USING THE RIGHT BUSINESS OPERATIONS SOFTWARE can yield big benefits for security dealers. SDM talked to six security dealers and integrators about this. Here’s what they told us.

If there is one word that could describe 2020, both in life and for the top 100 security dealers, it is unpredictable. Following several years of growth — and a very strong 2019 — SDM 100 companies found themselves on slippery ground beginning in March 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS? Each May SDM features the SDM 100 (link to story) — a ranking of the top 100 security dealer companies measured by their RMR the previous year.

EXPANDING REVENUE STREAMS and increasing profitability are never ending battles for security integrators. Adapting your offerings to capitalize on emerging technologies that serve critical needs — without falling for flash-in-the-pan trends that quickly fade — is one of the surest ways to boost your bottom line and ensure business survival for the long haul.

Are you looking to increase your rankings as a top security dealer or integrator in the next SDM 100?

Was an officer justified in shooting two service dogs during a burglar alarm incident?

For integrators willing to shake things up, opportunity awaits in managed access control.

Recreational use of Cannabis is now legal in 16 states and allowed for medical purposes in 36 states. The Cannabis industry is growing rapidly, with annual market values expected to reach $30 billion by 2025.

Whether you’ve worked with VMS before or not, today’s capabilities can be daunting for security integrators; but the reward is worth the effort, say those with experience.

Here’s the good news: Experts predict that within the next four or five years, there will be more than 40 billion IoT devices hard at work — improving the safety, efficiency, reliability and productivity of the world’s enterprises.