Experiencing Nashville and ESX 2014 together for the first time in my 37 years, I was in honky tonk country music heaven with a chord or two dedicated to security! Classic country songs of days passed, when times were simple and less complicated, mixed with the modern technology and services presented by the security industry. With an exclusive focus on the needs of electronic security integration and monitoring companies, company owners, executive management and staff can use this experience to discover best practices, establish key relationships and learn through education tracks that cover industry-specific topics.
After an inspiring luncheon with keynote speaker, Tom Avery, one of 41 people to have ever reached both the North and South poles on foot, I was more than inspired and ready to hit the showroom floor. His thrilling tales of exploration and mountaineering in uncharted territories in the world including the Andes, New Zealand, the Alps, Tanzania, Patagonia, Kyrgyzstan and Morocco, painted a clear picture of true teamwork. Choosing the best team possible for these journeys was the most difficult part for Avery, something that security professionals in the audience could relate to.
I fed my belly and then fed my soul as the voice of Patsy Cline echoed down the long hall of the Music City Center in downtown as I moseyed to the beat of “Walkin’ after Midnight” toward the ribbon-cutting ceremony that opened the showroom floor for attendees. People stampeded in like herds of cattle, hoping to see the latest and greatest of electronic security.
Talking and Trending
With over 200 exhibitors representing video, access control, intrusion, fire and central station technologies, automation, information technology and audio and visual, attendees were given a wide variety of choices on a manageable showroom floor, where they were made to feel important through valuable connections and meaningful conversations with manufacturers and service providers.
Having the opportunity to interact with nearly all of the booths at ESX 2014, I learned from industry leaders, not only what products and services they were offering, but from the conversations, I discovered an important trend happening in the security industry.
Keith Brandon of Kwikset demonstrated their newest lock, the Smart Code Touch, which comes equipped with the same interface as all of the company’s lock offerings, but what sets this one apart is its modern, sleek appearance, quiet motor system and exquisite beauty.
Mark Walters of Z-Wave introduced their new product offering, the Z/IP Gateway. Simply plug in an Internet connection, add to a Z-Wave network and automatically all connected, Z-Wave products receive their own IP addresses.
This brings me to the important security trend: the connected home that makes the customer’s lifestyle easier and controllable from all mobile devices. To do this, technology must look familiar to things the customer sees in their daily lives and be easy to use and incorporate into their daily lives.
Napco effectively demonstrated that gone are the days of turning the lamps off and on each time you enter your home, manually adjusting your thermostat, manually arming the alarm and simply guessing as to what’s going on at your home when you’re not there with their iBridge technology. This technology allows customers to turn on/off lights and alarms, lock/unlock doors, set thermostats, moods and scenes, view local/remote video and get email messages and video clips all in one app.
Award Winners
Honoring the impact of new and recently introduced products and services that have a positive effect on security integration and monitoring companies, ESX 2014 Maximum Impact Award Winners are:
Category: Access Control/ID Systems: Access Control System
WINNER: Honeywell, NetAXS-123 5.0 EVL
Category: Access Control/ID Systems: Gate/Door Operators
WINNER: Linear, GD00Z Garage Door Controller
Category: Accessories & Aids: Dealer Company Software
WINNER: ConnectWise, ConnectWise
Category: Accessories & Aids: Installation Tools/Testers
WINNER: iControl Networks, System Installation Wizard
Category: Accessories & Aids: Mobile Applications
WINNER: iControl Networks, Home View 3D
Category: Alarm Equipment: Alarm Signal Transmission Equipment
WINNER: Digital Monitoring Products, CellCom SLZ
Category: Alarm Equipment: Annunciators, Bells, Sirens, Strobes
WINNER: Videofied, Videofied Wi-Fi Panel
Category: Alarm Equipment: Fire Detection System
WINNER: Xtralis, VESDA Laser Quantum (VLQ)
Category: Alarm Equipment: Fire/Smoke/Gas Detectors
WINNER: Xtralis, VESDA-E Series Aspirating Smoke Detectors
Category: Alarm Equipment: Wireless Alarm Systems
WINNER: Honeywell, LYNX 7000
Category: Alarm Equipment: Intrusion Alarm Control Panels
WINNER: Bosch Security Systems, Inc., B Series Control Panel with IP Video Integration
Category: Alarm Equipment: Intrusion Sensors/Detectors
WINNER: Xtralis, ADPRO ProE
Category: Automation/Networking and Audio/Video
WINNER: Bold Technologies, OpenVoice Version 2
Category: Automation/Networking and Audio/Video: Home Automation Systems
WINNER: Honeywell, VISTA Automation Module (VAM)
Category: Central Station Equipment: Central Station Software
WINNER: Bold Technologies, PBXEnterprise
Category: Services: Alarm Monitoring
WINNER: DICE Corporation, Matrix iPBX
Category: Services: Dealer Marketing Services
WINNER: eDist Security, eDist Partner Program
Category: Services: GPS/Mobile Tracking
WINNER: American Two-Way, TotalTrack
Category: Services: PERS/Telehealth Monitoring
WINNER: LogicMark, CaretakerSentry
Category: Services: Security as a Service (SaaS)
WINNER: I-View Now, I-View Cloud VSaaS
Category: Video Security: Digital Recording Systems
WINNER: Hikvision, DS-7716NI-SP/16 Plug n’ Play NVR
Category: Video Security: Video Analytics
WINNER: I-View Now, I-View Cloud Analytic
Category: Video Security: Video Surveillance System
WINNER: Smartvue, Smartvue S9M
The staff at Security Products magazine and Security Today congratulates each of these companies on achieving this highly sought after award.
Making it Count
It’s always hard to wrap up such wonderful experiences at tradeshows, but at The Making it Count Rally, a guided exercise was conducted by industry advisors that helped security professionals translate their show experience into a real, usable, ready-to-implement action plan. Attendees returned to their prospective places across the country with a plan that enables them to take positive action in their own businesses based on best practices, ideas and information learned at ESX.
Should any attendee forget some information or have questions, the Trusted Advisor Directory is a resource of successful industry professionals and leaders ready to provide insights and specific advice to help implement attendee’s action plans.