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Computer-aided dispatch software (CADS) are an important technology for protecting the public. Whether for fire, police, or medical, CAD systems enable departments both large and small to operate more efficiently as a cohesive unit and as separate units of an office. Without them, paper logs using spreadsheets would still be the norm, making the the jobs that now depend on this technology incredibly difficult.

What to Look for When Buying CADS

While CAD programs are readily available, it is often difficult to be sure of what questions to ask when a police department begins looking at a new piece of software. There are some things that are priorities when considering what program to buy, balancing different attributes for the best overall choice.

Interoperability

Interoperability is a term that began making rounds soon after the attacks on September 11th. Because of difficulties that arose with EMS, fire, and law enforcement agencies working together, interoperability has become a priority so that these groups can become a more cohesive unit, understanding and working with one another to benefit the public.

Interoperability has taken on various forms, such as many groups dropping 10 codes and using regular language, and with CAD interoperability it has appeared in a few distinct forms. One approach is to use the same software as other departments to make it easier to communicate and get information across departments.

While this approach is perhaps the easiest way to keep multiple dispatch offices in check, it can often be cost-prohibitive. It can be difficult to get a group of departments to come to an agreement over a singular piece of software, and if a system fails to work as well for one agency as it does for another, it can turn a good theory into a bad practice.