As we confront each dynamic challenge in a , intelligent technology is safely getting people back to work, eating out, going shopping, attending sporting events and concerts, and other in-person activities. Already in Europe, organizations have turned to , a cloud-based service that monitors human interactions by collecting and analyzing people鈥檚 location-based data every few seconds.
鈥淐OVID-19 has been a digital catalyst, and the world won鈥檛 be the same even when it recedes. We are starting to look at the workplace and social environments through an entirely new lens,鈥� said Chris Gant, EY global leader for Proximity Monitor. 鈥淲hether it鈥檚 in the workplace, at a sporting event, or at a concert, organizations can help promote safety with visibility into people鈥檚 behavior in the controlled space in which they operate.鈥�
Anonymized, Real-Time Data for Safety
To share their location data wirelessly, people can turn on the Proximity Monitor phone app or use other devices such as a lanyard or wristband. The solution uses and running on EY Client Technology platform to capture real-time data as people interact in any environment, summarizing risk levels on a digital dashboard. Besides measuring the distance between individuals, the solution analyzes the length of time people are near each other and at what time of day, as well as where they are gathering. Companies can configure risk parameters and resultant actions based on low, medium, and high designations. There鈥檚 also an option to add . Best of all, the data is completely anonymized.
鈥淣one of the data we capture in the solution is personally identifiable by individuals,鈥� said Gant. 鈥淓ven if an alert was sent to warn a person that they were nearby someone who tested positive for COVID-19, it would not contain any personal data about them or the name of the person they were near.鈥�
Data Fuels Resilient Business Decisions
The development of Proximity Monitor unfolded as quickly as the pandemic itself during the past year. After initially focusing on contact tracing and social distancing, the solution has morphed into a fast-evolving tool for short- and long-term planning of space.
鈥淐lients can take action based on dashboard insights. It could be anything from sending alerts and strengthening communication to redesigning workspaces and organizing people flow,鈥� said Gant. 鈥淚n a world that’s adjusted to COVID-19, the design of workspace is going to change. Organizations need to re-establish how workspaces will be used, which you can do in near real time with Proximity Monitor.鈥�
Gant added that typical go-lives take about a couple of weeks and can be scaled easily for any number of people.
Trusted Data Says When It鈥檚 Safe to Mingle
Proximity Monitor thrives on uncertainty, analyzing in-the-moment data to reduce risk as people go about their day at work or leisure. In the workplace, data can help leaders and employees feel more confident about location decisions. The same applies to attendees at in-person events. For example, a recent major sporting event organizer piloted Proximity Monitor to help meet the group鈥檚 stringent COVID-19 protocols.
鈥淭hey used the solution to help protect people running and participating in the event, distinguishing between those kept inside a protective bubble and those operating on the outside of the bubble,鈥� said Gant. 鈥淭hey could make sure that different groups of people were not mingling too closely with others or going to locations they shouldn鈥檛 be going to.鈥�
Universities are starting to use EY Proximity Monitor to plan for social distancing reinforcement as they ready for in-person learning. They want to make sure students and faculty understand and can physically follow protocols across various spaces, whether in the classroom, library, dorms, or other campus locations. A massive European cultural event is also using Proximity Monitor to help monitor the health and safety of its artists, production team, and guests.
Global Future for Industry Safety
Fresh from having won a prestigious this year, Gant said EY teams were exploring emerging use cases, like wayfinding to reduce risk as people navigate unfamiliar surroundings such as complex conference venues and large events.
鈥淥rganizations need to regulate the flow of people across locations, preventing crowds and queues from forming,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey can make better space management decisions based on the concentration of people in that building cumulatively at any time.鈥�
Gant saw tremendous potential for Proximity Monitor in the global market, including North America.
鈥淭he wow factor comes alive for clients when they see the fantastic data insights on the dashboard and realize how they can use it to solve their unique challenges,鈥� he said. 鈥淥rganizers of live music and cultural events are excited about it as a way of giving confidence that it is safe to return. We鈥檙e also collaborating with several UK government clients around using Proximity Monitor for workspace management and redesign.鈥�
Customer feedback to date has been overwhelmingly positive according to Gant, and it鈥檚 no wonder. Informed, anonymized data is pitch perfect for organizations navigating through these uncertain times.
Real-time data is giving organizations the confidence to safely bring people back to social events, offices, schools, and other in-person activities.
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