Madison company aims to transform school safety with acquisition

Madison-based Singlewire Software has acquired Visitor Aware, a tool for visitor and student management, which will enable Singlewire to expand its suite of safety and communication offerings with visitor and student management capabilities.

Visitor Aware provides schools and other organizations the tools to screen visitors so they can identify threats before unwanted guests gain access to sensitive areas. Visitors have their IDs scanned when they enter a building. That information is used in conjunction with encrypted facial recognition to screen visitors against national sex offender and government watchlists and active legal injunctions. Potential issues are flagged to prevent guests from further entering a building, and approved guests are given a printed pass so they can proceed. Visitor Aware also offers tools for volunteer management, tardiness tracking, secure student release and pick-up, rostering and reunification, and setting up a tip line for potential threats.

Visitor Aware is primarily used in K–12 schools but has applications in health care, manufacturing, higher education, and other businesses.