Bright Ideas: Security Company Managers Must Work Miracles

Grow the business! Generate more sales! Reduce attrition! Deliver better customer service! Raise employee morale! And do it all more cheaply and efficiently. That’s the tall order most security company managers face in today’s economy-challenged landscape. Fortunately, the Operations & Opportunities Report offers clues and shortcuts toward success, including which technologies, services and markets to target.

July 31, 2012 Scott Goldfine

Bright Ideas: Security Company Managers Must Work Miracles

Photography ©istockphoto.com/fotostorm

While the rank and file at installing security contracting businesses may justifiably gripe about recessionary hardships, it’s not likely they would find much peace of mind stepping into the shoes of those presently running and operating those companies. The fact is it has never been more challenging to successfully juggle the onslaught of demands and constraints security firm managers face today. Among other things, they have to maintain employee morale and customer service with fewer resources. That harsh reality but also several encouraging signs and guideposts toward brighter horizons are hallmarks of SSI’s fourth annual Operations & Opportunities Report (OOR).

This unique, original data identifies security integration and dealer companies’ top money-making and cost-saving ideas, leading growth opportunities, and surveys operational metrics. Nearly 250 executives, supervisors and managers from across the nation, representative of all sizes of companies, were asked a host of questions targeting not only the best ways to boost profits and reduce expenses, but also the implications of implementation. Further, respondents were asked to identify the most promising new technologies and service offerings, as well as the most viable vertical markets. Several financial and operational questions were also included.

Among the key changes from a year ago: profit margins are 8 percentage points below projections and down 4 points from a year ago; megapixel IP video is overwhelmingly the fastest growing revenue-generating technology area; commercial offices, health care and education are rising markets; cloud-based and residential services are tracking higher as recurring revenue opportunities; general business overhead is cited as an increasing drain on the bottom line; monitoring/RMR zipped to the top as the leading boost to the bottom line; and company owners are selling for higher multiples.

Read the 2012 Operations & Opportunity Report (OOR).

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About the Author

Scott Goldfine, Editor-in-Chief and Associate Publisher

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Scott Goldfine is Editor-in-Chief and Associate Publisher of Security Sales & Integration. Well-versed in the technical and business aspects of electronic security (video surveillance, access control, systems integration, intrusion detection, fire/life safety), Goldfine is nationally recognized as an industry expert and speaker. Goldfine is involved in several security events and organizations, including the Electronic Security Association (ESA), Security Industry Association (SIA), Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC), False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA), ASIS Int'l and more. Goldfine also serves on several boards, including the SIA Marketing Committee, CSAA Marketing and Communications Committee, PSA Cybersecurity Advisory Council and Robolliance. He is a certified alarm technician, former cable-TV tech, audio company entrepreneur, and lifelong electronics and computers enthusiast. Goldfine joined Security Sales & Integration in 1998.