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72 I N D U S T R Y I N S I G H T / E D M U L L E N With mortgage default volumes at all-time historical lows, investors, servicers, and mortgage field services vendors continue to look for innovative technological solutions that add value. Technological innovation often comes at a cost, and in the current environment sometimes gets ignored or placed on the back burner due to costs constraints or capital budget requirements. In some sectors, people love to speak to technological innovation and enjoy throwing around technical buzzwords, but in the end do not want to pay for the latest technology. However, there is one technological development that is innovative in both its use and its cost effectiveness. e technology is known as a geotagging system, an application of a technology used in several different industries but which has been modified for use in the mortgage field services industry. e term "LOTO" stands for lockout/ tagout and is a procedure utilized in industries where machines or equipment prepared for service or maintenance often contain some form of "hazardous energy" that can cause harm to people in the area. "LOTO Safety" is all about making sure these types of hazards are controlled to prevent unplanned releases of harmful energy. In the mortgage field services industry, we are fortunate not to regularly encounter equipment containing "hazardous energy." However, there are numerous circumstances where a similar technology and procedure such as LOTO would be of benefit. Consider examples such as incorrectly changing a lock at the wrong address, inspecting the wrong property, removing materials from an incorrect property location, or paying for services not performed. Lockout/tagout technological solutions can be expensive and not suitable for the mortgage field services industry in their current form. One example of the application of innovative, simple, low-cost, and effective control using geotagging is in the "passcode tag and app," which brings a whole new level of compliance. Geotagging is a term for associating a piece of data with a specific location. Geotagging is the addition of geographical information, usually in the form of latitude and longitude coordinates, to websites, images, videos, smartphone transmissions, and various other data types and sources. Placed within a self- adhesive tag and powered by radio waves from a nearby smartphone, these tags can record nearby devices' signatures and geolocations, then triggering an app server to record the event. Mark Clark, Co-Founder of Pass-Code Technology LLC, working with a Tanner Ewing, Founder of Tritium Technical Solutions, adapted one of Tritium's product line and piloted a multifeatured geotagging tracking system within the mortgage field services space. e system allowed full monitoring of all activities on properties by using a combination of innovative asset tracking software and a flexible sensor with wireless capabilities. e simplicity, cost effectiveness, and reporting capabilities of this solution immediately presented intriguing possibilities for mortgage field services vendors. ere is plenty of potential upside for clients to realize additional compliance benefits as well as avoiding costly errors and ensuring services are performed as they require. Here's how geotagging systems could help change the way mortgage field service vendors control access.