Valor, the only voice-activated panic Super App brought to you by BYY Strategic Services, could be a game-changer in a terrifying scenario where a perpetrator holds a gun to your head, attempting to force you to unlock your banking app using facial recognition.
In such a high-stress situation, opening a manual panic button on your phone or recalling a pin code for your banking and phone apps becomes nearly impossible.
More info about Valor
“Valor represents the next evolution in personal security,” says Amanda Rogaly, CEO of BYY Strategic Services. “It’s the first patented voice-activated panic Super App not only in South Africa but globally.”
Rogaly explains that voice activation enhances safety significantly. “With voice activation, you can alert our armed response and medical emergency teams the moment you sense a threat or danger, reducing the risk of abduction, theft, or other serious crimes,” she says.
She points out that while rising crime rates have led to an increase in panic and security apps, many fall short. A criminal is unlikely to pause while a victim struggles to unlock their phone and press a panic button. Additionally, extreme stress often causes people to forget pin numbers or manual codes for their phone or banking apps.
Rogaly describes how Valor works: once downloaded on iOS or Android phones, users set a custom ‘panic’ command phrase for use in dangerous or high-alert situations. “Simply say the phrase, and your phone will send response teams to your precise real-time location.
The control room will also listen to ambient sounds through the app to evaluate your situation, relaying details to emergency and armed response services en route,” she explains. With real-time tracking, Valor offers protection even in uneasy situations like using e-hailing services, which have recently faced scrutiny due to crimes against riders by drivers.
The app also alerts your bank when your safety is at risk, notifying fraud departments to activate protective measures for your accounts. This bank communication makes Valor valuable not just for security but for the banking industry as well.
“While facial recognition was once seen as a security breakthrough, criminals can now access bank accounts by forcing a phone to a victim’s face. Valor provides a solution that mitigates the financial fallout,” Rogaly notes.
She emphasizes the importance of service provider partnerships in this offering. BYY Strategic Services has collaborated with South African banks to safeguard their customers and partnered with the country’s largest emergency control room, giving users access to over 22,000 security and emergency responders nationwide. Control room agents are highly trained and multilingual, a key advantage in an AI- and bot-driven world. “While Valor uses AI to educate and assist users, when it comes to something as personal as safety, many prefer a human connection for trust and reliability,” Rogaly says.
Designed for speed and simplicity, the Valor Super App is exceptionally user-friendly, even under duress.
“We’re especially proud that every element of this app is Proudly South African, from concept to design and development. BYY Strategic Services, the company behind Valor, is also fully women-owned and -managed,” Rogaly shares. The Valor Super App patent was filed in South Africa and internationally in 2023, reflecting a visionary approach ahead of its time.
“In South Africa, many live with the constant fear of theft or abduction for ransom. Banks can no longer rely solely on facial recognition to protect clients from financial theft; they must act proactively. Valor serves as a personal, voice-activated command center, safeguarding your entire family with just the power of your voice,” Rogaly concludes.
For more details, visit valor.co.za.
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