The challenges around fighting the spread of COVID-19 have been immense. Yet, in some areas, it has accelerated the adoption of technology solutions that have helped mitigate the problems. One example is the widespread use of video meetings and collaboration to enable people to work remotely. While not ideal in all situations, the success of that in many workplaces has caused some employers to rethink their workforce strategies, which could result in more future opportunities for work from home for many for whom it would be highly beneficial.

Other businesses and organizations have thought of contactless solutions to keep business going. Stores like Best Buy have heavily promoted online ordering with efficient store pickups, where just about all physical contact with personnel or the store is eliminated.

In a similar vein, many areas can be rethought for minimizing physical contact that doesn’t add value. Automatic doors eliminate pulls and touching handles, automatic flushing toilets, faucets, and soap and towel dispensing reduce physical contact in bathrooms, and other examples abound. And these things already exist; they do not require unproven new technology, but do require a willingness to replace existing infrastructure for long-term benefits.

Another technology that is proven and can provide rapid benefits is access control. Touchless access control for secure entry has existed for years. And with the advances in today’s software and integration with other intelligent security systems, it can also help in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 in the Rio Grande Valley and throughout Texas.

Keep reading to learn more.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges not seen in the U.S., perhaps since World War 2. Here in Texas, as businesses, schools, and other organizations reopen, the problem is how to get society back to regular patterns while maintaining health and safety.

Fortunately, technology can offer solutions. While it’s safe to say that none of the technology solutions currently at our disposal are perfect, they can be a tremendous aid in getting life back to normal parameters without creating undue friction in the economy and life in general.

While wearing face masks is unpleasant for most people, we know that it can help protect against the rampant spread of the virus. One issue that has emerged is how to enforce the wearing of face masks in places where distancing is difficult - like production facilities, schools, restaurants, and many other places – without employing many people or putting others in uncomfortable positions.

Advanced video analytics, like the type that can detect faces and objects, may help. If your organization is wrestling with how to ensure face masks are being used in your facilities or premises in San Antonio, read on for mask detection solutions that may help.

Purchasing for public organizations like school systems has never been an easy process. In the government and public sphere, transparency is critical, and every taxpayer dollar counts.

The typical purchasing process for many products and solutions has been through an RFQ or RFP (Request for Quotation or Proposal) process. As most familiar with these processes know, these methods can be long and cumbersome in either government or private enterprise. When a solution is needed sooner rather than later, this type of process can hinder making the required investments for critical infrastructure for more secure school campuses in San Antonio and other Texas cities.

In Texas, purchasing co-ops have been developed to streamline the purchasing process. For example, the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) has been serving local governments for 40 years with purchasing services. TIPS (The Interlocal Purchasing System) is another purchasing cooperative that started in 2002 out of Region 8 in Texas and has expanded throughout the state and nationally.

Co-ops have helped small and large school districts alike to pool purchasing power and streamline processes. They vet vendors, establish competitively priced blanket contracts for goods and services, and provide valuable and time-saving methods for making purchases.

ASAP Security is proud to have been selected as a key security technology vendor for both TIPS and H-GAC, allowing us to offer our solutions to school districts with minimized friction and the knowledge that that district is getting top value for its designated budget. Read on for examples of solutions you can purchase through the co-op process.

It’s unfortunate, but these are challenging times. The current COVID-19 health crisis has prompted many changes in our society that we might not have dreamed about less than two months ago. The nation has coped with many crises in the past, and it will adapt and deal with this one too.

However, we are dealing with new realities. Indeed, there are the realities of staying home and having almost no outside activities available. We are dealing with families having to work, school, exercise, and be entertained at home, which may be challenging and a huge change from busy schedules. But there’s another side, too, with all schools and many businesses closed. And while these closures are temporary, we should be prepared for the potential of other closures and social distancing measures taking place until the virus is eradicated.

When you think about it, many closed places - whether its shops, restaurants, places of worship, or other venues ­– could be targets for theft or vandalism. As we said, these are unfortunate and uncertain times, and sometimes uncertainly breeds unlawful behavior.

But there is a way to protect your River Oaks and Houston area premises with a solution that puts you in control - monitored surveillance. Read on to learn more about it and why this is the right time to consider it.