According to the company, Travelaware will revolutionise the way organisations protect their employees by providing travellers with critical and reliable, location-specific security information through a smartphone app, while managers have access to precise tracking of app users in real-time. Through an online portal and via the app, Travelaware enables two-way communication, keeping employees and managers connected and informed at all times.

In the event an employee is at risk, the system automatically alerts the management team of the app user’s situation and provides the critical information and tools to coordinate an effective response.

Swedish partner, Global Warning System, has already demonstrated the effectiveness of its patented technology, for example, during the Fukushima tsunami in 2011. App users received an SMS alert about the tsunami 47 minutes before it hit the east coast of Japan; a clear demonstration of how early warning alerts can save lives..

The product is supported by G4S’s Global Intelligence System (GIS), which combines analysis and advanced data mining technology to keep business travellers informed. G4S’s team of risk experts has unique access to ground truth intelligence from employees in over 100 countries.

More companies than ever are seeking opportunities in emerging markets. Yet one in three companies have limited knowledge regarding how it would take to locate their overseas employees should an incident occur, and over two thirds of companies admit they could not locate their travelling employees within an hour of a major incident. G4S TravelAware addresses these challenges.

Anne Tiedemann, Managing Director of G4S Risk Consulting commented: “Travelling to remote locations or outside the usual tourist infrastructure means it is vital that employees are prepared and that employers know exactly where their employees are should an incident occur. This product will completely change the way companies approach the safety of their travelling employees.

“The unique technology brings location-specific incident alerts to travellers in real-time, so employees are safeguarded wherever they are and should the worst happen, employers have the information to get their employees to safety.”

The Travelaware app and portal are part of G4S’s suite of travel risk management services, G4S Travelaware, which cater for all travel security needs, from bespoke pre-travel training and journey management to close protection and emergency response.