Periodic Reporting for period 2 - QR-PATROL PRO (A cost effective cloud-based platform for delivering the highest level of security, supervision and management for security companies utilizing Push-to-Talk and Internet of Things technologies.)
Berichtszeitraum: 2017-07-01 bis 2018-12-31
QR-Patrol PRO is a real-time guard tour management system based on a mobile app and a cloud platform, integrating IoT technologies such as beacons & wearables and Push-to-Talk functionality. The system is primarily applicable to physical security companies and to companies and organizations that would like to supervise their premises, equipment or staff as well as to companies that employ lone workers.
A guard tour patrol system is a system for logging the rounds of employees in a variety of situations, such as security guards patrolling a property or technicians monitoring climate-controlled environments. Most of these systems are based on handheld data loggers and RFID sensors and provide a mean to record the time when the employee reaches certain points on their tour. While offline systems can detect problems only in retrospect, they still remain the most widely used systems worldwide due to their simplicity.
The last 4-5 years a new generation of guard tour verification systems has appeared, based on mobile applications installed on worker’s smartphone and cloud technology. Instead of using dedicated devices the worker can use a smartphone to prove - in real time - his/her presence at a specific checkpoint. These online systems utilize the power and the increasing possibilities of modern smartphones and offer much more features and flexibility.
QR-Patrol PRO is the evolution of the commercially available QR-Patrol and is the first Guard Tour Patrol System that integrates IoT technologies to automate routine procedures followed by security guards, provide accurate location data (even in places without GPS coverage) and detect man-down events. QR-Patrol PRO also integrates Push-to-Talk functionality to provide secure group communication between the security guards and their company.
QR-Patrol PRO consists of two main subsystems:
• A mobile application, used by the security guards, to certify that they executed the patrol correctly and have reached all the predetermined checkpoints at the time set, as well as to send incidents reports or SOS alerts.
• A cloud application used by the operators in the monitoring center and through which they can obtain complete management of the employees, patrols, schedules, incident reports etc.
One of the most essential tasks a guard has to make is to prove that has reached a certain checkpoint. This is done either manually by scanning a QR-Code label or an NFC tag or automatically with the use of beacons. Beacons are small wireless transmitters that can be detected by a mobile phone, via Bluetooth. QR-Patrol PRO is processing the data received from beacons and can calculate with high precision the position of the employee (even in spaces where there is no GPS coverage). Use of beacons makes the scanning procedure much more intuitive, easier and faster, thus increasing productivity and what matters even more, safety as the worker can now concentrate on her job rather than focusing on operating the smartphone.
Another IoT technology that is integrated is the support of wearable sensors. QR-Patrol PRO can process the signals of a wearable sensor and detect if the person, who wears it, fell (man-down detection).
A guard tour patrol system is a system for logging the rounds of employees in a variety of situations, such as security guards patrolling a property or technicians monitoring climate-controlled environments. Most of these systems are based on handheld data loggers and RFID sensors and provide a mean to record the time when the employee reaches certain points on their tour. While offline systems can detect problems only in retrospect, they still remain the most widely used systems worldwide due to their simplicity.
The last 4-5 years a new generation of guard tour verification systems has appeared, based on mobile applications installed on worker’s smartphone and cloud technology. Instead of using dedicated devices the worker can use a smartphone to prove - in real time - his/her presence at a specific checkpoint. These online systems utilize the power and the increasing possibilities of modern smartphones and offer much more features and flexibility.
QR-Patrol PRO is the evolution of the commercially available QR-Patrol and is the first Guard Tour Patrol System that integrates IoT technologies to automate routine procedures followed by security guards, provide accurate location data (even in places without GPS coverage) and detect man-down events. QR-Patrol PRO also integrates Push-to-Talk functionality to provide secure group communication between the security guards and their company.
QR-Patrol PRO consists of two main subsystems:
• A mobile application, used by the security guards, to certify that they executed the patrol correctly and have reached all the predetermined checkpoints at the time set, as well as to send incidents reports or SOS alerts.
• A cloud application used by the operators in the monitoring center and through which they can obtain complete management of the employees, patrols, schedules, incident reports etc.
One of the most essential tasks a guard has to make is to prove that has reached a certain checkpoint. This is done either manually by scanning a QR-Code label or an NFC tag or automatically with the use of beacons. Beacons are small wireless transmitters that can be detected by a mobile phone, via Bluetooth. QR-Patrol PRO is processing the data received from beacons and can calculate with high precision the position of the employee (even in spaces where there is no GPS coverage). Use of beacons makes the scanning procedure much more intuitive, easier and faster, thus increasing productivity and what matters even more, safety as the worker can now concentrate on her job rather than focusing on operating the smartphone.
Another IoT technology that is integrated is the support of wearable sensors. QR-Patrol PRO can process the signals of a wearable sensor and detect if the person, who wears it, fell (man-down detection).
