Providing reliable information to refugees via the Helpful Information App
Rode Kruis
Service
Solution
Sector
The Dutch Red Cross is a leading humanitarian organization that provides help to people in need, both at home and abroad. Recently, the Red Cross played an essential role in accompanying and accommodating Ukrainian refugees. This target group has a great need for clear and accessible information. This is why the Helpful Information App (HIA) was developed, a digital platform that has been able to reach many refugees in a short time with practical answers to questions such as: “Where can I find a place to stay?” whether “How do I enroll my children in school?”
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Complex information provision
While sharing information seems easy, managing and structuring all content can be challenging. Who controls content? How do you ensure logical categorization? And how do you find a balance between an overview and a large number of subcategories?
Limited search functionality
Many smaller organizations do not have the resources to use advanced search functionalities, such as Google. The available search functionality was simple and was not sufficient for many to find the information they needed quickly. As a result, users in the HIA were mainly dependent on icons and categories, which looks organized but can also lead to an overwhelming amount of information.
Risks with generative AI
The rise of generative AI seems to be an answer to complex queries, but it comes with risks. This is because AI can provide incorrect or inconsistent information, which is unacceptable in the case of important information about emergency services.
Instead of a generative AI model, Quatronic, together with the Red Cross, has opted for an approach with semantic embedding. This is an advanced, reliable technique in artificial intelligence that captures the meaning of text. This allows the search engine to accurately match user questions with the relevant information in the database. It is important that each answer is given in the right context, with the source being acknowledged.
- Reliable matching: Through semantic analyses, users find the right answer faster and more accurately.
- API architecture: The solution was designed as an API so that it can be easily integrated into the existing HIA structure.
- Regular updates: Both the database and the embeddings are updated periodically so that new information or changes are implemented quickly.
The new search functionality in the HIA gives refugees and other people seeking help immediate access to 100% reliable information, without the risk of incorrect AI answers. By linking to an up-to-date information system, Red Cross employees always have control over the content and can respond quickly to changing situations. This is how the Red Cross, together with Quatronic, makes a difference for people who want to be helped in the best possible way during an uncertain period.
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