Emergency call response services launched

Bengaluru, June 7, 2017: Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions (RBEI) and GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute (GVK-EMRI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to provide emergency call (eCall) services across India. eCall from Bosch is a centralized emergency response handling system covering all major public safety answering points that include the hospital, police, and fire. The priority will be to mobilize quick response in severe accidents or life-threatening situations on the road. The eCall service is available inside all vehicles fitted with this Bosch product.

“We want to focus on connected technology solutions that will benefit the people of India. Road fatalities have been a big issue in India and here is an effort to work towards providing quicker help to the persons concerned. The priority is the ‘Golden hour’, to reduce the time between the accident and the time when help arrives”, said Mr. Vijay Ratnaparkhe, President and Managing Director of RBEI. In the event of a severe accident, an emergency call is automatically sent to the 24/7 Bosch Service Center. Simultaneously, data containing the vehicle details, current location, time and direction of travel will be transmitted. The service center from Bosch contacts the driver via a speech unit. If it is not possible to set up a voice connection following an eCall, the Bosch associate notifies the rescue forces directly.

A voice connection is also established with the GVK EMRI operated dedicated Emergency Control Centre facilitating ambulance assignment. GVK EMRI presently operates ‘108 Emergency Response Service’ under the public-private-partnership model (PPP) in 14 states, 2 Union Territories, and covers close to 750 million population.

The additional advantage of this solution is the multilingual capability of the control centers; it is crucial to be able to communicate clearly and speedily with people involved in the accident and also with local authorities. In an emergency situation, drivers can also activate eCall manually by pushing a button – for instance, if they witness an accident without being involved in it. It is even relevant for women who feel insecure in the vehicle.

On the occasion of signing of the MoU, Mr. K Krishnam Raju, Director, GVK EMRI said “The burden of road traffic accidents and related disabilities and mortality is increasing in India. Almost 1.4 lakh people lose their lives road accidents in India, thereby impacting the well being and happiness of many families. Bosch is an acknowledged leader in the mobility sector and has come out with this unique product for the benefit of motorists.This partnership will enable access to Bosch’s technology for providing prompt emergency response by faster sensing of road traffic accident related emergencies. Jointly we will strive for prompt emergency assistance in such cases, thereby saving many more precious lives.”

Mr. Joerg Fischer, President of Bosch Service Solutions said, “As the reach of global connectivity increases, consumers demand a higher level of convenience and safety. We believe in adding safety to the world of driving, and in this context, we are introducing eCall to the Indian market. We are sure that our collaboration with GVK-EMRI will improve safety on the streets and people and their families worry about one thing less while driving.”

Bosch has extensive experience in providing last mile emergency call solutions since 2012. Currently more than 38 countries, and 16 languages (+3 Indian languages) are supported.

About RBEI:

Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Private Limited is a 100% owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, one of the world's leading global supplier of technology and services, offering end-to-end Engineering, IT and Business Solutions. With over 18,000 associates, it’s the largest software development centre of Bosch, outside Germany, indicating that it is the Technology Powerhouse of Bosch in India with a global footprint and presence in the US, Europe and the Asia Pacific region.

About Bosch in India

In India, Bosch is a leading supplier of technology and services in the areas of Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. Additionally, Bosch has in India the largest development center outside Germany, for end to end engineering and technology solutions. The Bosch Group operates in India through nine companies, viz, Bosch Limited, Bosch Chassis Systems India Limited, Bosch Rexroth India Limited, Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Private Limited, Bosch Automotive Electronics India Private Limited, Bosch Electrical Drives India Private Limited, BSH Home Appliances Private Limited, ETAS Automotive India Private Ltd. and Robert Bosch Automotive Steering India Pvt. Ltd. In India, Bosch set-up its manufacturing operation in 1951, which has grown over the years to include 15 manufacturing sites, and seven development and application centers. Bosch Group in India employs over 30,000 associates and generated consolidated revenue of about ₨.17,022 crores in 2015 of which ₨. 12,100 crores from third party. The Group in India has close to 14,000 research and development associates.

In India, Bosch Limited is the flagship company of the Bosch Group. It earned revenue of over ₨. 10,415 crores (1.4 billion euros) in 2015-16.

About the Bosch Group

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 390,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2016). According to preliminary figures, the company generated sales of 73.1 billion euros in 2016. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. As a leading IoT company, Bosch offers innovative solutions for smart homes, smart cities, connected mobility, and connected industry. It uses its expertise in sensor technology, software, and services, as well as its own IoT cloud, to offer its customers connected, cross-domain solutions from a single source. The Bosch Group’s strategic objective is to create solutions for a connected life, and to improve quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is “Invented for life.” The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 450 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch’s global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. The basis for the company’s future growth is its innovative strength. At 120 locations across the globe, Bosch employs 59,000 associates in research and development.

Additional information is available online at www.bosch.com, www.bosch-press.com, http://twitter.com/BoschPresse

About the GVK EMRI:

GVK EMRI (Emergency Management and Research Institute) is a pioneer in Emergency Management Services in India. As a not - for - profit professional organization operating in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, GVK EMRI is the largest professional Emergency Service Provider in India today. It has vision of ATTENDING 30 MILLION EMERGENCIES AND SAVING 1 MILLION LIVES ANNUALLY.

April 2005 was the turning point for emergency medical services in India. The organization was incepted with the objective of delivering comprehensive, speedy, reliable and quality Emergency Care Services. This has been done by establishing an Emergency Response System that coordinates every emergency through a single toll free number 1-0-8 which when called in an emergency ensures prompt communication and activation of a response that includes, assessment of the emergency, dispatch of the ambulances, along with a well trained Emergency Medical Technician to render quality pre-hospital care and transport of the patient to the appropriate health care facility. Today, 108 is synonymous with the best-in-class emergency service and has been acknowledged as the most efficient, speedy, reliable, and caring service provider in its category.

With increased focus on research and analytics, GVK EMRI now, also enters into the arena of protecting law and order in the society. From 108 Emergency Service, 104 Health Helpline, 102 Mother & Child Ambulance, 181 Women Helpline, to Dial 100 Police Helpline, GVK EMRI has left no stone unturned to reach out the needy.

Emergency Management model of GVK EMRI integrates three cardinal pillars: Sense, Reach, Care and Follow-up. It requires partnership with multiple institutions to provide quick and quality response. GVK EMRI has therefore integrated with Government and private hospitals for timely response in case of medical emergencies. The call centre is in contact with the police control room for easy dispatch of police and fire brigade in case of Police and Fire emergencies.

Having launched the 108 emergency response service on August 15, 2005, in Hyderabad, GVK EMRI presently provides an integrated emergency service across 14 states and 2 union territories in India and 2 provinces in Sri Lanka with fleet of 11,263 ambulances serving over 23,741 emergencies per day.

Additional information is available online at www.emri.in

Muthamma Acharya
Phone: +91 80 6136 7104