04.03.2014 Views

Download PDF - International SOS

Download PDF - International SOS

Download PDF - International SOS

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

ONLINE<br />

The world at your<br />

fingertips<br />

Hi-tech online solutions help mitigate the risks of<br />

international travel.<br />

ONE OF THE downsides of living in the<br />

‘Information Age’ is data overload.<br />

This is particularly true for international<br />

companies with hundreds or thousands of<br />

employees traveling or working abroad.<br />

With so many sources of information, it’s<br />

virtually impossible to access the specific<br />

details they need to help keep staff safe and<br />

secure.<br />

“The aim from the start was to make<br />

<strong>International</strong> <strong>SOS</strong>’s website and associated<br />

online services the only places you would<br />

ever need to look,” says Tim Daniel, Chief<br />

Operating Officer, <strong>International</strong> <strong>SOS</strong> Online.<br />

From humble beginnings in 1997, the main<br />

<strong>International</strong> <strong>SOS</strong> members’ website has<br />

developed into a comprehensive guide to<br />

traveling and working around the world, as<br />

Tim explains: “We now have more than two<br />

hundred country guides of around 25-30<br />

pages each, available in English, French,<br />

Spanish, Japanese and Chinese. You can find<br />

out all you need to know about health,<br />

security, climate, culture and customs. And<br />

information is constantly updated 24/7 to<br />

keep users fully informed.”<br />

Towards full interactivity<br />

Customers are always searching for ways to<br />

help manage risk more effectively: “The idea<br />

for our ‘Traveler Locator Service’ came<br />

following a client discussion shortly after<br />

9/11. Tragically, the company had had<br />

employees on one of the hijacked planes, and<br />

wanted a system that could track every<br />

traveling member of staff anywhere in the<br />

world.<br />

“Traveler Locator takes data from travel<br />

management systems and travel agencies to<br />

give an instant snapshot of the movements of<br />

employees. You can track individuals by<br />

region, by country, by flight number or hotel<br />

booking. It also lets you assess the risks<br />

facing these people and gives automatic<br />

medical and security alerts if they’re likely to<br />

face dangers or hazards.<br />

“The service is web-based and accessible<br />

from anywhere in the world, yet also highly<br />

secure with restricted users. As you would<br />

expect, the amount of data processed is<br />

22 INTERNATIONAL <strong>SOS</strong>

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!