24/7 Software Blog

You’re getting ready for your early day.

It is business as usual.

But, today you are psyched because it is your youngest child’s 7^th birthday.

You’ve been working on their party for weeks.

Your plan is to hit the ground running, get your tasks done, execute, and to be home before the first guest arrives at 4 p.m.

You made yourself a nice handwritten list of what your employees need to accomplish.

You spent the time making sure that everything is written down so that you could avoid forgetting something and being late for the birthday party.

That sounds like a great day to us.

You get all your stuff done, and your six-year-old will be excited that you are home in time.

But, as you’re walking back to your office following a quick meeting with your team, the unthinkable happens.

You reach into your pocket and find nothing.

While you were making your rounds, the checklist you created slipped out of your pocket.

You’re horrified!

You cannot recall where it could have fallen out.

You also know that you cannot leave until those vital tasks are set in motion and completed.

Of course, you know what to do, but there are a few things unique to today’s list that you thought should be handled a little differently.

You want to make sure to remind Jim (or was it Jeff?) not to forget that issue you had a couple of weeks ago.

But, now you cannot remember the specifics.

Your team is relying on you.

Your child is counting on you.

Do you feel that you failed them?

What went from a peaceful day to a stressful one has you scrambling to locate or remember all 24 items on your list.

This experience doesn’t resemble Proactive Operations.

Agree?

Let’s change it.

Eliminate this stress from your daily operation – and your life.

It’s time to manage all critical operational tasks using task management software.

That way you never have to miss or be late to another one of your children’s birthdays.

How does that sound?

“Officials in Atlanta say the city's computer systems are not yet fully operational after a ransomware attack hit the city last week and locked some city data behind a wall of encryption,” explains Doreen McCallister in their recent NPR article entitled “Atlanta Working 'Around The Clock' To Fight Off Ransomware Attack.”

“Tasnim Shamma of member station WABE in Atlanta tells our Newscast unit that cybersecurity experts are working around the clock to restore access to the city's data,” writes McCallister.

"Many city employees have been without access to Internet and email since Thursday after hackers locked some of its systems and demanded a $51,000 payment. The city says it completed part of its investigation of the cyberattack, but it's working on restoring full service," shares Shamma in the NPR piece.

According to McCallister, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms expressed the importance of cybersecurity and that it is now a top priority for the city of Atlanta.

"There's a lot of work that needs to be done with our digital infrastructure in the city of Atlanta, and we know that year after year, that it's something that we have to focus on and certainly this has sped things up," Bottoms states in the article.

McCallister continues in their article that “Bottoms says the city has continued to operate despite the cyberattack.”

Do you believe Atlanta officials were prepared for an attack like this?

It doesn’t appear that way based on Bottoms’ reference to Atlanta’s infrastructure.

To us, this reads ‘reactive operations’ without question.

Agree?

Mayor Bottoms states that “cybersecurity is now a top priority for the city.”

Aside from Atlanta’s ability to handle this incident, it does present an essential lesson for all operations.

First, let’s address the lesson as a question for you to consider.

Are you working ‘around the clock’ to fight threats from impacting your property, operation, staff, and customers?

Whether your answer is “yes” or “no,” it’s critical that you continue reading.

The loss of a personal item is painful.

But, it’s even worse when the property you’ve lost your possession on doesn’t use lost and found software.

Think about that anxiety for a moment.

You lose one of your most sacred possessions – your wallet.

Something which contains a lot of important items and information.

• Your Driver’s License or ID
• Medical Cards
• Credit Cards
• Debit Cards

All of this information and access for the taking if it ever got in the wrong hands.

Agree?

Between the anxieties of losing your wallet and the fear of a not-so-honest person getting their hands on your personal information – you’re praying the property has lost and found software.

Your customers rely on your customer service all of the time, and especially when they lose their prized possessions.

Keep reading; we’re going to help you take a policy some operations already use and augment it using a lost and found system.

The days of dial-up are gone. (Long gone.)

But, operations are still using “technology” from the days of old.

Are you?

We hope not, but you probably are if you don’t use real-time communications on your property.

Today’s operational environment requires your team to be fast acting.

Everyone knows technology is evolving daily, which comes with the demands for maximizing your performance.

We get it; the stress of this can be overwhelming.

But, our question is this:

Why are you still running your operation as you did two years ago?

If that’s a hard pill to swallow, consider this.

Each day that passes – technology evolves more than the day before.

Even two years ago, it took a lot longer to develop your operation.

Do you agree?

Nowadays, as in 2018, there are new software applications created often.

This software is shaping the future of property operations like yours.

There are two sides to this coin, and you must decide which one you want to be on today – before 2019 rolls around, and you’re even farther behind.

You can embrace the speed of communication and data exchange required for modern-day operations, or you can continue running your operations using antiquated software and processes.

The latter puts you behind the eight ball and always playing catch up.

It gets worse too, because now your customer experience and revenue declines, while your risk increases.

Yikes!

Here’s the hard truth you need to know:

You must use operations management software to maximize real-time communication capabilities on your property to keep up with the demands of the evolving operation environment.

That way you can ensure the longevity of your operation.

Are you ready for Proactive Operations?

We’ve always enjoyed listening to what the experts are saying.

It has helped us become quite proficient in the subjects of process improvement and accountability.

One of the most significant challenges faced by security services is not-knowing if their security guards are executing their duties efficiently.

Another major challenge for these organizations is knowing if their guards are executing, and not being able to prove it.

Disjointed processes and antiquated systems prevent you from identifying your real problems with job duty execution and accountability.

A guard tour system helps you get your security services operation above par.

It also makes tracking accountability seamless.

We’re hoping to enlighten you on only a few – very powerful – ways professional security services operations can identify team faults and proactively repair them, rather than overwhelming you with various features and benefits on guard tour systems.

If you can’t position your organization to track accountability decisively, there’ll be no positive growth or decrease in employee turnover in your future.

It’s time for you to take control of your operational efficiency and promote accountability among your team.

Are you ready for your next solution?

We’re not just talking about the software’s functionality either.

We’re focused on what a solution allows you to do in order to optimize your protocols and overall operation.

It’s imperative that you understand the difference here.

The solution’s value will originate from its ability to assist you in simplifying security guard duties while holding everyone accountable for their execution.

“There aren't very many scientists who achieved rock star status. Stephen Hawking, who has died at the age of 76, family members told British media early Wednesday, was definitely a contender,” writes Joe Palca in their latest NPR article entitled “Stephen Hawking, Who Awed Both Scientists And The Public, Dies.”

"He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years,’ the family statement said, according to The Guardian. ‘His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world. He once said, 'It would not be much of a universe if it wasn't home to the people you love.' We will miss him forever," Palca’s article continues.

According to the NPR article, “Hawking was probably the best-known scientist in the world. He was a theoretical physicist whose early work on black holes transformed how scientists think about the nature of the universe.”

“But his fame wasn't just a result of his research. Hawking, who had a debilitating neurological disease that made it impossible for him to move his limbs or speak, was also a popular public figure and best-selling author. There was even a biopic about his life, The Theory of Everything, that won an Oscar for the actor, Eddie Redmayne, who portrayed Hawking,” explains Palca.

Today, we remember Stephen Hawking.

We celebrate his life, recognize his achievements, and remember the impact he made on the scientific community – and the world.

From his sense of humor to how he reshaped our understanding of physics, Hawking awed all of us.

So, as we remember him and reflect on how he impacted our lives, we have a question for you:

• Have you and do you continue to awe your customers?

It’s an important question because it’ll shape the legacy you leave behind one day.

Let’s work together to create an environment on your property that leads to customer memories you can be proud of every day.