Cartwright Companies Keeps Business Moving During Critical Events With AlertMedia
SafetyImproves employee health and safety with real-time notifications about critical events, such as severe weather and facility emergencies- EfficiencyAllows HR to send and receive critical employee communications in seconds using pre-built templates and a full-featured mobile app
- ContinuityKeeps essential operations running smoothly during COVID-19 by easily conducting daily health screenings of employees
- ReliabilitySafeguards deliverability of urgent, time-sensitive messages with read confirmations and multi-channel messaging capabilities
- IndustryTransportation & Storage
- Locations1
- Employees120
- ProductsEmergency Communication Software
- Primary UsesEmergency, Business Continuity, Operations, IT Outages, Inclement Weather, HR
Cartwright Companies Drives Communication and Operational Efficiencies While Keeping Employees Safe
The Cartwright family began providing moving services in 1934 with a commitment to provide quality service with integrity. Today, the Cartwright Companies is a leading supplier of global relocation services for residential, military, and government clients. Headquartered in Grandview, Missouri, Cartwright Companies also provides move management, mobility, and payroll solutions to customers worldwide.
Cartwright historically used manual call trees to notify employees about weather-related office closures, facility emergencies, and other critical events. To deliver time-sensitive information faster and more reliably, Cartwright turned to AlertMedia’s emergency communication software. AlertMedia’s multi-channel, two-way messaging capabilities and full-featured mobile app ensure everyone gets the messages they need, when they need them. In response to COVID-19, Cartwright also began using AlertMedia to conduct daily employee health screenings, allowing the organization to reopen responsibly. With AlertMedia, Cartwright can keep employees safe, drive communication efficiencies, and maintain vital business operations.
Facilitating Timely, Effective Communication With Employees When Emergencies Arise
Operating out of the company’s Kansas City-area headquarters, Cartwright’s employees coordinate relocation logistics for members of the military. In the summer months—peak season for military moves—dozens of seasonal employees are hired to help meet increased customer demand. With a workforce consisting of permanent and seasonal employees—as well as employees that work different shift schedules—communication was a challenge.
Prior to AlertMedia, Cartwright relied on manual call trees to communicate with employees during critical events. To notify employees about a weather-related office closure, for example, Cartwright’s Human Resources Manager, Jennifer DeSchepper, would manually text all of the organization’s managers. Those managers would then have to individually call or text all of their direct reports.
This multi-step process was not only time-consuming, but it often did not reach everybody in time to be effective. “Some of our employees come into work as early as 6:00 a.m.,” says DeSchepper. “If employees don’t receive a message about an office closure and show up to work during a blizzard, it can be dangerous for them and problematic for our snow removal crews.”
Cartwright needed a better way to reach its people at a moment’s notice. Adds DeSchepper, “In an emergency situation, manual call trees lead to frustration, delays, and misinformation. To instantly reach employees with critical news and updates, we needed to replace our manual call tree with a modern employee communication tool.”
Multi-Channel, Two-Way Messaging and Intuitive Mobile App Drive Communication Efficiencies
After learning about AlertMedia on a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) webinar, DeSchepper knew the product could benefit Cartwright. Following a seamless sales experience, Cartwright selected AlertMedia for its advanced messaging functionality, ease of use, and impressive customer support.
With a severe winter storm in the forecast, speed of implementation was another important requirement—and AlertMedia delivered. “With an intuitive product backed by a phenomenal customer success team, we were up and running within hours,” says DeSchepper. “From implementation to ongoing support, the entire AlertMedia team has always been responsive and dependable. They have truly set the bar for customer service.”
“With an intuitive product backed by a phenomenal customer success team, we were up and running within hours.”
AlertMedia’s multi-channel, two-way communication capabilities allow Cartwright to safeguard message deliverability. With AlertMedia, Cartwright can send and receive messages across multiple channels, including email, text, and phone calls. This ensures messages reach their intended recipients in a timely manner, even if one channel is down or inaccessible. Using read confirmations, DeSchepper can easily view which employees haven’t received a notification and follow up if needed. AlertMedia can also automatically resend the message across multiple channels until delivery is confirmed.
For DeSchepper and the other system administrators, AlertMedia’s full-featured mobile app has become indispensable for rapidly sharing critical information. “AlertMedia’s mobile app is easy, convenient, and a huge time saver,” says DeSchepper. “If an incident occurs outside of business hours, I don’t have to fire up my laptop and log onto the server to access AlertMedia. Using the mobile app and pre-built templates, I can send a message out from my phone in 30 seconds, start to finish.”
AlertMedia also makes it easy to maintain accurate, up-to-date employee contact information—vital to ensuring messages are delivered to the right audience. The AlertMedia data import process—which can be done manually or via automatic sync with Cartwright’s HRIS—is simple and speedy. Despite the challenges that come with having a seasonal workforce, DeSchepper never has to worry if her people data is out of date.
Conducting Daily Employee Health Screenings During the COVID-19 Pandemic
With AlertMedia, Cartwright’s HR team can save time, keep employees safe, and meet the organization’s duty of care. “From IT outages to severe weather to building emergencies, AlertMedia quickly became the de facto standard for critical employee communications,” says DeSchepper.
And while a global pandemic wasn’t necessarily a use case that had crossed DeSchepper’s mind when the company purchased AlertMedia, the solution was quickly put to use when COVID-19 struck. Coordinating military moves, Cartwright is considered an essential business since it serves vital public needs. After closing its office doors for a few weeks at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak, Cartwright was able to reopen with the help of AlertMedia.
Using AlertMedia’s two-way messaging capabilities, Cartwright can safely, quickly, and confidentially perform mandatory daily health screenings of employees. When employees arrive for their shift, their temperature is taken and confidentially sent via text to HR using AlertMedia. This allows HR to monitor employees for COVID-related symptoms, without the need for physical interaction or being inundated by individual emails. DeSchepper simply exports the texts as a daily log report, directly from the AlertMedia dashboard. “With AlertMedia, we can efficiently follow COVID-19 reopening guidelines, protect employee health and safety, and proactively assist employees that may be exhibiting symptoms,” adds DeSchepper.
Developing a Well-Designed Emergency Communication Strategy for Every Critical Event
Given the operational efficiencies and safety benefits that Cartwright has achieved with AlertMedia, the organization is now expanding its use of the solution. Developing enhanced safety protocols and procedures for a wide range of critical events, Cartwright is putting AlertMedia at the center of its communication strategy. “Communication is the backbone of any emergency preparedness plan, and AlertMedia helps us put structure to our plan,” says DeSchepper.
“As an HR leader, it’s my responsibility to build a thriving and productive workforce. But without an effective communication strategy, that simply isn’t achievable,” adds DeSchepper. “Nothing should be higher on HR’s agenda than keeping employees informed and up to date when critical events arise. Transparency builds trust, and trust is fundamental to any high-performing organization. When employees know you have their best interests at heart, they are happier and more committed.”
More Customer Spotlights
- Millerbernd ManufacturingMillerbernd Manufacturing Uses AlertMedia to Keep Its Workforce Informed During COVID
- KawasakiKawasaki Relies on AlertMedia to Keep Employees Connected During Critical Events
- Cartwright CompaniesCartwright Companies Keeps Business Moving During Critical Events With AlertMedia
