As technology advances and changes, so do the ways in which we conduct business.
We’ve even reached a point where a center of operations can now be mobile if it needs to be.
Most of us have heard of mobile command centers (MCC), but not everyone is sure about how they work or the benefits they offer.
Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know.
What Exactly Is a Mobile Command Center?
As the name suggests, a mobile command center is a vehicle (such as a bus, trailer, or van) that is used as a main workspace and storage area for equipment.
Since these vehicles need to function on the same level as a central office would, they’re often thoroughly equipped with industry-standard technology. Put simply, you’re putting your main center of operations on the road.
What Are the Benefits?
There are a handful of benefits that mobile command centers provide to those who choose to use them. These include increases in productivity and opportunities that your business typically wouldn’t have access to.
Some of them are as follows.
1. Decreased Response Time
Perhaps the most important benefit that mobile command centers provide is decreased response time.
This is especially true for law enforcement and emergency services.
For example, MCCs can treat people in the affected area during a natural disaster as opposed to transporting them to a facility. A mobile command center will also have everything that workers need in order to do their jobs as efficiently as possible.
In scenarios like this, minutes can often mean the difference between proper treatment and tragedy. So, every second will count.
This isn’t limited to emergencies or crime, though. The more time you save for your business, the more opportunity you’ll have to generate revenue.
For companies that could service a large handful of clients in a day with a mobile command center, it’s often worth the investment due to the utility it provides.
2. Flexibility
There’s only so much equipment that can be taken out into the field.
Surveillance operations, for example, often require an extensive amount of equipment and technology to perform correctly.
And, this equipment may need to stay in this location for days (or even weeks) at a time. This is especially true for areas that have a high crime rate or locations that may be targets of terrorist attacks.
An MCC provides the flexibility to bring the full force of your facility to a separate location, allowing you to engage in operations that would otherwise be impractical or even impossible.
You could also operate in geographic regions that would otherwise be difficult to work in, such as lower-income neighborhoods or rural areas.
3. Protection for Your Equipment
Since working in the field often requires expensive equipment, you’re often limited to what you can bring with you without a mobile command center.
For example, factors like weather, size/weight, and the need for power sources are common obstacles that businesses face. An MCC will serve as both a shelter for equipment and a way for that equipment to operate.
Oftentimes, your MCC will even function as a remote office, eliminating the need for you to be outdoors in the first place.
Its spaciousness will also allow you to keep everything you need in a central location as opposed to needing multiple forms of transportation for your equipment.
Protecting your equipment during use is also an added benefit, as there are countless factors that could result in equipment becoming damaged (or even stolen).
4. Presence at the Scene
Remote operations aren’t always meant to be hidden.
Event security, for instance, can highly benefit from having a mobile command center at the scene.
While this will provide significant convenience for your operations, its presence alone will often deter would-be offenders. Preventing crime in the first place will always do more for security than an efficient emergency response.
In the above scenario, a single MCC could provide the following utility:
- Serve as a mobile crime lab for investigations at the scene
- Surveilling an area with thousands of people
- Become a hub to provide fast, clear communication with other units
- Serve as a mobile medical treatment facility
So, take this into consideration if your business is tasked with any of these responsibilities.
5. Customization
Since a vehicle used as an MCC is meant to serve as a center of operations, you can customize it so that it can serve you best. This typically means installing equipment and removing vehicle components, but your options don’t stop here.
An issue with customization, though, is the extra time and cost requirements that it demands. So, it’s not uncommon for businesses to rent MCCs instead when one is needed for larger operations.
This is especially true if an MCC would only feasibly be required a handful of times each year.
So, a third-party mobile command center can be ordered and customized on your behalf, allowing you to avoid spending hardly any time getting it ready for the field.
Be sure you don’t get more than you need, though. The price of extra space or amenities that you don’t take advantage of can quickly add up.
Now You Know What MCCs Are!
With the above information about mobile command centers in mind, you’ll be well on your way to making the decision that’s right for your business.
Want to learn more about the benefits of having a mobile command post?
This article has plenty of useful info.