Are You Ready to Pass the ISC West Test?
As one of the industry’s most exhilarating and exhausting events, ISC West can be a tad overwhelming. SSI‘s show overview aims to identify the highlights and help attendees organize their schedules. And, a glimpse into the 17th annual SAMMY Awards reveals this year’s finalists.
Where did the time go? It seems like only yesterday that security professionals were preparing for the 2011 International Security Conference (ISC) West. But on March 27-30, a projected 23,000+ security dealers, integrators, consultants, manufacturers, distributors, central stations and other industry specialists will once again convene at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas for 2012 ISC West to see the latest and greatest electronic security technologies.
Hosted by Reed Exhibitions and sponsored by the Security Industry Association (SIA), ISC West provides the largest exhibition space in North America devoted to electronic physical security. To help attendees navigate the show floor, build their agendas, search conference sessions and more, the ISC Mobile app is being made available for Web-enabled cell phones and tablets. Users who already have ISC Mobile will have to download an update to access features new for 2012.
Networking opportunities and special events are a favorite among attendees, including SSI’s SAMMY Awards. Show-goers also enjoy the Alarm Industry Research and Educational Foundation’s (AIREF) annual golf tournament and SIA’s Ride for Education event, both of which return this year.
To keep the show fresh, more than 125 new vendors will highlight the latest products and technologies on the show floor. Attendees can also look forward to SIA’s annual New Product Showcase (NPS), which honors the most innovative product introductions. As part of the showcase, SIA will present the inaugural NPS Winners’ Forum on March 29 at 9 a.m. Open to all show-goers, representatives of the top two award-winning companies will provide insight into how the innovations will transform the industry. A question-and-answer session will follow.
But that’s not all. Continue reading to see what electronic security professionals will gain by attending one of the industry’s most anticipated events.
Keeping Education Relevant
Event planners have also taken steps to provide top-notch education to help electronic security contractors perfect their skills and improve their businesses. Coordinators have divided the three-day ISC Premier Education Series, held March 27-29, into tracks, allowing attendees to choose which sessions best fit their needs.
On the opening day of the series, ISC will offer the IP-T.A.C.² Bootcamp (IP Technology Advancement Center and Certificate). The one-day course will provide an overview of interoperability standards to help attendees effectively source, sell, and install an IP-based system tailored to their customer’s needs.
PSA Security Network will also host the SSI-endorsed “PSA-TEC @ ISC West.” The track will feature four sessions focusing on new security regulations, video and storage management, leadership development and remote video guarding. SSI Editor-in-Chief Scott Goldfine will moderate the hour-long panel, “The New Video Surveillance Business: How to Generate Profit on Servers, Storage and Video Management” at 10:15 a.m. NICE Systems Training Director Dr. Bob Banerjee and PSA Security Network Regional Manager Tim Brooks, among others, will also participate in the track.
Business & Technology Tools
On the second day of the Premier Education Series, dealers and integrators will have the option to choose courses from two education tracks — Business and Technology. With a goal of helping electronic security contractors improve their business plans, the business courses offer tips to help companies improve sales, marketing and boost recurring monthly revenue (RMR).
For show-goers interested in the process of buying or selling a company, “The Anatomy of a Transaction” seminar on March 28 at 2:45-3:45 p.m. will provide some insight. Moderated by Davis Mergers & Acquisitions Group Managing Director Ron Davis, who also pens SSI‘s “The Big Idea” column, the session will outline the steps and processes for buying or selling a company, preparing a company for sale, and help potential buyers identify the questions to ask a seller.
“We will look at a typical transaction from many perspectives,” Davis says. “That includes the outlooks of the buyer, seller, broker and lawyer. Most importantly, the session will cover how the transaction comes together. We will also talk about valuations in the industry, as well as the type of transactions that were recently finalized.” Attendees will also have the opportunity to direct questions to the four-person panel.
The technology track will feature introductory to advanced courses that will help dealers and installers effectively implement the latest technologies. Topics discussed include video quality standards and connecting home security services.
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