The medical and travel security services contractor International SOS has unveiled its new Assistance App for 2014.
This tool is aimed at business travellers and expatriates. Rich Gallagher, Chief Digital Officer at International SOS said: “This is a traveller’s ultimate tool for overcoming obstacles they may come up against while overseas. Simple to use, it provides immediate access to the full strength of International SOS’ global information and assistance network.”
The new app is designed to assist the traveller in a range of situations, for piece of mind. It might be the need to speak to a doctor, or a security person when a threat is developing on location. With the app, travellers can also let their employers know where they are when requiring help.
The app gives access to country guides and location-specific alerts, written by 120 travel security figures in five Regional Security Centres around the world. Further information is provided by a dedicated Medical and Analysis team, which is part of a wider global network of 2,000 medics. These are based in the firm’s 27 assistance centres, International SOS clinics and on clients’ remote sites.
Location check-in
Key to the app is a new “location check-in” feature. This allows business travellers to share their location with their employer’s travel, medical and/or security support teams via the recently upgraded International SOS TravelTracker platform.
This provides it is claimed more traveller location accuracy than travel booking itinerary information does on its own. The result is peace of mind as well as a potentially faster, more effective assistance response. Rich Gallagher said: “Imagine a traveller flying abroad. Using travel booking data their employer easily knows where the traveller’s plane is due to land. But what if upon landing, the traveller takes a 150km taxi ride to a remote work site? With one click, that traveller has the ability to confirm where they are located at that time, with their location details clearly visible on their employer’s TravelTracker map.
“This location check-in is a huge step forward. It puts an end to much of the location guesswork that can exist during a crisis. With our fully integrated assistance capabilities, we can get help to travellers more quickly and sometimes even before they know they need it.”
Other features include:
• Push Notifications that show travellers an alert, even if the app isn’t open
• One-click dialling to the nearest Assistance Centre, even before logging-in. Great if you forget your membership number
• Mobile-friendly medical and travel security advice for trip preparation
• Ability to store alerts when offline, or with data services switched off
• Setting favourite countries for fast navigation to travellers’ most used information
The International SOS Assistance App is available for iOS, Android and Blackberry smartphones from app.internationalSOS.com.
The app is supported by a new, compact and interactive membership e-guide for members. This showcases real medical and security medical and security examples to help educate the International SOS user on how best to use their membership.
