Integrators are Product Savvy

• By Ralph C. Jensen
• Jul 11, 2018

It has become crystal clear to me that integrators and distributors are experts in product development in this industry. Case in point is our cover story from Phil Lake. Lake is the CEO of Knight Security Systems, based in Austin and Dallas. He writes about basic system health monitoring software. Knight Security developed such a product with their own version of a security system health monitoring solution, and then brought it to market. However, Knight said the company could do better, and began work on a comprehensive solution with better software and rapid response services.

Lake’s article may open your eyes a little bit. Being able to monitor more conditions than ever before will make it easy to see bandwidth, data throughput, remaining battery run time and available memory. It also means that when there is a problem, diagnostics are easier to obtain and more accurate when alerts are highly detailed and specific.

Andy Jimenez, from Anixter, has written an informative article on comparing wireless communications protocols. His message is short and to the point about Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, Bluetooth and Zigbee. It is quick and easy to read, with a promise that you’ll come away with more knowledge.

Robert Messer, CEO of ABP Technology, is blending product technology with the products his distribution firm represents. And, to top it off, he has a training facility co-located with his distribution offices. An integrator can earn recurring monthly revenue by offering a solution for managed sensor platforms in IP technology. ABP technology has introduced a simple management tool for central command and control for all IP systems. Once again this is a quick read, but packed with valuable lessons.

A few years ago, I wrote an article about video surveillance at the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal casino at Foxwoods. Well, here is an update a few years later from Michael Lohr at Red Hawk. The new story talks about upgrades in the video surveillance system because of the growth and expansion that Foxwoods has experienced. Foxwoods is a hub of activity 24/7, and it only made sense to update the work that Red Hawk Fire & Security has been involved with the past several months. Just a note of interest, since 1993, the Tribal Nation has infused more than $4 billion into the local economy, which is reason enough to update the security system.

This article originally appeared in the July/August 2018 issue of Security Today.