This year the alarm industry is increasingly unshackled from landlines and high costs, buoyed by end user demand for remote/interactive services, and up against more competition.
Every new year always starts off with speculation. The interpretation of several noticeable changes impacting the alarm industry in 2012 depends on whether one subscribes to the philosophy of “glass half empty” or “glass half full.” What do you think as you read through the following list?
In the matter of a magnetic lock installation, code compliance can be a big deal if designers and installers aren’t sufficiently educated about requirements and common misinterpretations. Why all the fuss? Life safety, of course.
In an industry where technology is king and the latest and greatest in access control can do amazingly sophisticated things, it is somewhat ironic that one of the most complicated and controversial pieces of equipment to install is a lock — a magnetic lock, to be specific. The issues surrounding this relatively simple piece of hardware can get so messy that some dealers and integrators elect to stay away from installing it at all.
Technologies may be converging, but when it comes to the revenue models of security dealers and electronic systems contractors, the differences are vast.
A confluence of both opportunities (energy management, mobile technologies) and challenges (depressed home construction, reduced consumer spending) keeps pushing installation companies into market segments in which they’ve never gone before. One result is that more security dealers are seeking sales of residential systems that go beyond traditional security, especially those targeted for the existing home market.
The utility environment is challenging in many ways. Brent Franklin, president, Unlimited Technology Inc., Chester Springs, Pa., sums it up appropriately when he says, “Utilities are often located in the middle of some of the worst environments and applications you can possibly imagine. They are in the middle of a transformer field or on the side of a rocky hill. They absolutely have a lot more inherent risk than a normal office building.”
There have been some ‘stunning’ improvements made to IP cameras recently, according to security professionals. This makes them ideal for a wide range of new applications, translating to more sales opportunities for your company.
End users’ desire for high-definition and megapixel technologies has driven the vast majority of advancements in the video surveillance industry — yet because the security industry has been adopting IP cameras more slowly than expected, end users may not necessarily be aware of the newest advancements.
Security dealers that install smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors for the residential market soon will have to meet some new requirements as a result of changes made to the latest National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. The standards involved are the 2010 version of NFPA 72, the National Fire Alarm & Signaling Code, and the 2012 version of NFPA 720, the Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide Detection & Warning Equipment.
Security Cloud Computing (SCC) has arrived and is changing the very fabric of how security is sold, delivered, used and — as a result — valued by customers. It is or will dramatically impact the historic notions of RMR by expanding the sources and changing its structure.
In a recent case before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, the court clarified multiple issues frequently faced by alarm companies in court.
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River Valley, LLC owns four businesses in western Pennsylvania: Cranberry 10 Minute Oil Change, Cranberry Car Wash, Cranberry Pet Wash, and Erie 10 Minute Oil Change. Most are open 24 hours a day and often unmanned, particularly during the night hours.
As technology marches on, one of the “new normal” rules of the game is that while a product/device/software set might be cool today, pretty soon it is either obsolete or has died.
New in-camera chip paves the way for vastly improved analytics; With embedded wireless sensors, new tech tells security systems if doors & windows are unlocked; MobileView™ receives QATT designation under DHS SAFETY Act, and more.
The showdown over U.S. debt and the continuing crisis surrounding the euro caused instability in a number of sectors, and that instability was reflected in the third quarter 2011 Security Industry Business Confidence Index, which is a report conducted by the Security Industry Association among its members who provide security products and services to the reseller channel of dealers and integrators.
This January I had appointments with leading firms to discuss cyber strategy. These included the largest IT company in the world, a multibillion-dollar intelligence security consultancy, and a global physical security firm completing a billion-dollar acquisition. All understand cybersecurity is a leading issue in the boardroom and represents a recurring revenue goldmine if they incorporate cyber consulting and information protection solutions into their deliverables.
Check out SDM’s fourth virtual trade show, iSecurity, for starters. Admittedly, I’m not the most high-tech, gadget-oriented person. As an example, I’m just now doing the research in anticipation of buying my first smartphone (any advice?). When I watch TV, I still need to adjust the “rabbit-ear” antenna positioned next to my HD flat screen. (My family is among the 10 percent of U.S. households that never appreciated the value of subscribing to some form of pay TV such as cable or satellite.) And for those of you who ask — yes, you can get “free TV” on an HD television.
Mel Mahler, after 22 years with ADS Security, Nashville, Tenn., has stepped down as chairman and CEO to enter retirement. He speaks to SDM about the factors that led to his decision to retire, retirement plans, and reflections on his security career.
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The SDM Top Systems Integrators Report ranks, by total annual revenue, the largest U.S. firms that contract electronic security projects for commercial, industrial, institutional, government, and other non-residential markets.
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