Emergency & Disaster Relief Organization Gets Hotspot Devices to Fight Covid-19

KEY TAKEAWAYS

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, a National Emergency & Disaster Relief Organization  required mobile internet access in pop up tents where people received screening tests and other medical assistance. The Organization turned to ConnectUs which was able to procure, kit, and ship 450 WiFi hotspot devices within one day of order placement. 

• Ramped up Covid-19 response in days with WiFi hotspot devices.
• Instead of 8-12 week delay, all devices were shipped within a single business day.
• 450 devices shipped rapidly over a dozen locations.
• Devices arrived ready to use out of the box.

SITUATION

Covid-19 required rapid response from Emergency & Disaster Relief Organization

The nationwide spread of Covid-19 infections required a fast, agile, and robust response from healthcare organizations. Rapid test coordination and test reporting depended largely on internet connectivity. Part of the Emergency & Disaster Relief Organization’s strategy was to set up pop up tents in the field to reach where rapid testing would be safe and efficient.

Being distant from infrastructure-based WiFi connectivity, the need for portable hotspots in the pop up tents became quickly apparent. This would facilitate the use of laptops and handheld devices being used in the fight against Covid-19.

OBJECTIVE

Deploy WiFi hotspot devices nationwide as quickly as possible

As the viral infection was running its course across the country, every hour was critical. Internet connectivity in the field was of utmost importance. Viral testing was being performed in pop up tents to make testing more accessible, however, these locations did not have internet access. The Organization’s objective was to deploy hundreds of WiFi hotspot devices to locations nationwide. 

APPROACH

Locate a provider that could rapidly configure and ship devices 

The Emergency & Disaster Relief Organization first turned to a major Carrier to inquire about procuring hotspot devices. The Organization was disappointed to hear, however, that there was an 8-12 week delivery backlog as the requested devices were sold out.

The Carrier referred the Organization to ConnectUs as we are known for being able to locate hard to find devices with ultra quick delivery turnaround. The Emergency & Disaster Relief Organization was thrilled to discover that ConnectUs not only could supply the devices, but that shipment would be made within one business day of order placement.

RESULTS

450 kitted devices received, ready out of the box help fight to Covid-19

The Emergency & Disaster Relief Organization never faced an urgency of this scale. The ability to receive WiFi hotspot devices, across over a dozen locations nationwide, was a huge boost for crisis and treatment response teams.

ConnectUs was able to ship 450 Novatel and Inseego hotspot devices within a day of order placement. Additionally, the devices were fully kitted and end user ready upon delivery. Each device enabled up to 12 simultaneous internet connections.

The most important results were the healthcare outcomes. Volunteer and medical workers were able to access the internet on demand and get Covid-19 test results back to testing centers quicker. This in turn allowed them to focus on testing patients more efficiently.

In the future, in the event of another large scale health crisis, ConnectUs will be ready to help meet the challenge.