East of England Co-op deploys Safepoint delivery driver solution
Safepoint has been appointed by the East of England Co-op to offer a solution that protects its growing fleet of lone delivery drivers.
Each one is now equipped with a wearable alert button, allowing them to request emergency help.
The East of England Co-op recently partnered with mobile app Snappy Shopper to offer home delivery from 32 of its 122 food stores across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.
During the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, the UK government added food delivery drivers to the list of UK key workers.
Whilst they are working long hours to meet increase in demand, they are also at a high risk of infection, delivering to those self-isolating and asymptomatic.
Lee Hammond, Head of Security at the East of England Co-op, says: “The safety of our colleagues and customers is always our first priority. With the introduction of our home delivery service, we wanted to make sure our colleagues felt safe as they travelled across our trading area.
Safepoint’s solution makes use of automated alarms with no need for a mobile phone signal - ideal for rural areas in the East Anglia region.
Alerts can be triggered in a number of ways - if the user taps the panic button on the app or alert button, if the device detects a fall, or if the user fails to check-in within a limited time. Alerts are then monitored and received at Safepoint’s GuardianPlus Response Centre.
Hammond adds: “As a fellow local business and having collaborated with Safepoint for some time at the response centre, we’re extremely proud to be strengthening our relationship.”
“The technology they have in place is incredibly easy to use, which is important for our colleagues when they are out on the road.”
“Allowing us to track the progress of our delivery drivers and respond swiftly to any calls for support, is a comfort to our colleagues as they carry out their vital role for our communities.”
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