The problem with the NHS Test and Trace app for venues

The NHS test and trace App should come online on the 24th of September. For those that know me, you will be aware that we made a test and trace platform (RecordCustomer.com) to help venues comply with hastily introduced test and trace requirements. Before reading on, I need you to know that this isn't sour grapes; we always knew, hoped even, that this time would come but we just wish it'd be a bit......better.

When we built the platform over a weekend back in July we saw three main issues.

Infection risk

The obvious solution to recording customer visits is pen and paper but the infection risk around this is huge. You have a situation whereby every single person walking into a venue is passing through the same area and touching pens and paper.

GDPR

There are lots of issues around GDPR here so I would cover them all. If you have a list, either on a bar or with staff, that is data that is covered under GDPR legislation. Is it easily lost? Is it easily damaged? Can you be sure it's destroyed when it isn't needed? Can you be sure someone who shouldn't get access takes a sneaky peek? No.

I'd also point out that it puts customers in a vulnerable position too. There have been cases of staff and fellow customers using test and trace to get the contacts of women and harass them.

Time impact

If there is a case and the venue has to contact all customers that had to be done by the venue. That means someone on the payroll had to go through a written list and contact each person individually.

Our system fixes these and does it well but it is by no means the only one out there. The technology isn't revolutionary in its field by any stretch of the imagination.

Now the NHS test and trace app is finally here and it uses QR code technology (but you have to use the app itself and not just the inbuilt QR code reader). This means venues have to display the NHS QR codes, but the Government advice for those who don't want to use the app or can't use the app is....*drum roll* use pen and paper.

I'm sure I don't need to tell you that this still brings three big issues:

• Infection Risk
• GDPR
• Time Impact

And not only that, it adds another one: confusion. You will have a situation where venues have multiple QR codes and swathes of people stood outside a venue trying to download an App before they enter a venue.

So in summary, the app costs ￡11.8m to build, doesn't use technology that would be more effective, and manages to introduce more problems than the one built by a small development team in Scarborough over a weekend.