Ensuring the safety of employees, especially that of frontline workers who are out in the field or those like cashiers, branch accountants, and even female staff, is more than just a responsibility for organizations. It’s a commitment to their security and well-being which can be fulfilled with the help of workforce safety mobile apps.

Imagine a field executive working in an unfamiliar area or a female employee on her way home late after work. Or when your employees are on business trips in the same or an international country.

Workforce safety mobile apps bring real-time safety measures right to employees’ fingertips, ensuring that help is always just a tap away.

In this blog, we’ll look at must-have features of workforce safety mobile apps.

How Workforce Safety Mobile Apps Benefit Employees and Companies:

The mobile app market is booming today. Globally, it accounted for $196.08 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach over $1,383.65 billion by 2033.

But creating a successful mobile app requires more than just a great idea.

Here are some essential factors you need to consider before getting into mobile app development:

Identify Your Target Market

• Enable employees to quickly report incidents, request help, and receive immediate assistance in high-risk or emergency situations
• Improve overall safety by providing tools for tracking, emergency navigation, and discreet intelligence gathering, ensuring that help can be dispatched quickly
• Help organizations create a safer work environment, boost employee confidence, and ensure a rapid response to emergencies
• Align with your brand’s visual identity.

Read More: Mobile App Development checklist

Key Features of Workforce Safety Mobile Apps

1. SOS Trigger with Real-time Tracking

An SOS trigger is a panic button in the app that allows employees to alert emergency services or designated contacts with a single tap when they sense danger. Immediate notification can significantly reduce response time for help. The app should also offer the option to send automatic alerts with the user’s location to predefined contacts or security teams. It should provide real-time location tracking, enabling responders to pinpoint the exact whereabouts of the employee and ensure a swift and accurate response.

2. 24X7 Command Center Response

Effective emergency response management is key to ensuring timely action during crises. The app should integrate with a central command center to analyze alerts, classify them by criticality, and dispatch local authorities, medical aid, or other necessary services. This coordination helps in holistically managing emergencies in a prompt manner.

3. Emergency Map

In the event of an emergency, having access to an emergency map is invaluable. This feature provides users with coordinates and navigation assistance to help them locate safe routes and nearby resources. It can be particularly useful in unfamiliar environments, enabling employees to find their way to safety quickly.

4. ChatBot

A ChatBot integrated into the app can offer immediate assistance/information. This feature allows users to communicate with the command center or support team through a chat interface. It can provide real-time answers to safety queries and guidance during emergencies.

5. Incident Reporting

The ability to report incidents in real time is a vital feature for workforce safety apps. Employees should be able to quickly report any unusual incidents or hazards using their mobile devices. Features such as photo uploads, video recording, and instant notifications can help in documenting and addressing incidents promptly. This is critical in all safety cases especially in sexual harassment and criminal cases, which is needed when filing POSH case for sexual harassment or a police FIR.

6. POSH Management

As per studies, the BFSI and IT/ITES sectors have accounted for almost 69.5% of all sexual harassment complaints in the FY 2021-22. In this background, POSH management in workforce safety apps is a key feature that can help the reporting of sexual harassment incidents, by allowing for confidential submissions by protecting the reporter’s identity. There should be support for internal evidence gathering with features for documentation and analytics. Users can benefit from detailed dashboards, reports, and feedback mechanisms, ensuring effective resolution and compliance of POSH complaints.

7. Travel Support

Travel support features (that can help employees who travel frequently for business) in workforce safety apps can include GPS tracking, traveler monitoring, visa and passport assistance, and SOS messaging. The app should offer easy access to the embassy contact details and support multiple languages. In addition to software features, it also needs to have support for hardware like long battery life, power bank functionality, biometric authentication, a built-in flashlight, alarm, and weather alerts, so as to ensure comprehensive safety and convenience for business travelers.

8. Stealth Mode Intelligence Gathering

In some situations, employees might need to gather information discreetly. A stealth mode feature allows the app to collect audio, video, images, and location data in the background during emergencies. This data is then sent to the command center, where it can be analyzed to assess the situation and plan an appropriate response. This feature is essential for situations where visible or audible distress signals could exacerbate the danger.

9. Security

Protecting user data is paramount. The app should have robust security measures to safeguard personal information and ensure privacy. This includes encryption, secure data storage, and compliance with relevant data protection regulations.

In Conclusion

Mobile apps for workforce safety are an essential tool for protecting employees.

When it comes to developing these apps, outsourcing can be a smart move. Specialized software outsourcing companies like AnekaLabs can guarantee that the app includes all the right features tailored to your specific needs.

See how AnekaLabs developed a mobile app for Mahindra Finance’s employee safety & security

Download Case Study