It is quite incredible to consider that in 2017 if anyone is stopped by the police, the answers to any questions asked will most likely be recorded by hand in a notebook, which the officer must then type up when back at their desk.
One reason for this is the sheer cost of creating one amalgamated information technology infrastructure for the entire justice system.
While Kelvin Connect is not proposing to overhaul the back-end of current systems, such as data storage and analytics, what the business does plan to do is digitalise front-end processes.
The business was spun-out of the University of Glasgow to commercialise a mobile app that would act as a “digital notebook”. That was 14 years ago, and the business – now part of Motorola Solutions – is ready to roll out its system internationally, having been adopted by 16 UK police forces.
Kelvin Connect’s job is certainly made easier by being part of a global company, but the challenge it faces in rolling out the technology across the world is the same as it has faced in its home market – implementing 21st century technology into systems which were fit for the 20th century.The company believes that the solution is to begin at the front-end and build data management processes back from there. That will require enormous investment from agencies, but in time it is an absolute necessity.
By having a front-end solution that is proven to save time and money, Kelvin Connect is well-placed to benefit when these wider challenges are tackled, whether in the UK, or beyond.
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