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 3n (National Notification Network) has announced the availability of InstaCom 4.0, its flagship mass notification system. InstaCom 4.0 consists of significant enhancements to the GIS (Geographic Information System) offering. The new version also introduces 3n's Intelligent Message Service Prioritization (IMSP) methodology to guarantee 100 percent message delivery, as well as a new set of more comprehensive tools to further ease integration between InstaCom and customers' internal systems including most ERP and business continuity applications.
InstaCom GIS
Geographically targeted communications can be leveraged as a strategic tool within businesses and government organizations in emergency situations and as part of daily operations. Recent global crises in particular have heightened organizations' emphasis on the importance of communications in executing efficient, targeted disaster response strategies with GIS-enabled mass notification.
InstaCom GIS fulfills an industry need for geographically targeted communications, and version 4.0 includes expanded functionality with a new polygon drawing feature. Adding to the existing graphical options for selecting recipients including finite zip code, neighborhood, street or radius, users now can draw the border points of a polygon on the GIS map to more accurately target their notifications. Users also can now create multiple layers of interest points (e.g. hospitals, utility poles, fire hydrants), and InstaCom GIS will provide the number of contacts within the selected broadcast layer or region prior to the notification being sent.
Park Water Company (PWC) is using 3n's InstaCom GIS as its primary communications platform for emergencies and daily operations, such as proactive customer service notifications. Mary Young, senior vice president of administration for PWC, commented, "3n's geographic-targeting function enables us to notify customers in a specific community where maintenance is scheduled, which is a crucial component to our customer service. The power of the system to rapidly target a specific area makes us significantly more efficient, eliminating the necessity of using costly and time-consuming manual communication methods. Residents receive only relevant voice notifications thereby increasing their attention to the message."
Additional new and enhanced features of InstaCom 4.0 include:
Intelligent Message Service Prioritization (IMSP)
IMSP is the foundation for 3n’s guaranteed commitment to 100 percent message delivery, by allowing for real-time intelligent adjustments to call prioritization, which provides distinct advantages over linear call queuing approaches. Using a proprietary 3n algorithm, the IMSP provides the optimal service level to all customers. IMSP introduces a load-balanced message management process that ensures all messages are delivered according to their service levels without exceptions.
Broadcast Manager
This new feature launches notifications by allowing customers who require data ownership to use the InstaCom system without having to store their data on 3n servers. Users who install Broadcast Manager will not have to develop their own application to tie into the 3n system. Broadcast Manager can be easily integrated with Windows Scheduler to automate routine and recurring notifications to dynamic groups or from dynamic call lists.
Improved Member Upload
To facilitate the integration of the 3n system with users' internal processes and applications, 3n has improved the upload toolset, making the process for uploading members into the 3n system easier and faster. Now users can assign individuals as leaders to as many groups as desired directly via the upload process and can delete and ‘synchronize’ their members routinely directly through the upload process as well.
Enhanced Integration Tools
The new system includes significant enhancements to InstaCom's application programming interfaces (API's). Users now can send advanced notifications from their own internal systems, including Polling Notifications, Quota Notifications and Conference Calling Notifications. Furthermore, the enhanced API's enable automated notifications to groups of existing members of a user's organization, as well as the use of pre-recorded messages and previously created scenarios.
http://www.3nonline.com/
•Date: 26th April 2006• Region: US/World • Type: Article •Topic: Crisis comms
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