The comprehensive emergency management service that forever changed the way firefighters are alerted in our country is celebrating 10 years, now present in different industries and looking to expand into new international markets.
From the sound of a bell they moved to a siren, and many years later to radio messages. That is how on-duty firefighters were alerted when they had to respond to a fire, an accident or any other emergency. However, 10 years ago a milestone would forever change this form of communication in our country, through a major technological leap. VIPER arrived to replace the radio with a mobile phone notification.
The project was born from two friends, Camilo Salazar and Exequiel Gallardo, who started talking by chance when they were both members of the Third Fire Company of Ñuñoa, Camilo as a volunteer and Exequiel as a cadet. That experience and their shared interests led them to work together and come up with the idea of an app that would alert firefighters to their own emergencies and optimize the response times behind every emergency.
The idea took shape and was soon implemented in several fire departments across the country, with fast-growing demand. In less than a year, the app was already attracting media attention and was seen as a benchmark by other tech companies. At the same time, it was already expanding into other industries, such as healthcare, where emergencies are also part of everyday life. An important milestone was signing a major Santiago clinic as a client, which they still work with today.
Since its launch in 2014, VIPER has grown steadily, providing a comprehensive emergency support service for different industries, powered by technology.
A vision without borders
Today the VIPER suite includes an emergency mass notification system, VIPER MASS, which thanks to its versatility has become an established tool for airlines, universities, government agencies and healthcare institutions, among others. It also includes a dispatch system for emergency communication centers, VIPER ONE, widely used by public safety teams and other operators of rescue vehicles. In addition, they launched a mobile app for fire engines, VIPER GO, creating a comprehensive system that also includes management tools.
“In these 10 years we have entered a range of industries, improved our technology and, without a doubt, grown in both clients and team members,” explains Exequiel, now CEO and Co-Founder of VIPER.
The company’s focus is on the immediacy of messaging, based on the premise that timely information can save lives in an emergency. But the value of its products also lies in their intuitive administration and their ability to adapt to the needs of different types of organizations. They have proven this both in Chile and abroad, as they are already present in Peru and Argentina and expect to add other countries.
“We hope to keep expanding our sales abroad, adding other Latin American countries, where we believe there is great potential we have not yet explored and where our offering can find a place. We also hope to follow the natural path of technology companies today, which is artificial intelligence, without losing the direction we have kept as a company over these ten years,” Exequiel concludes.