As demand on UK control rooms continues to rise, many agencies are struggling with outdated systems that weren’t built for today’s challenges, from cyber threats to growing workloads. Zetron, a global provider of command, control and communication solutions with more than 40 years’ experience, sees this as a turning point. Already trusted by over two-thirds of UK police forces, the company is now launching its computer aided dispatch (CAD) system to the UK market. 

We spoke with Zetron about why they’re investing in the UK, how they’re shaping solutions around direct feedback from control room staff and what makes their platform a modern alternative to legacy systems.

1. Zetron has a 40-year global track record in command and control – what led to your focus on the UK market?

Zetron’s focus on the UK market is a result of our global experience, recent acquisitions, and rapid growth in the region. With over two-thirds of UK police forces now using our solutions, it became clear that there was both appetite and opportunity here for modern, unified control room technology. 

The UK’s public safety sector is facing increased demand, heightened operational risks, and a need to do more with less. By listening directly to UK agencies and control room staff, we recognised we could offer practical, robust solutions that genuinely help services adapt to changing demands.

2. For readers who might not know Zetron yet, how would you describe what you do, and what problems you’re solving for public safety agencies?

Zetron is a provider of command, control and communication solutions to public safety organisations, airports and utilities globally. Within the past two years, through acquisitions, Zetron has grown significantly in the UK market, with more than two-thirds of the police forces in the UK utilising our solutions. 

We aim to provide solutions that streamline business processes and reduce operational friction, allowing agencies to do more with less and focus on what truly matters, which of course is public safety.

3. You’ve been working with UK CAD experts and police forces, what were they telling you that influenced how you shaped your UK offering?

We’ve been conducting several workshops and roadshows across the country, speaking to different police forces and visiting many control rooms to really sit with operators, understand and listen to the challenges they face – especially increasing demand and fewer resources to deal with incidents. Control room staff want tools that make their jobs easier, not more complicated, and we have put real effort into prioritising our user interface, making it intuitive and ensuring we streamline business processes to reduce the cognitive load on operators. 

A major concern highlighted in the workshops was the need to detect vulnerabilities of individuals early within the incident management lifecycle, and we’ve ensured our solutions address this. I’m genuinely excited to showcase these advances at The Emergency Tech Show in September.

4. A lot of UK control rooms are still using legacy systems, what are the risks of sticking with the status quo?

It’s true – many services across the country still utilise legacy systems in their control rooms, which is, frankly, a high-risk approach. Legacy platforms weren’t designed for the cyber threats we face today. Every year that old technology is kept in service, the risk grows for ransomware, data breaches and system hacks that could potentially take a control room offline. Another pressing issue is the need to adapt to change – and legacy systems simply can’t keep up. This leads to awkward workarounds that add complexity, risk and cost, ultimately degrading the service provided to the public.

5. You’ve described Zetron’s CAD as a modern, low-risk alternative – what makes it different from what’s already on the market here?

Zetron’s CAD platform is modern, open and modular. We’re introducing a proven solution, already trusted by over 200 law enforcement agencies in the US and adapting it for the UK market based on direct feedback from UK control room staff. The user interface has been shaped to be truly intuitive, making life easier for operators working under pressure. 

We’ve prioritised early vulnerability detection and a seamless user experience. The system itself provides robust incident and resource management capabilities, alongside integrated communications, all designed to help agencies move away from legacy systems with reduced risk and minimal disruption.

6. How does your system help address some of the newer challenges facing UK police and control rooms – like digital policing, officer mobility or operator wellbeing?

Our solutions directly support digital policing by enabling secure, real-time access to data both in the control room and in the field. We’ve made mobility and usability a priority, so officers and operators can focus on response, not on wrestling with technology. The system is designed to reduce cognitive load and streamline workflows, supporting operator wellbeing and allowing them to manage incidents and identify vulnerabilities more effectively.

7. Zetron already supports over 250 public safety agencies across North America. What do you think builds that level of trust?

That trust comes from a track record of reliable delivery and meaningful support. Zetron’s systems are trusted by more than 250 agencies in North America and now most UK police forces, because we listen, adapt and respond to their operational needs. We invest in strong local partnerships and ongoing engagement, ensuring our solutions keep pace with the evolving demands of public safety.

8. What feedback have you had from the UK forces already using parts of your platform?

UK forces have responded positively to the flexibility and ease of use in our platform. They particularly appreciate our hands-on approach – running workshops, sitting with operators and incorporating their feedback. Forces have told us our solutions genuinely streamline processes, reduce complexity, and help identify vulnerabilities in ways their old systems couldn’t.

9. You’ve mentioned integrated comms, mobile dispatch, and GIS – why is it important for those elements to work together in one platform?

Having command, control, communications and mapping tightly integrated within a single platform is vital. It means information flows seamlessly, decision making is faster and more accurate, and there’s less manual intervention or scope for error. This unified approach helps control rooms meet rising demand efficiently and ensures operators can manage incidents and vulnerable individuals with confidence.

10. What’s next for Zetron in the UK and what can emergency services expect to see from you in the months ahead?

That’s a really good question. We’re pleased and very excited to announce the launch of Zetron’s computer aided dispatch (CAD) system at The Emergency Tech Show this September in the UK. We’re building on our proven experience from the US, where our system is trusted by over 250 law enforcement agencies operating 24-7. 

Now we’re bringing that capability to the UK, delivering a unified, streamlined experience for control room operators. The platform integrates into our own communication platform (Cortex) and provides contact management, incident and resource management capabilities, along with comprehensive integrations into systems such as record management systems.