COVID-19 Solutions: Companies that are using tech to fight the virus

While the growing number of infections is distressing, there is also hope. Companies around the world are leveraging tech to fight the pandemic, help businesses cope with the new normal and provide assistance to their communities.

Our contactless QR powered visitor forms are already being used to stop the spread of the virus at healthcare facilities and essential businesses. It is absolutely free to use and takes less than 5 minutes to set up.

18 Companies that are fighting the good fight:

#1. Scout: Help Desk for tech support queries

“COVID Tech Support http://covidtechsupport.com is a helpdesk for tech support queries for those helping to tackle the COVID crisis. We’re helping communities set up their IT systems, COVID projects access technical volunteering talent and charities address their digital needs. 

We’re backed by Code 4 COVID, a community of over 800 volunteer technologists who’s mission is to find technology solutions to problems that will arise due to the COVID-19 crisis. Our members have backgrounds working at companies like Google, Facebook and Microsoft and come with experience in web development, design, project management, IT and more.

We believe that technology can minimize the disruption caused by the pandemic and ultimately save lives.

Our aim is that no one should needlessly be put at risk because they didn’t have access to technology that a volunteer technologist could have made.

Code4Covid is part of the larger COVID19 Tech Response which also includes COVID Mutual Aid, Mike Butcher from TechCrunch, Corona Virus Tech Handbook from Newspeak House, Common Knowledge, CAST, TechForUK and more.”

Marc Sloan
Co-founder, CEO
Scout

#2. Anyline: Free mobile scanning for emergency and healthcare services

“At Anyline, we are offering our mobile scanning technology for free to emergency, security and logistics services to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

The most important features of Anyline in this circumstance are that it works offline, so it can be used anywhere even if the connection drops, and by using scanning technology to check IDs, driving licenses and more, police and emergency services can perform their vital work with zero contact, and have less risk of becoming infected.”

Michael Wilkinson
Head of PR & Content
Anyline

#3. Riv: Free remote collaboration with co-workers, friends and family

“A few weeks ago, as COVID-19 grew into a global crisis, we realized that if we made some modifications to our technology we could help people stay connected during this time of physical distancing. We created a FREE version of the Riv app that can be used anywhere in the world, with any android phone.

Riv makes it possible to connect with your colleagues, friends, and family to co-browse and collaborate on any app thanks to bidirectional screen sharing capabilities. For people with Samsung phones, they can also provide each other with hands-free support, or hire a Riv Assistant to help them.

We created Riv for business professionals to maximize mobile productivity, and now there are so many more possibilities. Friends co-browsing for fun. Teachers screen sharing lessons. People teaching their grandparents how to use their smartphones. Quarantined healthcare workers connecting with their families. And these new capabilities make remote collaboration between colleagues even better too.”

Nicole Robertson

#4. Volante: Cloud infrastructure for banks to manage the entire payment lifecycle

“Volante provides payments and financial messaging solutions to banks and financial institutions. Like other sectors, the banking and financial services industry has been hit hard by COVID-19. Since banks need to continue operating as essential businesses, they are particularly focused on business continuity and resiliency – keeping the lights on and the services running when their employees and customers may be locked down at home, without access to the software and hardware they typically rely on. 

It is important that banks can continue to facilitate the transfer of funds between their customers and partner financial institutions, as ultimately this is what will keep physical and trade supply chains moving – goods don’t move if money doesn’t move. Put another way, while Volante doesn’t make and ship masks or ventilators, they do make the technology that allows for those types of goods to be bought and paid for – in real-time, 24×7, around the world.

As a result, one of the areas that we are seeing a lot of growth in, is the idea of payments as a service in the cloud. This is a simple concept: instead of receiving, processing and sending payments on their own infrastructure, which is the traditional way, Volante has VolPay as-a-Service, which provides banks with a service, managed in the cloud, that handles all this for them. It’s 24×7, real-time, and always up, unlike a traditional bank data center. Banks get immediate benefits on resiliency and reliability.”

Vinay Prabhakar, 
VP Product Marketing, Payments, 
Volante

#5. All Mental Health: Free mental health web app

“At All Mental Health, we leveraged our existing web app to quickly create an engaging and research-backed resource to support people’s mental health during coronavirus: coronavirus.allmentalhealth.org. This free resource is based in cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness, and is designed to support people experiencing stress, anxiety, or depression during this pandemic.

Our free web app helps support the mental health of people struggling with anxiety and depression symptoms relating to the pandemic. Through article topics like “I can’t stop worrying” and “I’m feeling overwhelmed,” we provide our web app users with evidence-based cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) techniques. The resource empowers people with coping and communication skills so they feel more able to meet the challenges they face. All of our content has been reviewed by clinical advisors, and we write everything to an 8th grade reading level.”

