Vodacom Business helps to enhance public safety through IoT-enabled asset management

An estimated 1 800 government-issued firearms are being lost or stolen every year, according to the latest reports. If these types of assets enter the illicit market and land in the wrong hands, they can pose a significant risk to citizen safety and the country at large. Protecting, monitoring and ensuring the authorised use of service firearms is therefore critical.

With that said, in an era where the public sector increasingly relies on technology to enhance efficiency, reliability and accountability, Vodacom Business is providing digital tools to help manage these important assets.

Through Vodacom Business's Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, law enforcement and security agencies can not only track and monitor assets but ensure a trail of accountability as firearms move through the system.

As the government continues embracing digital transformation, the need for advanced, reliable asset management solutions is increasingly important, particularly in public safety. Understanding this need, Vodacom Business's IoT technology streamlines and digitises record-keeping and provides real-time insights into the status, location and responsibility of inventory, such as firearms. By empowering government agencies with the data and digital tools they need to improve operations, Vodacom Business is helping build a safer, more secure environment for law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.

Vodacom Business's IoT security solution, or 'Peacemaker' developed in partnership with IoT.nxt, is a holistic firearm management system, from tracking and monitoring weapons to tracing accountability, that can assist with preventing their theft, unauthorised use and loss. By tracking items in real-time, there is continuous visibility of firearms, providing reliable information on location, status and use, such as gunshots. This capability not only helps in improving the protection of these assets and recovering lost or stolen firearms more quickly but also acts as a deterrent against unauthorised use.

The data collected through the Peacemaker IoT solution allows for comprehensive monitoring, analysis, evaluation and decision-making. By monitoring the movement and usage patterns of firearms, government authorities can identify trends, improve asset procurement and planning, enhance patrolling and enable more efficient resource use. With this information, they can take proactive measures to reduce potential risks. For example, patterns of unusual activity can be flagged for further investigation, helping to prevent firearms from being diverted into illegal channels.

Importantly, the IoT platform ensures secure, reliable connectivity from the device to the management system. The data is collected and stored in a centralised system, enabling records to be updated and shared seamlessly on a secure private cloud, increasing the effectiveness of public sector asset management.

Beyond individual firearms, Vodacom Business's IoT solutions also offer opportunities to track, monitor and have transparency on other critical public sector assets, such as vehicles, equipment, and even personnel. By providing a real-time overview of all these assets, the technology enables agencies to allocate resources effectively and respond more quickly to incidents, potentially saving lives.

As IoT technologies continue to evolve, their impact will only grow, with new possibilities to protect and serve the public and make a positive difference to society.

As Vodacom marks 30 years of transforming South Africa, Vodacom Business remains committed to being a trusted partner of the public sector and businesses of every size. In turning to us, we can help to open new opportunities through technology and go further together in building a digital society that leaves no one behind.