ASIS 2013: Goldfine’s Day 2 Wrap-up Report

The annual ASIS show in Chicago last week was reasonably well attended and seems to be looked upon as a success by its organizers and most of the participants. From my perspective, it was a good convention and by most accounts produced high quality if not high quantity leads. What follows is an overview of my breakneck three days in the Windy City. I have broken out each of the three ASIS show days into separate blog posts (read about Day 1 here). There are also some other related and linked items as you will see. Here is my ASIS 2013 experience, Day 2:

Day 2 kicked off with a bang, behind closed doors with Diebold Electronic Security Executive Vice President Tony Byerly, Vice President, Commercial Sales, Bill Fitzhenry and Vice President, Technology, Jeremy Brecher. In a continuation of the fervor I witnessed firsthand at the company’s first Electronic Security Sales Summit earlier this year, the executive team updated me on how Diebold’s expansion has gained momentum with the addition of more than 30 new national and global commercial customers in 2013. The company has also doubled the size of its North American commercial accounts team. They also showed me several enhancements to Diebold’s product-agnostic SecureStat security management platform, including at a development zone portal. For security technology partners, the portal enables integration of functionalities into SecureStat with technologies such as video, intrusion and access control. Many manufacturers have already jumped onboard.

Saw another slick interface courtesy of CNL Software where Jeff DeCocq, director — pre-sales & consulting, gave me at extensive demo of the firm’s impressive physical security information management (PSIM) product. Its flagship IPSecurityCenter offering includes comprehensive integration of systems (transparent to the end user); single view of events and incidents (via customized role-specific graphical user interfaces and dashboards); process-driven event management (via graphical workflow tools, response plans and customized alarm stack design); and analysis, status and management information (built-in report designers to provide timely and effective reports and statistics on compliance to security policies).

As usual, industry leader Honeywell had much to convey and also boasted one of the busiest booths at the show. I got the full rundown from longtime industry colleague John Smith, senior marketing manager, on exciting product developments in access control and video surveillance. Those included: a technology upgrade to the NetAXS-123 Web-based modular access control system to make it easier for small to midsize businesses to secure their doors; WIN-PAK CS 4.2 managed access control system, which lets security dealers provide a wider range of value-added services while reducing installation and service costs; and the latest version of the Pro-Watch security management system that expands the added-value services dealers can provide to their customers. Also got to meet Katie Hunt, Honeywell’s new marketing communications specialist. Finally, one of the coolest things was spending time with Michael Carr and Chris Larson, two members of Honeywell’s End-User Committee, to learn how the manufacturer is facilitating direct customer feedback and incorporating it into their product roadmaps. The networking group has 80-90 members and more than 80% of their ideas have impacted product development.

Jumped over to the Security-Net booth to get the lowdown from Matthew Ladd, president of The Protection Bureau and SSI Editorial Advisory Board member, whose other hats include leading Security-Net’s marketing efforts. The organization consisting of hundreds of independent security contractors, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. It was also announced at the show that Jim Coleman was elected the organization’s president for the next two years, taking over for Joe Liguori. Coleman is president of Operational Security Systems, in Atlanta; Liguori is vice president of Access Control Technologies, headquartered in Clifton, N.J. Other board members were also elected.

One of the first people I met in the industry, some 15 years ago, Kirk MacDowell, who is now vice president sales, Intrusion Americas, then filled me in on what Interlogix is currently up to, while Lenel Director of Product Marketing Ross McKay updated me on the UTC sister company’s access control news. Announcements included: forthcoming release of its new Advisor self-contained security and comfort management system; five-dimensional (5D) signal-processing motion detectors capable of providing strong suppression of nuisance alarms; Verex Director 4.91 intrusion alarm software to enhance commercial operations’ management, control and integration of intrusion, access control and video; and launch of TruPortal 1.5, a Web-based access control solution for small- to midsize applications.

Had my first encounter with Eid Passport, which integrates products and services into solutions that combine identity authentication, background screening and access management. Vice President, Marketing, John Nee ran me through the firm’s flagship product, RAPIDGate, which provides highly secure gate access-based facilities — such as military, government, federal agencies, manufacturing and distribution sites, ports, and commercial buildings — with increased security and streamlined access for authorized personnel. Eid is looking to open up its portfolio to a wider range of clients. I was particularly impressed with the company’s industrialized enrollment kiosk.

One of the coolest products at the show had to be SpotterRF’s slew-to-cue commercial radar system. CEO Logan Harris demoed the system for me as the company rolled out its Shield Initiative to provide rapid radar camera-cueing capabilities for a wide range of perimeter security and commercial users. The initiative includes SpotterRF’s NetworkedIO and C550 compact ground radar. The NetworkedIO server connects SpotterRF radars to VMSs, cameras, E-mail and alarms. The C550, the newest commercial compact radar model in SpotterRF’s lineup, has nearly the range and area coverage of the military M600C unit but is not ITAR restricted for export and is less expensive.

One of the most impressive displays, both in terms of exhibit size and scope as well as product array, was delivered by < a href='https://www.samsung-security.com/' target='_blank'>Samsung Techwin. Among many products, the energetic Janet Fenner, marketing group manager, gave me the skinny on the latest addition to Samsung’s WiseNetIII camera line — the SNV-6012M mobile flat camera. The 2-megapixel, full HD vandal-resistant camera is fully mobile and has been designed to meet the challenging conditions for surveillance aboard trains, buses and other modes of public transport. Meanwhile, the company’s network spider cam was named an ASIS Accolades winner. It captures full HD images in complete and total darkness up to 328 feet. One of the neatest things about the booth was the competitive shootout-like displays showing the capabilities of Samsung’s products.

Next, I took a load off by actually sitting down for a spell to discuss the latest in interoperable standards with Physical Security Interoperability Alliance (PSIA) Executive Director David Bunzel. I recorded the conversation and you can listen to it here.

Wrapped Day 2 by meeting with a familiar colleague, PSA Security Network Director of Marketing Lisa Cole Miller, and recently named Director of Education Barbara Shaw. We knocked around ideas for next year’s PSA-TEC event outside Denver, of which SSI is the Elite Media Sponsor. Some great things are in store for sure!

Read more about ASIS 2013 with my Day 3 report.

Scott Goldfine

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Scott Goldfine is the marketing director for Elite Interactive Solutions. He is the former editor-in-chief and associate publisher of Security Sales & Integration. He can be reached at [email protected].

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