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Most companies conduct customer satisfaction surveys and some survey employees about human resources issues and conditions. But few engage employees in surveys that can lead to significant boosts in corporate performance.

It is no secret that 75 to 80 percent of all alarms are caused by user error, according to the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) and, therefore, alarm verification procedures and technologies can greatly reduce the number of false dispatches. Many national and regional companies already have implemented Enhanced Call Verification (ECV) or two-call verification as a necessity due to verified response or non-response ordinances in the cities or areas they serve, and a growing number are implementing verification technologies such as video and audio to add a deeper level of verification.

Stanley CSS announced the completion of Stanley Black & Decker’s acquisition of Niscayah.

Every year companies across the country take the time to fill out applications for the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) Excellence Awards. Central stations, managers, operators, and support staff all take on the challenge of communicating who they are and what they do so well — in an application.

In the past, integrators and dealers installing an electronic access control stuck to what they knew — electronics — and subcontracted a locksmith to deal with the “hardware” component. Technology, economics and business motivations are changing that, however. More than ever it makes sound business sense in certain cases to take on the complete installation, which means delving into the world of locks. While electric strikes and magnetic locks also need their own knowledge base, electrified locks are one of the most common, and most tricky for the newcomer, to install properly. The good news is that once you get familiar with how to do it, they are pretty simple to do.

When talking about video systems, any discussion of cabling is undoubtedly intertwined with a discussion about power and power supplies. This is especially true when the conversation steers towards running power and video signals over the same wire, whether using power over Ethernet (PoE) or another type of cable.

As more and more homeowners opt to forego traditional phone service in favor of cellular service or VoIP, alarm systems with cellular communication are being installed like never before. Some dealers are encouraging all customers to use cellular, even when they have a traditional phone line, because that option minimizes potential future headaches if the customer should cancel voice service at some point in the future.

Software isn’t the most interesting or gripping thing to talk about. Especially back office software. But in the end, it’s something that’s absolutely necessary. Some would say that a good back office software solution is the backbone of your organization. If it’s not strong, your business won’t be either.

The hotter the fire the harder the steel, some say. Tough times often forge resilient businesses with unexpected outcomes — demonstrated by the Top Systems Integrators who turned last year’s challenges into opportunities to retool their offerings. “We are most proud of our ability to getter better every year despite market conditions,” says No. 6 ranked Johnson Controls Inc.