eBrigade Reinforcement module
Coordinate cross-organisation reinforcements in a single view
When an activity exceeds what a single organisation can provide, open reinforcements linked to that activity for your sections and partner associations in a few clicks. Each one plans its own staff; you keep a consolidated view of who is there, with no cross-referenced spreadsheets or email back-and-forth. The organisation reinforcing you can even run its own eBrigade: the two platforms are paired and talk to each other, without either opening its database to the other.
These buttons are about the full eBrigade subscription: this module is included at no extra cost in every plan.
Attach reinforcements from other sections or partner associations to an existing activity: create them in batch for several organisations, or link an activity already created, all on a consolidated staffing view.
What is the eBrigade Reinforcement module?
Attach reinforcements from other sections or partner associations to an existing activity: create them in bulk for several organisations, or link an activity that already exists, all on a consolidated staffing view. It is included at no extra cost in every eBrigade plan.
Why use the Reinforcement module?
As soon as an intervention or event needs support from another section or a partner association, coordination starts from scratch: phone calls back and forth, emails, and sign-up lists scattered across organisations. The result: you never know for sure who is actually coming, how many, or from where — at the very moment every person counts. And when the organisation reinforcing you runs its own eBrigade, the problem doubles: two schedules, two lists, and neither one up to date on the other side.
What the Reinforcement module changes in eBrigade
From an existing activity, you generate reinforcements for several organisations at once in a single operation: eBrigade duplicates the activity (dates, times, location, geolocation) for each organisation selected, which then simply signs up its staff. The person in charge then has a single view bringing together the main activity and all its reinforcements — including those coming from an external organisation with its own eBrigade and its own database.
What you can do with Reinforcement
From an activity, select several sections or partner associations at once: eBrigade duplicates the activity for each of them and creates as many linked reinforcements, with no re-entry.
Each reinforcement inherits the dates, time slots, address and geolocation of the main activity, ensuring staff are aligned on the same slot and the same site.
An activity that is already planned can be linked as a reinforcement of a main activity; the software first checks that the dates overlap and that the activity is neither cancelled nor already linked elsewhere.
Reinforcements can only be opened to organisations in your hierarchy on which you hold the activity-creation right — or as the person in charge of the activity — which precisely defines who can be called on.
The administrator chooses, by activity type, which ones can serve as a reinforcement column. You adapt the module to your working practices without touching the rest of your configuration.
The person in charge sees the main activity and all its reinforcements grouped together, to track each organisation’s commitment and prepare logistics from a single source.
The organisation reinforcing you does not need to be in your hierarchy: if it runs its own eBrigade, the two platforms are paired once and for all with a code, then exchange directly. Each keeps its own database, members and permissions.
An external reinforcement request arrives in a dedicated screen on the partner’s side. Until someone accepts it, no activity appears in its schedule. On acceptance, the partner chooses its own activity type and the reinforcing organisation.
For each partner, the reinforcing organisation sets what it shows: headcount only, the names of the people signed up, or names with rank and phone number. The setting belongs to the organisation holding the data, never to the one requesting it.
Step by step
In the configuration, the administrator designates which activity types can serve as reinforcements (reinforcement column). The module is set up once and then applies across your whole scope.
On an existing activity, select the sections or partner associations to mobilise. eBrigade creates a linked reinforcement for each, automatically copying dates, times, location and geolocation.
The recipient organisations find their reinforcement in eBrigade and sign up their available members, exactly as on any other activity.
The person in charge sees the main activity and all its reinforcements grouped together, to track at a glance the staff committed by each organisation.
The two administrators exchange a pairing code once, in Settings › Reinforcement. Then, from the activity, you send a request to the partner instance: it accepts it, creates its reinforcement activity on its side, and the committed headcount flows back to your view. A change of time or a cancellation is passed on to it automatically.
Where this module really pays off
Fire and rescue services (SDIS) and civil protection: open cross-station or cross-association reinforcements linked to the intervention, with each organisation signing up its own staff.
First-aid cover (DPS) and major events: complete the staffing of a deployment by creating reinforcement columns for approved partner associations.
Civil protection and associative networks: mobilise several branches or sections of the same network in bulk around a shared activity.
Departmental coordination: a higher level creates reinforcements on the authorised lower levels of the hierarchy, without re-entering the times.
Multi-site private security: link an already planned activity as a reinforcement of a main activity when the dates coincide.
Mutual aid between independent associations: call on a neighbouring AASC (approved civil-protection association) that runs its own eBrigade, without creating accounts for it on your side or entering its database.
Departmental mutual-aid agreements: pair the platforms of the signatory organisations once, then call on them as needed, each remaining free to accept or decline.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Reinforcement module included in eBrigade?
Yes, it is a module you can enable in your eBrigade configuration. Once enabled, it applies to the activity types you have designated as eligible for reinforcement.
What is the difference between creating reinforcements and linking an existing activity?
They are two complementary uses. Creating reinforcements duplicates the main activity for the organisations you choose (dates, times, location and geolocation copied). Linking, on the other hand, attaches an already planned activity to a main activity as a reinforcement, provided their dates overlap.
Who can open reinforcements, and to which organisations?
The person in charge of the activity, or any user with the activity-creation right on the organisation concerned. Reinforcements can only target the sections and associations in your hierarchy for which you are authorised.
How are the main staff and the reinforcements distinguished?
Reinforcements are sub-activities linked to the main activity (a parent-child relationship). The person in charge has a view grouping the main activity and all its reinforcements, making it possible to track each organisation’s commitment.
Does eBrigade prevent inconsistent links?
Yes. Before linking a reinforcement, the software checks several rules: an activity cannot be linked to itself, nor can a cancelled activity, an activity already linked elsewhere or an activity made up of several parts be linked, and the dates must overlap. Invalid links are blocked with a clear message.
Can you request reinforcement from an organisation that has its own eBrigade?
Yes. The two administrators exchange a pairing code once in Settings › Reinforcement, and the two platforms then talk to each other directly. Neither opens its database to the other: there is no account to create on the partner’s side, no members to import and no shared database.
What exactly does the requesting organisation see?
What the organisation being called on has decided to show, and nothing else. For each partner, it chooses between three levels: headcount only, the first and last names of the people signed up, or names together with rank and phone number. The setting is made by the organisation holding the data, can be changed at any time, and applies from the next refresh.
Can a reinforcement request create an activity on our side without our wanting it?
No. An incoming request lands in the “Reinforcement requests” screen under the Activity menu, and nothing enters the schedule until a person in charge has accepted it. Only on acceptance is the activity created — with the activity type and organisation you choose, in your own reference data. You can also decline with a reason, which the requester receives.
What happens if the main activity changes or is cancelled?
A change of time or a cancellation is passed on to the reinforcing organisation, and its activity is updated accordingly. Its sign-ups, teams and equipment are never touched: they belong to it, and what happens to them is decided on its side.
Is pairing two instances secure?
The pairing code can only be used once and expires after seven days; once the link is established, every message exchanged is signed and timestamped, and a replayed or tampered message is rejected. The pairing can be suspended or deleted at any time, from either side, without affecting activities already created.