In high-stress emergencies, dispatchers make life-or-death decisions in mere seconds, handling over 240 million 9-1-1 calls annually in the U.S. alone.¹ An efficient dispatch system can mean the difference between saving a life or critical delays—making advanced dispatch technology essential for public safety. Dispatch centers are the lifeline of public safety agencies, ensuring seamless communication between first responders and the communities they protect. But as emergencies grow more complex and communication networks become more sophisticated, outdated dispatch systems struggle to keep up—leading to gaps and inefficiencies that can cost lives.

This is where advanced dispatch console systems can assist. By integrating cloud computing and real-time data into a dispatcher’s screen, modern dispatch platforms can revolutionize emergency response. In turn, this reduces delays, enhances situational awareness, and improves coordination across police, fire, EMS, and other critical agencies.

In this article, we’ll explore how these advanced dispatch systems are transforming public safety operations, and why agencies must invest in them to enhance their current and future operations!

¹ National Emergency Number Association (NENA): https://www.nena.org/page/911statistics

Contents

• The Challenges in Traditional Dispatch Systems​

• The Shift Towards Cloud-Based Dispatch Solutions

• Rapid Response. Powered by Enlite™.​

• Real-World Benefits of Enlite for Public Safety Agencies

• Why Public Safety Agencies Must Invest in Advanced Dispatch Systems​

• Conclusion: The Future of Public Safety is in Advanced Dispatch

• FAQ

The Challenges in Traditional Dispatch Systems​

Many public safety agencies rely on outdated dispatch console systems that struggle to keep up with modern public safety communication demands. These challenges include:

Software Updates and Security: Traditional radio and telephony-based dispatch systems require more effort to appropriately update with the latest bug fixes and security patches, leaving them vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Limited Integration: Many older systems cannot seamlessly integrate with modern technologies such as GPS tracking, MCPTT and other cloud-based communication technologies.

Redundancy Issues: Without proper backup systems, dispatch centers are vulnerable to failures and outages, especially during disasters.

Scalability Limitations: Expanding traditional systems requires significant hardware investment and maintenance costs.

On top of the above challenges, agencies have been receiving end-of-life notices from a well-known radio and console manufacturer in North America in 2024. Agencies are feeling trapped in an ecosystem that requires many proprietary components and being forced to purchase entirely new hardware and equipment to get the latest features, bug fixes and security patches. Any agency experiencing this needs to know they have options. Manufacturers such as InterTalk offer radio-agnostic dispatch console systems that utilize commercial off-the-shelf equipment. This approach saves your agency money by giving the flexibility to source your own hardware and accessories or in some cases utilize existing equipment. Advanced dispatch means more than just new features on a console, it also means the flexibility to deploy your system in a way that makes sense for your operations.

The Shift Towards Cloud-Based Dispatch Solutions​

Modern advanced dispatch systems address these challenges by leveraging cloud computing, analytics, and real-time data integration. These systems provide:

• Interoperability with various devices, including smartphones, tablets, radios, and desktops.
• Geo-redundancy and disaster recovery, keeping dispatch centers operational even when local networks fail.
• Enhanced situational awareness with real-time data integrations such as video and mapping that allow for faster and more informed decision-making.

Rapid Response. Powered by Enlite™.​

What is Enlite?

InterTalk Enlite is a cloud-ready dispatch system designed for public safety agencies, offering unparalleled reliability, flexibility, and operational continuity​. Whether deployed in a cloud-hosted, hybrid, or fully on-premises environment, Enlite provides agencies with real-time communication and advanced dispatch capabilities​.

Cloud-based and High Availability (HA) Architecture

Enlite is designed for 99.999% uptime, ensuring that dispatchers remain connected and operational at all times. Its hybrid deployment capabilities allow agencies to seamlessly integrate cloud-based and on-premises components, providing the perfect balance of reliability, control, and flexibility. Enlite features geo-redundancy, enabling automatic failover and disaster recovery to maintain uninterrupted communication even in the event of a cluster or server failure.

Unified Communication & Interoperability

Enlite supports Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems, including Analog and P25, as well as mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT) digital radio protocols and telephony call-taking, ensuring seamless communication across multiple channels. With cross-platform compatibility, dispatchers can operate Enlite on Windows desktops, laptops, Android tablets, and smartphones, allowing for greater mobility. Additionally, Enlite integrates directly with leading radio vendors such as Tait, Kenwood, Harris, and Motorola, ensuring interoperability with existing communication infrastructure.

Enhanced Situational Awareness

Enlite features dynamic mission integrations that aggregate real-time incident data, mapping, and video feeds, providing dispatchers with a comprehensive situational overview. The integrated instant recall recorder (IRR) provides immediate playback of incoming and outgoing transmissions and telephone calls. Recordings can be stored and downloaded from the cloud (if desired) and will save 90 days’ worth of audio within 100 Gigabytes of allocated space.

