Turn Intrusion Panels into Hubs to Meet Customer Needs
When customers come looking for a way to protect a facility against intruders, they may be thinking of an intrusion system with motion, glass break and possibly beam detectors. Their questions may focus only on costs and basic capabilities, so it is up to the integrator to educate them on the comprehensive solutions that are available.
Customers understand their basic needs, but they look to the integrator for the best way to address these requirements. If they come with a specific system in mind, ask a few probing questions to get them thinking about their needs in a new way.
Explain how the intrusion control panel can act as the hub that enables integration of other technologies for a system that addresses their security concerns while reducing cost and complexity. Integrating additional technology with the intrusion system provides a customized solution.
Combine Systems
Systems that integrate intrusion, fire, and access can provide significant value and convenience. The system can automatically disarm when an access door is opened, or lock the doors when the system is armed. If a fire alarm occurs, the doors can unlock to allow for fast access by first responders. Users benefit from easy operation with only one system to learn, while gaining a lower cost of ownership.
Monitor for Business Efficiency
Using the intrusion system to monitor doors and hatches, or even refrigerators/freezers and more, when the system is disarmed allows it to expand beyond security to help users better manage their businesses. The system can be programmed to allow normal use, but ensure that a door is returned to normal by activating a local alert or sending a report if it has been open too long. Flexible delays can be programmed to reduce the chance of a nuisance activation, while still maintaining the desired security. This can be used to alert that a loading dock door is still open after a delivery is completed, helping to reduce HVAC costs and prevent unsecured doors during business hours. Monitoring roof hatches can reduce risk of damage from adverse weather conditions if a hatch is inadvertently left open. With refrigerators/freezers, it can alert retail store or restaurant personnel if equipment is malfunctioning, preventing loss of perishable goods.
Integrate Video
Video can provide situational awareness when control panel events occur. Tampering with a motion detector causes the intrusion system to trigger a nearby camera to send a video snapshot via email or text to facility or security personnel.
Cameras equipped with video analytics can also initiate intrusion system events when pre-defined alarms are triggered. An analytic alert can fault a point on the system’s control panel, which prompts the panel to communicate the alarm to the central station or to send a video snapshot to the user. This helps to alert to potential risks before or as they occur—such as detecting a perimeter breach after hours.
Integrating intrusion detection and access control technologies within the video management system gives users centralized control of security and video devices and doors. This increases efficiency and simplifies system operation.
Keep Watch Remotely
Combine these technologies with services that enable the monitoring center to intervene at the time of a security risk, and you have a powerful deterrent that may prevent damage and theft. Video monitoring services can enable an operator to intervene with audio. Once an alarm is transmitted to the monitoring center and verified through video images, the operator can take immediate action with audio intervention using a nearby camera that is equipped with a loudspeaker. If intruders are warned that they are on camera and that the local authorities have been contacted, they may leave the area.
Amp it up with Audio
Audio integration is also beneficial for initiating pre-recorded messages based on security events. For example, activating an emergency pull station or pressing a wireless panic button can trigger a Paging & Mass Notification system to play emergency instructions through a loudspeaker and notify facility personnel through two-way radios.
Add Automation
Adding in automation capabilities enables control of other connected systems, such as lighting, heating, cooling, and more from a smartphone or tablet for effortless home or business control. Integrators can program manual, scheduled, or location-based "scenes" that fit the customer’s needs. For example, the user can lock doors, arm the security system, turn off interior lights and adjust the thermostat by selecting Away on a smart phone app.
The examples described here demonstrate the many ways to increase security and make systems easier to use – providing customers with solutions that meet their needs in ways they may not have known were possible. With this achieved, the integrator becomes a trusted partner and advisor, which helps to establish a valuable long-term relationship.
You can learn more about Bosch control panels that enable integrated security solutions at http://bit.ly/2ddJyLx