Dealers and integrators, when asked in SDM’s Forecast Study how they would rate the potential for sales in 2013, ranked monitoring as their second-biggest growth area, only after video surveillance. Whether you operate your own central station or use the services of a third-party monitoring company, this annual special supplement of SDM — Monitoring TODAY — contains information that is relevant to your business: the monitoring of subscriber accounts.

Last year’s edition of Monitoring TODAY opened with an in-depth look at the ASAP-to-PSAP program, which delivers alarm notification information from central stations to public safety answering points (PSAPs) by way of computer rather than phone. Much progress has been made, including the addition of three more cities and the financial backing of 100 charter members. Learn about what’s next for this important project in our update, “Ready for Automation ASAP.” 

We hope you enjoy the cover story, “Video Sharpens Its Monitoring Image.”. It describes how the various iterations of video monitoring have revenue synergy for the central station and its dealer customers. Video monitoring is one of the biggest growth areas within the monitoring industry, with as many as 58 percent of SDM’s audience indicating they offer remote video monitoring — more than double the number from two years earlier.

The article, “Aging in Place: PERS & Beyond” provides a fascinating look into the evolving capabilities of personal emergency response systems and other technologies that assist seniors with Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Read about how security companies can become involved in this burgeoning industry in the article.

And there’s more: a guest column from CSAA President Bob Bean;  a one-on-one interview with Excellence Award Central Station Manager of the Year, Amy Becht; and news from our advertisers. See exclusive online content, including the article “How Interactive Monitoring Can Help Dealers Grow.”

We’d like to hear your thoughts about this issue, your concerns about the monitoring business, or both. Please contact the editor at 847-405-4027 or stepanekl@bnpmedia.com.