The challenges presented by the pandemic have created opportunities for innovation and exposed areas in different industries in need of change.
Fred Burns noticed one of these areas while checking his twins into summer camp, and launched the Safr Management app to help educational organizations track the health and location of a student or staff member. And beyond the current crisis, Burns sees Safr as a tool to help institutions tackle a number of other problems.
“I realized there was product-market opportunity and did a lot of research, and realized that this was not just a problem at the YMCA, this is a problem all over,” Burns told NTX Inno. “The product evolved from simply checking my kids into something that’s really comprehensive.”
Launched in June, the Safr app allows users to take a pre-screening test before showing up onsite. Once onsite, the app allows an organization to track where users are by having the scan QR codes, which can also be used to take attendance and check to make sure your kid got on the bus. The app also helps create incident reports and collect data from temperature recordings and other screening checks. And since it incorporates AI and facial recognition software, the app can be used to help diagnose someone with a potential illness via a photo.
“To prevent the spread, I think that’s pretty big and significant,” Burns said.
Since the app was built with his twins in mind, Safr’s data is highly encrypted and there are strict data sharing agreements signed with customers.
“The thing about this, from the perspective of being a developer, I have twin boys, too … we do not sell any data and no one has access to the data either,” Burns said.
With a background in software development, Burns created Safr through his app development company RuniT after a few times checking his kids into summer camp, a process that with screenings and other paperwork took about 45 minutes each day. After taking the concept to the summer camp and seeing the excitement of the staff, Burns rolled out Safr as its own company.
“I went home the same day and created a sort of prototype of it. I emailed the screenshot to the camp director … and they fell in love,” Burns said.
Now the business and its four-person team have implemented Safr’s technology at Jackson State University and about 26 other high schools, middle schools and elementary schools in Mississippi, where Burns is originally from.
The company has plans to partner with at least five more schools by the new year.
As Safr grows, Burns is looking to deploy the technology nationwide. And even beyond the pandemic, Burns sees institutions still using Safr to help prevent other communicable diseases like the flu. He also said the app can help streamline other parts of an educational institution’s workflow by helping make things like attendance recording and other daily tasks more efficient.
“Teachers are able to teach and leaders are able to lead more when they’re not doing repetitive work that can be automated,” Burns said.