Ryann Summers
Co-founder, Director of Content
All Mental Health

#6. CROOW:  Free Team Collaboration Upgrade for 6 months

“CROOW is a brand new SAAS platform that enables agencies, marketing teams, creatives, and freelancers to work smarter and faster so that teams, and especially remote teams, can achieve higher quality more efficiently.

Right now users can get started and access all core CROOW features with the free version. Starting today and through April 30, CROOW is offering free 6 months premium access for individuals and teams of up to 25 with the code RemoteCollaboration. They just need to register for free at CROOW.com and upgrade for free by April 30, 2020. “

David Capece
CEO
CROOW

Related: Check out these extraordinary Covid-19 graphics and templates

#7. TechTank: Screen, track and predict COVID-19 cases

“I am part of a team of people involved in the healthcare field that has created a mobile application called TechTank (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/techtank/id1497584457?mt=8, Android in release) that offers a powerful, proven support system to screen, track, and predict needs during the COVID-19 virus health crisis. This smartphone app and associated website that supports public health and medical providers in the battle against COVID-19. The app allows patients to self-screen and enables providers to view real-time positive screening counts by zip code.

The associated website, https://take2heart.com/techtank/, takes the data submitted by individuals through the smartphone app to help assess critical information key to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Providers can then utilize in-app resources to develop locally tailored containment and mitigation strategies. Data are stored in a real-time data repository, and counts are shared with hospitals and facilities who, in turn, report positive screenings to appropriate local, state, and federal agencies.

The website 1) generates real-time data so facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes, and other health organizations, can predict staff needs, operational acuity, pandemic workforce pay, and containment and mitigation strategies; and 2) supports the development of information and communication strategies to decrease the impact and spread of the coronavirus and promote social distancing at sites such as churches, funerals, and other congregate gatherings and institutions.

This system allows providers to assess the prevalence of cases, contact tracing, contact mapping, and acuity of operation care plans for hospital personnel needed on a day-to-day basis, and much more. The app allows for the collection of data in real-time for patients and facilities anytime, anywhere, and at all locations. The app has been piloted in North Georgia and has been successful in helping to trace exposures to contain and mitigate the spread of the virus.”

Brad Waller
COO
EPage Mobile App Development

#8. Layoff Network by Drafted: Free app to help people laid off across US

“People can nominate their friends and colleagues affected by layoffs so that they get noticed quicker by companies that are still hiring. Personal recommendations are proven to get people hired up to 7x faster than a normal job board or career-site application process, so the platform enables hiring managers to connect to candidates via introductions.

If you’re looking for a way to help those affected by COVID-19 layoffs, nominating them on the Layoff Network is one of the best things you can do. At Drafted, we believe that personal introductions through the community are the most scalable way to help connect people with opportunities. More and more companies are looking to hire talent for who they are, and not just their skills. A great nomination is one way to do that.”

Vinayak Ranade
CEO
Drafted

#9. CentralReach: Keeping Autism Therapy Clinicians Certified During theCOVID-19 Crisis

“In light of COVID-19, the clinical community that serves those with autism is facing a new challenge – a risk to their own certification. With industry conferences cancelled and many clinicians furloughed, some aren’t able to access or pay for the continuing education units (CEUs) needed to maintain certification. On 3/20, CentralReach opened its entire digital continuing education library for free access to all clinicians to help them take the required courses needed for recertification at no cost during this unprecedented time. Here’s a quick overview: https://buff.ly/3bpJliH.

We’ve seen an incredible reaction to this. Nearly 14,000 clinicians have signed up (For context, there are 37,000 clinicians certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board). For some great unbiased feedback, check out the comments on one of our social media announcements around it.”

Paul Muolo
Senior PR & Corporate Communications Specialist
CentralReach

#10. ShowingHero: Virtual Showings for Real Estate

ShowingHero is changing leasing and pivoting the real estate market by providing virtual showings to follow the current CDC guidelines and eliminating fees for self-showings.

These two new changes will change how renters and buyers view properties and rent/buy homes. It’s bringing automation and streamlining communications while reducing the most important overhead cost of small business which is labor.

Asif Hussain
Showing Hero

#11. Rhonda.ai: Plan a reliable, safe work re-entry

We have developed a tool that enables employees to do self-health assessments and supporting analytics so companies can mobilize their healthy workforce and plan their return to work strategy.

This is currently being used for essential services to do an initial triage to see if the resource is healthy, where they are located, what skills they have so they can be deployed quickly.

For larger workforces, it will be used to plan a reliable, safe work re-entry to bring healthy workers back to the frontlines, office or other environments in a phased approach.

In the future this can be used for any workforce planning based on Rhonda.ai connecting with employees, gathering information and providing deep analytics to enable companies to make great business decisions.

