Understanding the Capacity of the Product
Campus classroom helps Pelco trainer keep installers focused
- By Ralph C. Jensen
- Mar 04, 2014
When Barbara Morgan settles into her classroom, she has a
room full of teaching aides and equipment that keeps installers,
end users and dealers focused on the topic of the day. Her
message to her students is quite simple. “Understand the full
capacity of the product,” with Morgan’s overall goal being the same as her students:
to troubleshoot and maintain security systems to the best of their ability.
“I am often responsible for training end users from very large installations,
such as operations managers, who come to our classes,” said Morgan, the
global training director at the Pelco Global Training Institute in Clovis, Calif.
“Integrators often encourage their customers to participate in training sessions
for several reasons, chief among them is so they have a complete understanding
of the systems they are using and to solidify loyalty to the product.”
A Little about Pelco
Long invested in the security industry, the Pelco campus pretty much makes
up the city of Clovis. Of course, there are other business interests in this city
and the area, but Pelco has made a name for itself because of its employees and
the services they offer, training included.
Founded in 1957 and headquartered in Clovis, Pelco continues its neverending
pursuit of 100 percent customer satisfaction. Since 2007, Pelco has
been part of Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy and security
management. Coming together as one, Pelco and Schneider Electric offer the
unique ability to provide customers with an unmatched combination of solutions
for infrastructure and security.
Today, Pelco by Schneider Electric employs about 2,200 people worldwide,
with resellers in 130 countries. Their security offerings include the development
and manufacturing of video security systems including high-definition and IP
fixed, dome and integrated positioning camera systems; next-generation video
management and software-only solutions; video matrix systems; full HD displays
and more. The more—as some have come to expect—is training.
Like other building automation systems, physical security is migrating
from an analog, centralized landscape to one that is network-based and IPfocused.
That means existing network infrastructures can be leveraged to deliver
video security solutions in new and exciting ways that drive business and
increase efficiency.
With a long and prestigious history of offering high-quality, innovative products and exceptional customer service, Pelco has become a highly
sought-after supplier in the video security industry.
School Is In Session
While Pelco is a homegrown product, its training programs reach the entire
world. The company has 12 centers across the globe where physical classrooms
are filled with students eager to hear the security message. But that’s not all. The
company also does training in the field, using company offices where product
representatives are stationed, and sometimes those classes are in the language of
that particular customer. Company reps often serve as the local trainers, providing
training for free to platinum and gold customers.
While onsite training is available, company officials charge for this service,
mainly to recover the cost for getting the materials and equipment onsite.
“We also provide training in China,” Morgan said. “Most of our business
and training opportunities are in North America. This is where we have the
bulk of business.”
The training. Pelco’s four-day course provides a hue of different colors.
First of all, there is training in the classroom, which resembles any college
campus with hands-on equipment to accelerate the knowledge base. Morgan
offers eLearning, podcasts, WebEx, tutorials and virtual classrooms. With a
little effort and concentration, students join the open-enrollment studies and
can earn the Endura certificate of knowledge.
The instructors. Morgan couldn’t do all the teaching on her own because
Pelco’s reach and classroom offering is too broad. She manages 18 full-time
and 10 part-time instructors, with an average tenure of 10 to 12 years.
Pelco instructors follow a defined set of criteria to make sure that students
get a fulfilling experience from the learning center. They also have certifications
of their own, Cisco CCNA certifications and IP competency status, adding
weight to their credentials.
All Pelco trainers are profiled on the company’s Website.
The library. What good would training be without a library? Pelco has a
suite dedicated to eLearning that can be accessed by customers and employees
alike. 85 percent of the library queries are made from customers.
“These libraries are open to peer companies and to new students who just
want to get acquainted,” Morgan said.
More than 2,000 unique users who have completed Pelco courses continue
their studies thanks to the library, and more than 6,000 courses have been completed.
Once a course is completed, students are given continuing education credits,
and have the opportunity to evaluate the courses and instructors.
Exceptional Education in Video Security
Training is mission critical at Pelco.
“It is our goal and understanding that integrators, installers and end users
want to keep up with ever-changing technologies,” Morgan said. “The Pelco
Global Training Institute (PGTI) combines IP knowledge and deep experience
in traditional video security to deliver best-in-class training for IP video.
Through an unmatched combination of instructor-led classes in 10 locations
worldwide and at many North American Pelco Sales Representatives’ offices,
and a suite of online resources, including an extensive library of eLearning,
podcasts, videos and more, it has never been easier to get the information you
need, when you need it.”
Curricula designed and delivered by an industry-leading array of instructors,
instructional designers, engineers, certified networking specialists and
industry consultants, the combination of traditional instructor-led classes
and Pelco’s online capabilities deliver unparalleled education for today’s video
security professionals.
This article originally appeared in the March 2014 issue of Security Today.