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| By adding remote monitoring to service contracts, dealers and end users both benefit from substantial cost savings while reducing potential downtime |
Whether upgrading an existing surveillance and/or access system from analog to IP, or installing a completely new system using structured cable, the ability to communicate, monitor and control IP devices delivers significant operational and economic benefits. The vast amounts of data these systems generate are useful in many ways – both for advanced security applications as well as improving general business operations. Equally important for servicing dealers and integrators is that the data collected from these systems presents numerous new business opportunities for professional security integrators.
Detecting Potential Power Failures
Even as new IP networked systems continue to gain traction, one constant remains the same: the need for reliable and consistent power to keep all these IP devices and systems running. The underlying truth is that if a system or even a single device loses power or fails, the flow of data will stop and the security of people, property and assets will be compromised. Therefore, it is imperative that networked products can be managed and remotely monitored to help ensure security on a 24/7 basis, and to effectively respond to trouble alerts and/or device failures.
New advancements in networked power management provide critical information on devices and system status with the ability to detect potential failures in advance. This provides servicing dealer/installers and end users with the information they need to take preventative measures before an outage occurs. The new science of power management solutions can monitor the overall health of a system via the ability to remotely monitor, control and report diagnostics in real time from power supplies and peripheral components. This includes such critical operation criteria as AC presence, battery status and health, voltage output, current load, ambient temperature and more. This all helps to ensure that the highest levels of system integration and integrity are consistently maintained.
Recurring Monthly Revenue (RMR) For Security Installers
These new power management solutions also provide a potential new source of Recurring Monthly Revenue (RMR) for installers and integrators. The ability to remotely monitor real-time diagnostics makes it possible to quickly identify potential and immediate problems before technicians are dispatched. Simple solutions, such as rebooting a device remotely, can often resolve an issue. By adding remote monitoring to service contracts, dealers and end users both benefit from substantial cost savings while reducing potential downtime. The installing dealer has a new source of RMR, and the user has confidence knowing that their systems are being monitored 24/7 and are operating properly.
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| Power management solutions identify the exact source and location of the problem – making it easier and faster for IT engineers to fix any system failures |
If a service call is required, power management solutions will help resolve the problem faster and more efficiently by identifying the exact source and location of the problem. This allows dispatched technicians to have the parts and tools they need upon arrival to repair the problem benefitting both the end user and the servicing dealer.
Under a traditional preventative maintenance contract, dealers and integrators provide regularly scheduled maintenance to replace batteries, clean camera domes and lenses, inspect panel wiring, etc. Adding power monitoring allows these contracts to be expanded with additional services and assurances at higher fees.
Knowing System Integrity With Advanced Power Management Solutions
For customers with full-service contracts in place, servicing dealers or integrators can receive notification of potential issues, which provides the important information they need to quickly address issues or even prevent potential problems from occurring. In any event, the goal is to have service technicians spend as little time as necessary in the field. The information provided by a networked power management solution significantly assists in achieving this goal.
Customers without service contracts can receive technical support as needed using a pay-as-you-go model that typically entails set minimum fees for site visits. The ability to remotely monitor powered devices and systems allows technicians to quickly diagnose and fix or prevent failures. This actually makes service calls more profitable for dealers. For example, if a servicing dealer charges a two-hour minimum for a service call and the remote diagnostics allows a technician to spend less than an hour fixing the problem, the end user will be happy that the system repair was made quickly, and the servicing dealers realised a higher profit from the service call as a result of more efficient time and resource management.
With today’s advanced power management solutions, end users benefit from knowing that their systems’ integrity, stability and operation are being professionally monitored and maintained resulting in higher overall security and reduced liabilities associated with downtime. Servicing dealers benefit with a new source of RMR that helps to eliminate unnecessary service calls and reduces the amount of time technicians spend in the field – both of which result in significant cost savings and improved profitability. As end-user demands for improved and higher security continue to increase, and dealers seek to grow their businesses with service-oriented business models, the new science of power management presents a new networking solution that is already reshaping the professional security landscape.
