By Scott Goldfine

Sept. 11, 2001, is one of those dates everyone remembers precisely where they were and what they were doing. When the horrifying images of jetliners crashing into New York's World Trade Center towers began to stream across every TV screen in America, people on the East Coast had just begun their workdays while those in the West were still rolling out of bed.

After several years of internal austerity and resignation to pricing erosion, security integrators are looking externally to turn their fortunes. The third annual Operations & Opportunities Report (OOR) shows company managers are eager to negotiate better deals on the goods they acquire and sell to curtail margin squeeze. The 2011 OOR also exposes the best technologies, services and markets to exploit.

Due to its unique makeup, complexity and lack of academic roots or standardization, training has always been and continues to be one of the electronic security industry’s greatest challenges. This extends from basic industry education to rudimentary and advanced technical skills to business acumen and leadership. In this roundtable, the participants air their concerns, ideas and passion associated with this industry quandary.

Get to know the roundtable panelists in this Q&A.

Four top integrator executives reveal how they execute highly strategic business plans that provide for practically any contingency. The exclusive roundtable digs into how these companies are adapting to new technologies, services and revenue models that ensure stickiness with customers.

Today's security customers expect — even demand — prompt, courteous and consultative service at a good price or guess what? Not only are they going to go elsewhere because there are myriad alternatives, worse they are going to badmouth your business. In this social networking age, the repercussions could cost you countless customers and thousands of dollars.

Proven techniques that cut false alarms and police dispatches are business as usual for Custom Alarm. The company’s assimilation of practices like two-call verification and following up on all false alarms helped it earn the 6th annual Police Dispatch Quality (PDQ) Award. Find out what makes its outstanding false alarm management program tick.

Thanks to the implementation of best practices and advances in technology, recent years have seen reductions in false alarm dispatches that are helping bolster the relationship between law enforcement and the security industry. Yet there remains much to be done to further strengthen and grow the partnership. The 2011 Law Enforcement Security Industry Study serves as a report card for both sides.

When the recession rocked the world of Safety Technologies Inc., the integrator refused to tuck tail and hide. Instead, it fought back with bold initiatives and strategies. Those actions are not only improving its bottom line but propelled it to capture SSI 2011 Installer of the Year honors. 

From responding onsite to alarms in five minutes or less to pet care, Provident Security has earned thousands of loyal customers by delivering exceptional service and unique services. The company, led by one of the industry’s most unconventional entrepreneurs, is saluted as an SSI 2011 Installer of the Year.

Having just attended several key industry events and conferred with dozens of industry insiders and analysts, I can tell you that your business is in high demand and the future could not look rosier.

How are installing security company owners and operators managing their vehicle fleets in the face of unprecedented economic pressures and pain at the pump? SSI’s first Super Security Fleets study exposes the answers with input collected from hundreds of respondents throughout the industry.

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