Cybersecurity & Data Protection

Enlite is built with industry-leading security standards, following the NIST 800-160 framework, and certified in ISO 27001:2013, and ISO 9001:2015 to ensure the highest levels of data protection and system integrity. End-to-end encryption (TLS 1.2+ and AES-256) safeguards sensitive communications from unauthorized access. Additionally, Enlite incorporates role-based access control (RBAC) and comprehensive audit logs, providing agencies with enhanced security, accountability, and compliance in managing dispatch operations.

Flexibility & Scalability

Enlite can accommodate unlimited console positions, allowing agencies to scale effortlessly as their operational needs grow. The browser-based user interface enables dispatchers to access the system from any Windows or Android device without requiring software installation, ensuring mobility and ease of use. Enlite also provides customizable (and shareable!) workflows, allowing agencies to tailor the platform to meet their specific operational requirements and enhance overall efficiency in training and day-to-day operations. With the WYSIWYG screen editor, new missions can be updated or pushed to those dispatching in real time without disrupting active dispatch operations.

WATCH NOW: The Power Of WYSIWYG In Enlite Cloud Ready Dispatch (Vimeo)

Real-World Benefits of Enlite for Public Safety Agencies​

Faster Response Times

With real-time multi-channel communication, allowing for patching together radio and telephony resources, dispatchers can quickly relay information to first responders, reducing response times in life-or-death situations.

Increased Operational Continuity

Enlite enables remote dispatching, allowing agencies to maintain operations even when local infrastructure is compromised.

Cost-Effective & Future-Proof

By eliminating costly on-premises hardware and enabling pay-as-you-go cloud services, Enlite reduces and spreads out operational expenses while ensuring agencies stay ahead of emerging communication trends​. Enlite also provides flexibility in how you purchase your dispatch console system. While on-premises configurations provide a standard CapEx payment model, if cloud deployment is desired, Enlite can be purchased in an OpEx payment model reducing upfront equipment costs with a monthly or annual paid subscription.

Why Public Safety Agencies Must Invest in Advanced Dispatch Systems​

The Rise of Smart Cities 

As smart cities continue to integrate new technologies into public infrastructure, advanced dispatch solutions will play a crucial role in connecting dispatchers with these tools to enhance their response. Real-time data analysis, IoT integration, and cloud-based emergency coordination are becoming the new standard.

The Growing Demand for Remote Dispatching

Many agencies are experiencing staffing shortages at their communication centers. Remote dispatching provides a way to expand the hiring pool, opening up the option to hire outside of the direct area while maintaining full dispatch console capabilities. In addition to this, the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for remote operations as many people were forced to stay at home. Cloud dispatch solutions like Enlite allow agencies to deploy dispatchers anywhere with an internet or LTE connection.

Disaster Resilience & Crisis Management

In the face of natural disasters, cyber threats, and infrastructure failures, Enlite ensures that public safety agencies remain operational and effective.

Conclusion: The Future of Public Safety is in Advanced Dispatch​

Advanced dispatch technologies, like Enlite, provide a seamless, cloud-enabled solution that enhances operational continuity, improves response times, and ensures that dispatchers have the tools they need to make split-second, life-saving decisions. With industry-leading security, real-time situational awareness, and flexible deployment options, Enlite is redefining the future of emergency response.

Agencies that invest in advanced dispatch systems today will be better equipped to handle the challenges of tomorrow. Whether it’s ensuring communication resilience during disasters, supporting remote dispatching, or integrating with smart city infrastructure, the right dispatch system empowers agencies to stay ahead.

FAQ

What are the key challenges with traditional dispatch systems?

Traditional dispatch systems often suffer from security vulnerabilities, limited integration with modern technologies, redundancy issues, and scalability limitations. Many agencies also face forced hardware upgrades due to vendor lock-in.

How do cloud-based dispatch solutions improve emergency response?

Cloud-based dispatch solutions provide interoperability, geo-redundancy, and enhanced situational awareness. These systems ensure reliable communication, even during disasters, and allow agencies to scale their operations effortlessly.

What is InterTalk Enlite?

InterTalk Enlite is a cloud-ready dispatch system designed for public safety agencies. It offers real-time communication, operational continuity, and advanced dispatch capabilities in a flexible and scalable platform.

What deployment options are available for Enlite?

Enlite supports multiple deployment options: cloud-hosted, hybrid, and fully on-premises. This flexibility allows agencies to tailor their dispatch solutions to their operational needs.

How does Enlite improve dispatcher efficiency?

Enlite integrates radio, telephony, mapping, video, and other real-time data sources into a single interface. Its browser-based UI and WYSIWYG editor allow for easy customization, ensuring a user-friendly experience.

What types of communication does Enlite support?

Enlite supports Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems, including Analog and P25, MCPTT digital radio protocols, and telephony call-taking. It ensures seamless communication across multiple channels and devices, including smartphones and tablets.

Does Enlite support remote dispatching?

Yes. Enlite enables remote dispatching, allowing agencies to expand their hiring pool and maintain operations even in situations where on-site staffing is limited.

How can my agency get a demo of Enlite?

You can contact InterTalk today for a free demo of Enlite and discover how it can enhance your public safety communications. Contact Now

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