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ENSPIRE MAGAZINE WS20 such tragedies in the future by providing more accurate intel and faster response . The co-founders of Tablet Command have almost 50 years combined experience in the fire service ; the CEO and team members have accumulated a significant amount of time served in a variety of roles within fire service , as well . We understand , at the deepest level , what it means to deploy technology in the emergency setting at the grassroots level , and there is no other organization in the country that is doing it at the level we are .
In what direction do you plan to take Tablet Command ? We ’ ve had success and performed our jobs better using Tablet Command in our own fire departments , and have seen the same measure of successes in a variety of fire departments around the United States and Canada . We want Tablet Command to be a part of every fire department around the world . Tablet Command provides higher measures of safety by providing significantly greater situational awareness to all first responders . We want that measure of safety for everyone who does this job . Our mission is life safety technology , and better information ensures a safer response .
How has the adoption of the application been across fire departments of America ? Initially , it was very difficult to convince a traditional workforce that there could possibly be a technological tool that could be truly effective in an emergency setting . It took significant personal engagement and demonstrations to key leaders and influencers in the fire service to gain acceptance avnd understanding of our product . Our own CEO went from skeptic to evangelist in short order after experiencing the technology first hand . The other challenge was that we were a young and small company -- we had to choose a platform : at the time , IOS was the most intuitive platform and we remain convinced , still is . However , not every fire department could pivot away from more traditional technology platforms to deploy Apple products . We had to search for progressive fire departments that were willing to be leaders in this change . And after a few strategic , successful engagements , we began gaining traction . Today , Tablet Command is deployed in over 200 fire agencies throughout the United States . Several large cities , including San Francisco , San Diego , Denver and Charlotte , are customers . In addition , some of the largest fire departments in the country use Tablet Command , such as CAL Fire and San Bernardino County ( the largest in the US ). We are also beginning to attract customers from other vertical markets , such as law enforcement and emergency medicine .
What have you learned from infusing firefighting with information technology ? Firefighters are exceptionally adaptable in their ability to employ the most effective technology in the field . Many of our customers express to us that they have been awaiting the arrival of such a tool for some time . Prior to Tablet Command , fire departments were creating their own technological solutions on their smartphones and tablets to attempt to support communication and tracking for safety . They are now empowered to deploy the Tablet Command tool with rapid ease , as a result of their trust and confidence with the product , and the fact that Tablet Command is a tool made by firefighters for firefighters .
What challenges or opportunities has the COVID-19 outbreak presented for the team of Tablet Command ? We believe that when crisis hits , we must rely on one another to pivot , problem solve , and grow . The pandemic has afforded us an opportunity to support many more successes than challenges . Tablet Command found itself in a unique position : we provide technology for emergency workers to respond with enhanced situational awareness , more speed , accuracy , and safety . The COVID pandemic afforded new opportunities for Tablet Command to innovate for customers who had significant and nuanced urgent needs . One specific example is in San Bernardino county , where incident managers needed a dashboard to understand the demand on resources during the COVID-19 response . COVID-19 presented a significant strain on first-line resources like fire engines and ambulances . Tablet Command responded by creating a dashboard that allows resource managers to view the location and availability of all Fire and EMS resources associated with the multiple agencies that serve the region .
With COVID-19 cases on the rise and wildfire season approaching , Tablet Command is needed now more than ever . Tablet Command shows that the backbone of innovation is not made up of the radical technological leaps and bounds that litter the pages of science fiction , but rather practical improvements like Tablet Command , which saves lives . We hope Tablet Command ’ s story inspires the next generation of entrepreneurs from all backgrounds . For more information , visit the Tablet Command website .