The smartphone has added a lot convenience and ease to people’s lives. It enables us to listen to music and podcasts, it can be used as a map, a flashlight or compass, and we can check the weather, our calendar and our bank accounts. We can even use it to check the security and alarm systems in our homes and offices.
The advent of smartphone and cellular technology has created a sea change in the security and intrusion industry, prompting security companies to add products, including smartphone apps, to keep up with industry standards and market demand
“Our industry as a whole has been forced to come up to speed rather quickly as the cell phone industry began to change,” said Jaime Reel, director of sales for Advantage Protection, a Vancouver-based security firm. “It has been the driving factor behind many of our changes.”
Advantage Protection, also known as Sonitrol Protection of Southwest Washington, is a family-owned security systems firm that opened in 1975. The company provides alarm systems – including security systems, video surveillance and access control – to private residencies as well as commercial and industrial businesses. It provides security and intrusion protection to more than 50 percent of Clark County’s largest employers, including schools, municipalities and police stations.
According to Reel, smartphone technology has completely changed the way customers interact with their security systems.
“People want to have more control,” she said.
As a result of changing technology, Advantage Protection has hired more staff over the years who specialize in smartphone technology and the apps that are now available to customers.
Customers can now use an app on their phones to turn their security systems on and off remotely, view event logs of who enters their facility and when, and look at surveillance cameras. In the past, people would have to be at the physical location of their security systems to do any of those things.
Reel said the company is seeing a sharp demand for video surveillance systems at residential homes. Advantage Protection is actively working to increase the amount of residential business it does. Throughout its history, between 70 and 80 percent of the systems Advantage Protection provides has been to commercial businesses.
Security systems are also now able to control a home or business’ thermostat, lighting and opening and closing entrances, such as garage doors.
“All of that can be done while you’re gone,” Reel explained. “It’s really convenient.”
The new user-friendliness of security systems is not without its drawbacks, Reel noted. If an alarm goes off, for example, customers are more likely to call the police – even if the alarm was tripped by their child coming home from school.
Advantage Protection is licensed to monitor their customer’s security systems (it is also the only security firm in Southwest Washington to have such licensure). If an alarm goes off, Advantage Protection is able to determine whether the police, or another authority, should be dispatched.
Reel said 911 dispatchers, police, fire and other authorities may not take a home or business owner seriously, especially if they’ve called in false alarms before.
“There’s still a value proposition as to why it’s still necessary to have a professional handle it,” she said.
Advantage Protection
8510 E. Mill Plain Blvd. Vancouver www.advproinc.com
