Company name: Utility, Inc.
Headquarters:
Signature product: Polaris by Utility digital evidence management platform
Website: https://www.police1.com/company-directory/bodyworn/
1. Where did your company name originate from?
Utility, Inc. was founded in 2001 and started selling mobile routers, GPS fleet tracking and situational awareness tools to utility providers. The name “Utility” fit the industry we served. Over time, Utility acquired a video business and incorporated that into its suite of products, transitioning into law enforcement with a body camera focus. Today, Utility provides digital evidence management tools and software as a service to agencies all across the U.S. Even though our solution set has changed, our services remain useful, like the definition of utility.
2. What is your signature product and how does it work?
Our signature product is Polaris by Utility digital evidence management platform. This platform can ingest all forms of digital data from numerous collection devices. Polaris is a seamless, all-in-one evidence management system, setting a new standard for tracking and backing up the truth in a “prove-it-to-me” world that has grown more complex every day. Polaris makes it easy for LE agencies to search, play, manage, redact, and share video and data with a secure chain of custody. The media interface allows multiple related video and audio feeds to be played simultaneously. Polaris has live video streaming, which allows dispatchers and supervisors to have complete situational awareness. It also provides an automatic real-time, map-based view of the location and status of all mobile operations, including vehicles, personnel and assets. Polaris provides Geofence alerts, live tracking, traffic and weather overlays, asset overlays and street views.
3. Why do you believe your products are essential to the police community?
Utility’s products bring ease and clarity to our clients. They have important roles within the community to uphold, and, through the use of technology, they are able to efficiently resolve critical challenges while leaning on automated technology solutions. The job is tough enough; officers and command staff don’t need to risk their lives or those of others fidgeting with technology.
4. What has been the biggest challenge your company has faced?
One big challenge we have faced is working with agencies that have extended the shift time for officers through the pandemic. Many officers are now working 12 to 14-hour shifts, which has unveiled battery life issues with the body cameras lasting the life of the shift. This is not just a problem with our devices; this is an industry-wide issue with lithium batteries. Our company has been working to better communicate ways to alleviate this issue, from video settings to alternative charging options during shift.
5. What makes your company unique?
Utility is very people-centric, and we believe in transparency and responsiveness between teammates and clients. Our company focuses on finding the best talent in the industry, and, because of the work that we do, those people have a passion and hunger to do good in the world. Our company is unique in that we work first-hand with our clients to develop enhancements and new technology solutions to make their work more seamless.
6. What do your customers like best about you and your products?
Our clients love the level of customer and technical support that we provide; they love the automation built into the technology and how it works to help with officer safety, to help eliminate bias and automatically records according to policies.
7. What is the most rewarding part of serving the first responder community?
Helping our clients transform their relationships with their communities. We call this transformative transparency and this is at the very essence of our brand.
8. Do you support any charitable organizations within public safety or the community? Tell us more.
Yes, we are a sponsor of the following organizations” NAWLEE, FBINAA, NOBLE, COPS and are putting together a community sponsorship program this year.
9. Is there any fun fact or trivia that you’d like to share with our users about you or your company?
Three of our initial co-founders are still vital parts of the company today, driving technology and innovation. And, our company is on a path for growth and our employee count has doubled since this time last year.
10. What’s next for your company? Any upcoming new projects or initiatives?
Our company’s goals for expansion and growth will continue. As far as technology, we have several innovative technology projects in the works to help solve issues for our clients and drive revenue for the company.