortunate consequences.
The SDS Indoor Gunshot Detection System simultaneously detects gunfire and relays this information via a floor plan map, text and email with shot location. System/Sensor maintenance alerts can also be programmed to go to specific individuals via text and email.
Additional modules can be configured to automate security and notification systems such as building alarms, lights/strobes, video, access control, computer-aided police dispatch (CAD), etc.
Guardian sensors can be installed into existing building infrastructure through a flush wall/ceiling or surface mount for impenetrable structures.
Guardian’s core technology was developed in conjunction with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and by a major defense contractor who has deployed over 10,000 military-grade gunshot detection systems to Iraq, Afghanistan and around the globe.
These systems have saved many American and NATO Soldier’s lives. This same capability is now available to the commercial market through SDS and the system configuration is fully scalable to the area of desired coverage.
TARGETED RESPONSE
Within one second of the sensor detecting a gunshot, the system alerts law enforcement and others (as determined by the client) of the gunshot.
For staff and employees, an alert can be sent to their mobile phone and/or their computer.
In both cases, the alert shows where and when the gunshot was detected.
For example: “Shot fired. First Floor Cafeteria. 12:36 PM.”
A digital version of the organization’s floor plan can immediately be called onto the screen of computers. These reports are customizable, allowing staff to show where the gunshot is in relation to the surrounding area.
The report can then be sent to law enforcement; this gives them the advantage of knowing the precise location of the attack.
K-12 Public Address Intercom
Bell/Clock/Emergency Notification Solution
Valcom school communication solutions provide high-quality audio, efficient daily communications, emergency notification, & manageability.
Connect your existing devices and infrastructure to provide a modern unified daily and emergency school intercom system.
DYNAMIC ENDPOINTS FOR PAGING, ALERTING, & SECURE DOOR ENTRY
Deploying IP Endpoints in Education
Learn how Algo IP Endpoint can be enhance a schools voice paging, alerting, an, emergency notification communication for teachers and students.
Major Universities using Nice CXOne for Self-Service & AI
Use Cases for Intelligent Virtual Assistants (IVA's)
IVA's help in Meeting Gen Z Expectations in Higher Education
As Gen Z enters higher education, their expectations for fast, digital-first support are driving universities to adopt intelligent virtual assistants, called "IVA's" as cost-effective self-service tools that improve the overall student experience.
Automate Student Self-Serve – IVA's provide familiar, self-service support through chat interfaces, reducing reliance on agents while guiding students with text, images, videos, or links.
Route Students to the Right Agent – By collecting upfront info, IVA's can route students to the best resource or department, reducing frustration and building trust.
Offer 24/7 Availability – AI-powered IVA's can handle most queries outside normal hours, delivering immediate, round-the-clock support.
Free Agents for Complex Issues – With bots handling routine requests, staff can focus on sensitive matters like mental health and personalized student engagement.
Simplify Appointments & Bookings – Chatbots automate scheduling for study rooms, counseling, and admissions, reducing stress and making access easier.
Takeaway: IVA's help universities improve service, reduce costs, and deliver the instant, personalized, and always-available support that Gen Z expects.
8x8 & Local Government
Local Texas government is putting in place capabilities and processes that support new workflows, new
ways of working, new ways of engaging with constituents and new ways of delivering services.
8x8 offers an easy way around the normal Request for Proposal, or "RFP" process by working with one of the many approved purchasing co-ops.
8x8's X Series licenses brings voice, video, chat, contact center, APIs, integration to Microsoft Teams, and more along with advanced analytics that track call activity to provide feedback on how they are doing.
Learn more about what we do
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