Montreal-based tech company Connect&GO is already known for its smart wearables that are widely used in leisure and attractions industries around the world; now the company announces the launch of its Safeband solution developed specifically to help companies safely re-open by addressing physical distancing guidelines and providing contact tracing.
The rechargeable Safeband uses BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), Haptic Vibration, LED (light-emitting diode) and NFC (near-field communication) technologies to trigger alerts by visual indicator and vibration whenever two people wearing Safebands come within less than 2 meters of one another. The solution also provides a management platform for contact tracing through a detailed dashboard and instant reports.
“Governments around the world have published guidelines for employers to establish new health and safety protocols at their businesses such as physical distancing, minimizing contact between people and disinfection of common areas. Our Safeband solution was developed in response to these guidelines and to the widespread demand from businesses looking for a viable and accessible option to support their re-opening strategies,” says Dominic Gagnon, CEO of Connect&GO.
The Safeband is perfect for manufacturing facilities, office buildings of all sizes as well as leisure and attractions properties. The Safeband runs on a rechargeable battery and requires minimal infrastructure including a Bluetooth gateway connected to a Wi-Fi network. The entire solution can be configured and deployed within a matter of minutes.
The data recorded represents an anonymous user (or Safeband ID), which allows employers to track distancing measures without infringing upon employee’s confidentiality and personal privacy – unlike other similar solutions currently on the market. The precise and automatic contact reports help businesses identify circumstances in which employees may be exposed, allowing them to take action that may reduce the risk of having their businesses repeatedly close. The devices do not require a downloaded app or Internet connection.
Connect&GO has been deploying smart wearables for the leisure and entertainment industries for almost ten years and has activated more than 16 million RFID wristbands with major clients such as the Super Bowl and the Olympic Games. “We have received hundreds of requests to adapt our wristbands for use in the COVID-era. The opportunity to license technology, pivot our focus and to deliver a complete solution that helps business safely re-open has been extremely motivating and makes us very proud to announce the launch of Safeband,” says Anthony Palermo, Co-Founder of Connect&GO.
In addition to the feature-set related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Safeband also enables all of the existing Connect&GO system offerings – such as access control, cashless payments and gamification.
Backed by a strong partnership with local telecom giant Videotron for the commercialization of Safeband in Canada, Connect&GO is already in discussions with many potential distributors in the USA and EMEA.