Anastasia Valentine
VP AI Technology Commercialization
Rhonda.ai

#12. Mushroom Networks: Better remote working experience

“Broadband bonding appliances for home are wifi routers with a twist. Unlike normal Wifi router that take a single wired line, these bonding routers can take your normal DSL, cable, fiber wired Internet access connection and additionally can tether to your cell phone to access its 4G/LTE/5G network and combine those two Internet resources into a fast and reliable Wifi network for your home office. The faster and optimized bonded connection enables higher quality video conferencing, better remote desktop applications and overall better remote working experience for home workers. This is a small contribution we are making to everyone to cope with COVID-19.”

Jay Akin
CEO
Mushroom Networks Inc

#13. AtmosAir Solutions: Neutralize the virus in air and on surfaces

“AtmosAir Solutions is a small business with a big high-tech solution to stopping the spread of coronavirus.

AtmosAir Solutions in Fairfield, CT. manufactures and markets patented bipolar ionization devices that neutralize coronavirus in the air and on surfaces. The pandemic has caused a surge in inquiries and new orders that have caused sales to soar five-fold.

Bipolar ionization devices, installed in building HVAC systems, are presently in over 7,000 commercial buildings, hospitals, colleges, hotels, cruise ships, casinos and sports stadiums and arena. They not only nullify coronavirus, but other viruses, bacteria, germs and other harmful contaminants in our air.”

Steve Levine
CEO
AtmosAir Solutions

#14. Blue Box: COVID-19 Disinfection Protocol

“Major facilities around the country are asking Blue Box to send technicians and deploy the company’s Covid-19 Disinfection Protocol. Our HVAC disinfecting treatment is a valuable asset in reducing the recirculation of the Coronavirus through buildings’ air systems . Because we have a specific application for Coronavirus we’re in high demand as one way to help reduce the virus’ spread.”

Jim Metroupolos
Blue Box

#15. Action1: Security Patch Management

“In tremendous effort to lessen the outbreak of COVID-19, companies worldwide are sending their staff to home offices. As a result, many businesses are facing challenges of securing all those newly remote workers. Action1 is helping organizations to keep their computers secure by implementing automated patch management, it does asset management and endpoint configuration reporting for both office and remote employees. Patch management is like a sanitizer, you’d better have it in hand and clean your premises before something shows up at your doorstep. While IT cannot combat COVID-19 itself, using IT resources in the most efficient and safe way can facilitate operations of life-critical organizations such as hospitals and call centers and also help smaller businesses survive and remain open amidst the crisis.”

Alex Vovk
CEO
Action1

#16. Hellogova: AI powered digital car buying experience

“Thanks to technology, we help people to get clear informations about car industry and all different brands, cars, models available on the market.
To do so, we have developed an Artificial Intelligence AI Hellogova.com to gather 25 years of automotive car experience within a unique digital experience. 
So we help people to find the car that fit their needs, for free in a 5 minutes process.
No physical contact, you do all from your sofa safely at home.”

Vianney 
CEO
Hellogova

#17. HelpSquad: Free live chat customer service and sales support agents

#18. Time Doctor:  Free Online Remote Working Conference and 14-Day Time Tracking For Remote Teams

“Time Doctor is a time tracking tool that boosts the productivity of remote teams. Its accurate dashboard helps remote workers track how much time they’ve spent at work. This time management app is popular in call centers, virtual assistants, freelancers, law firms, health practitioners, marketing agencies, and other SaaS companies. This tool contains features that help leaders to manage their employees throughout the pandemic and thereafter. 

Also, Time Doctor has been organizing conferences via its running remote platform. Its recent series of free online conferences have been designed to help support companies that are struggling to transition into the remote work culture. Participants are often inspired by insightful lectures and panel discussions that take place at online events. Business owners learn more about the best remote software and telecommuting policies. Entrepreneurs and managers are welcome to register for one of these free remote work conferences at runningremote.com. 

At the moment, remote teams can also access all the inbuilt features in the Time Doctor app free of charge. This includes its distraction management feature, payroll module, dashboard reports, and time tracking features. Managers can also explore its remote employee monitoring and chat monitoring features. However, the free trial feature only lasts for 14 days, in which the customer support will be available to provide onboarding services. All remote teams have to do is register at timedoctor.com”

Chioma
Content Marketing Specialist

A post-lockdown pre-vaccine world

Some Harvard scientists claim that we will require bouts of social distancing well into 2022. This may very well be true until a foolproof cure or vaccine is developed.
This means that organizations around the world will have to leverage technology to create a safe yet engaging environment for consumers.

• Author Details

Author Details

Sneh Ratna Choudhary

Sneh is a Content Marketing Manager at Uniqode and has a penchant for all things tech and startups that improve human lives. She adores dogs, Radiohead, and Michael Gary Scott.

sneh.c@mobstac.com