Crisis Communication Tools Unchained - A Case Study

How AI-Powered Development Platforms Are Changing the Game

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Dear reader,

When a crisis strikes, communicators are often caught between the urgency of the moment and the limitations of their tools. But what if creating the solutions you need didn’t require a tech team or a long development timeline?

In this issue, we explore how AI-powered platforms like Replit are empowering crisis professionals to build interactive tools faster, smarter, and without a single line of code. From real-time dashboards to readiness assessments, the possibilities are endless—and closer than you think.

And to prove the point, I’ll show you how I used Replit to create a first iteration of my UACC Framework Assessment Tool.

Enjoy!

Table of Contents

A quiet revolution

In crisis and emergency communications, where timing and clarity can make the difference between success and failure, the right tools can turn disorder into control.

Until recently, developing such tools required deep pockets, specialist developers, and more time than most organisations could afford. But a quiet revolution is underway, fuelled by AI-powered development platforms that promise to change all that.

Replit, an example.

As the creator of the Universal Adaptive Crisis Communication (UACC) framework, I had a clear vision of an interactive tool that would bring the framework to life. What I lacked was the technical know-how - or the free time to programme it myself.

With Replit’s AI agent, I was able to skip the hard part. No programming bootcamp, no software development team, just a conversation with an AI that took my ideas and turned them into something tangible.

Making development accessible

The takeaway: these platforms remove the technical barriers that keep so many good ideas trapped in PowerPoint slides and forgotten Google Docs. They give crisis professionals, not programmers, the keys to developing tools that actually work in the field.

I didn’t have to learn Python or mess with GitHub repositories. Instead, I uploaded my background material, told Replit’s AI what I wanted - a working prototype of an interactive assessment tool - and it built it with me.

It felt less like programming and more like working with an assistant who happens to know its way around a keyboard.

For anyone who has ever struggled to explain what they need to a developer (and then waited six months for a halfway working version), this kind of accessibility is a revelation. It turns out that the bottleneck is not creativity but technology, and that bottleneck is finally disappearing2 .

The UACC Framework: A tool comes to life

What emerged from this experiment was not just a vague proof of concept. The interactive UACC assessment tool I developed is a fully functional system that:

  • Assesses an organisation’s readiness to manage crises,

  • Generates customised recommendations to address gaps,

  • Guides users through real-life case studies to apply the framework,

  • Tracks progress in real time.

Me interacting with the Replit AI

The thing is: It wasn’t developed by a top team of developers. It was me, a laptop, and an AI assistant. The technology reduced costs and time and completely changed the process by shifting my focus from troubleshooting to solving real problems.

All of this happens in short breaks or isolated hours - without me taking half a day to fully commit to the project. Imagine the progress I could make if I really dedicated myself to a project like this1 .

PS: the links below will take you to the tool, but please take into account that this is draft and on a development server - it could break at any moment! 😅

Tools that break the mould

The implications for the world of crisis and emergency communications are profound. AI-powered platforms mean communicators can build what they need without being tied to the slow, expensive machinery of traditional development. Imagine the possibilities:

Customisable dashboards that deliver live updates during emergencies,

  • Apps that collect real-time event reports from affected communities,

  • Virtual assistants that guide first responders through stressful scenarios

  • Accessible tools to reach vulnerable populations in a crisis,

  • Training simulators that don’t cost a fortune to produce.

And it’s not just about developing flashy new tools. It’s about testing them quickly and cheaply. You don’t need to launch a 50,000 euro development project to prove that an idea works. You can develop a prototype first, get feedback, and then decide whether it’s worth expanding the idea.

From idea to reality

The real superpower of platforms like Replit is their ability to bridge the long-standing gap between big ideas and actual realisation. For crisis communicators, this means we no longer have to hand our sketches to a technical team and hope they “get it” We can prototype ourselves — quickly, iteratively and without having to speak fluent JavaScript.

Take the UACC assessment tool: The version I created isn’t perfect, but it’s enough to show stakeholders what’s possible. It’s a proof of concept that I can use to test the water before I dive into full development. And that’s the beauty of it - AI platforms allow us to fail fast and improve things faster.

A new era of crisis and emergency communication

We are entering a new chapter where the limits of our tools are not defined by technology, but by our own creativity. Platforms like Replit remove the technical hurdles and give us the freedom to focus on what's really important: solving problems.

What does this mean in practise?

  • You can use tools in days, not months.

  • You can experiment with bold ideas without spending budgets on development.

  • You can spend more time understanding the needs of your target audience and less time explaining specifications to developers.

  • You can customise solutions to your company’s specific challenges instead of settling for off-the-shelf software that doesn’t quite fit.

How to get started

If you’re wondering how to get started in this brave new world, here’s what worked for me:

  1. Document your idea clearly. Don’t worry about jargon — just explain the problem and how you want to solve it.

  2. Prioritise usability. A clunky but functional tool won’t win any fans.

  3. Use an AI platform like Replit to test your idea.

  4. Involve stakeholders early on. Test your prototype and get feedback before investing in full development.

  5. Work with technical teams when it’s time to scale, but get your hands on a working model.

The future is collaborative

The rise of AI-powered development is both a technical breakthrough and a cultural shift. It’s about bringing communicators and tech closer together and removing the barriers that have kept so many of our best ideas in limbo.

In a field where speed, clarity, and adaptability are everything, this democratisation of development could redefine the way we manage crises. The tools we have always wanted are now within our grasp. All we need is a vision - and maybe a laptop with a decent Wi-Fi connection.

So, what will you build?

References and further reading.

1  Replit. (2024). Replit. https://replit.com/guides

2  Léa D, & Business, D. (2024, September 7). Replit Launches AI-Powered Coding Assistant. Ctol.digital; CTOL Digital Business and Technology News. https://www.ctol.digital/news/replit-launches-ai-powered-coding-assistant/

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What I am reading/testing/checking out:

  • Webinar: Using AI for behaviour change insights

  • Tool: AskNews provides AI-powered insights to minimize bias and build a transparent view of current events

  • Tool: Gummysearch - Audience Research tool for Reddit

  • Research: Kuipers, S., Perlstein, S., Wolbers, J., & Jong, W. (2023). Assist or accuse? Identifying trends in crisis communication through a bibliometric literature review. Risk Hazards & Crisis in Public Policy, 14(4), 272–296.

  • New publication: Corporate Communication Review (to be launched soon)

Let’s meet!

Here are the events and conferences I'll be speaking at. If you're around, feel free to message me, and we can meet up for a coffee or a Negroni.

  • 🇦🇪 AI for Crisis Communications Workshop, 29-30 January 2025, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  • 🇧🇪 AI in PR Boot Camp II, 20-21 February 2025, Brussels, Belgium

  • 🇦🇪 New Horizons in Digital Content Creation and Data Analysis Conference, 23-24 April 2025, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

  • 🇲🇽 Crisis Communications Boot Camp, 29-30 May 2025, Mexico City, Mexico.

  • 🇸🇦 Crisis Communications Boot Camp, 4-5 June 2025, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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Parts of this newsletter were created using AI technology to draft content. In addition, all AI-generated images include a caption stating, 'This image was created using AI'. These changes were made in line with the transparency requirements of the EU AI law for AI-generated content. Some links in this newsletter may be affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase; however, I only promote tools and services that I have tested, use myself, or am convinced will make a positive difference.

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