For the first period of our project we have completed 12 deliverables, which include:
• The management of the project and the team
• Define the quality criteria
• Risk analysis and measures to mitigate foreseen and unforeseen risks
• Detailed requirement analysis (x 3: mobile application, cloud application, web services)
• Software prototype (x 3: mobile application, cloud application, web services)
• Website
• Business plan for the exploitation & dissemination of our project
• Flyer-newsletters-videos
During the 2nd period we completed and delivered twenty-six (26) deliverables that were describing:
• Technological, administrative and accounting management of the whole project
• Development and finalization of mobile – cloud application and the web services
• Development of the subsystem that handles the incidents generated by the mobile and cloud applications
• Development of the reporting subsystem and incorporation on QR-Patrol PRO
• Application Programming Interface development, entailing third-party applications to communicate and interoperate with QR-Patrol PRO
• Tests performed in Greece and UK in partnership with customers that already make use of the system
• Exploitation & dissemination of the project
• Compliance with Ethics requirements
To effectively disseminate, commercialize and communicate QR-Patrol PRO to multiple audiences’ numerous activities have been initiated. Among others include but are not limited to, the participation in 6 exhibitions, 9 international trade fairs, attendance to 7 brokerage events, 3 pitch events, 16 conferences and 9 workshops.
QR-Patrol PRO had more than 440 posts on 4 social media during the project’s duration and had presence in 2 websites, one dedicated to the project itself used and one aiming to promote and commercialize it. Towards that it produced and uploaded 11 video/films in Terracom’s YouTube channel and massively issued and sent 25 press releases and 24 newsletters.
• The management of the project and the team
• Define the quality criteria
• Risk analysis and measures to mitigate foreseen and unforeseen risks
• Detailed requirement analysis (x 3: mobile application, cloud application, web services)
• Software prototype (x 3: mobile application, cloud application, web services)
• Website
• Business plan for the exploitation & dissemination of our project
• Flyer-newsletters-videos
During the 2nd period we completed and delivered twenty-six (26) deliverables that were describing:
• Technological, administrative and accounting management of the whole project
• Development and finalization of mobile – cloud application and the web services
• Development of the subsystem that handles the incidents generated by the mobile and cloud applications
• Development of the reporting subsystem and incorporation on QR-Patrol PRO
• Application Programming Interface development, entailing third-party applications to communicate and interoperate with QR-Patrol PRO
• Tests performed in Greece and UK in partnership with customers that already make use of the system
• Exploitation & dissemination of the project
• Compliance with Ethics requirements
To effectively disseminate, commercialize and communicate QR-Patrol PRO to multiple audiences’ numerous activities have been initiated. Among others include but are not limited to, the participation in 6 exhibitions, 9 international trade fairs, attendance to 7 brokerage events, 3 pitch events, 16 conferences and 9 workshops.
QR-Patrol PRO had more than 440 posts on 4 social media during the project’s duration and had presence in 2 websites, one dedicated to the project itself used and one aiming to promote and commercialize it. Towards that it produced and uploaded 11 video/films in Terracom’s YouTube channel and massively issued and sent 25 press releases and 24 newsletters.
QR-Patrol PRO is mainly addressing the needs of companies’ active on physical security. The area of security is a critical one with the relevant market growing continuously, with a size of approximately 220 billion. UN estimates the number of security workers at 20 million with a growth rate of 4.5% annually. “Secure societies” – protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens - is a priority policy for European Commission. Towards that, QR-Patrol PRO can be considered a means of increasing levels of security.
Companies and governmental organizations will have a powerful tool at hand that will enhance operational levels and will help them obtain control of their ongoing operations in real-time in an effective and efficient way. That can be translated in better use of recourses, reduced time spend in supervising, enhanced communication with security guards active on the field and increased levels of safety and security for employees and citizens protected by the aforementioned parties.
To increase the target group and the number of potential customers, QR-Patrol PRO’s functionality has been developed in a way that can also fit the needs of companies that employee lone workers. The number of people working alone is gradually increasing as automation spreads in factories and offices, only in the UK, it is estimated that 6% of the workers are actually lone workers and numbers are augmenting when considering Europe as a whole.
QR-Patrol PRO is being designed and developed completely in-house from a European company. In the today's highly competitive global landscape, it is paramount for the stability and economic growth of EU, that more and more companies will innovate and become extrovert. As a result, they will help retain local talent, produce products and services with a global footprint and bring in new streams of revenues from their international activities. Currently, more than 1000 customers in 77 countries and most of them are outside Europe (USA – 40.6%, Europe 28%, Australia 5.5% and Canada 2.6%) are using QR-Patrol PRO on their services.
From the innovation and knowledge produced in-house new products are expected to arise in the years to come with similar aspirations for their respective field of activity.
Companies and governmental organizations will have a powerful tool at hand that will enhance operational levels and will help them obtain control of their ongoing operations in real-time in an effective and efficient way. That can be translated in better use of recourses, reduced time spend in supervising, enhanced communication with security guards active on the field and increased levels of safety and security for employees and citizens protected by the aforementioned parties.
To increase the target group and the number of potential customers, QR-Patrol PRO’s functionality has been developed in a way that can also fit the needs of companies that employee lone workers. The number of people working alone is gradually increasing as automation spreads in factories and offices, only in the UK, it is estimated that 6% of the workers are actually lone workers and numbers are augmenting when considering Europe as a whole.
QR-Patrol PRO is being designed and developed completely in-house from a European company. In the today's highly competitive global landscape, it is paramount for the stability and economic growth of EU, that more and more companies will innovate and become extrovert. As a result, they will help retain local talent, produce products and services with a global footprint and bring in new streams of revenues from their international activities. Currently, more than 1000 customers in 77 countries and most of them are outside Europe (USA – 40.6%, Europe 28%, Australia 5.5% and Canada 2.6%) are using QR-Patrol PRO on their services.
From the innovation and knowledge produced in-house new products are expected to arise in the years to come with similar aspirations for their respective field of activity.