Create opportunities for recurring monthly revenue with the Universal Connector from Bold
According to Park Associates, the home security camera market is expected to grow by nearly five million households in the next five years. Video verification and video health monitoring can be an excellent source of recurring monthly revenue (RMR). For dealers looking to expand their service offerings, a monitoring center with the Universal Connector from Bold can be a solution.
A Universal Connector is a virtual monitoring center receiver that processes communications from devices in the field to create an alarm in the same way receiving a signal from a burglar or fire panel does. WH International Response Center (WHIRC) uses its universal connector to provide monitoring to a variety of security products. Some examples include HVAC systems, GPS devices, video health monitoring, and alarm verification. Texts, email, open database connectivity (ODBC), protocols including FTP, TCP, and UDP, and simple files can now be processed as an alarm.
WHIRC also uses the Universal Connector to monitor outdoor automated external defibrillator (AED) smart cabinets created by Advocates for Health. In October 2023, WHIRC was able to dispatch first responders to a local park after a good Samaritan opened the monitored cabinet to retrieve an AED to help someone having a heart attack, saving his life.
Jessica Theisen from Advocates for Heath noted, “the Universal Connector receiver allows WHIRC to work with Advocates for Health’s monitoring software to receive critical alerts from a monitored cabinet that stores an AED. When these alerts are received, WHIRC can send out important texts, emails, and most importantly, dispatch emergency services so that help can be sent to the location of the emergency.”
Two of the most common use cases for the Universal Connector are video health monitoring and remote alarm verification.
Video health monitoring can trigger alarms when a part of the system isn’t working. Some examples of alarms that can be created include when a hard drive is full, a camera is not working, hard drive failure, poor video quality, and poor network connection. The process to set up video health monitoring with your monitoring center includes reviewing how the recording devices communicate, establishing a template for alarm generation, and identifying the type of response required.
Remote alarm verification allows your monitoring center to view security camera footage to see what activated the alarm and confirm the emergency. This information is sent to emergency services for a quicker, more accurate response. Camera systems send an email with events and can include video clips. From there, the dispatch staff can determine what caused the event and how to proceed. Custom programming is required to properly parse out information to identify which account is sending the notification. Once the account is identified, dispatch staff will follow the action steps developed in the planning phase.
A Universal Connector can monitor nearly any type of camera system with minimal integration, regardless of brand. It enables security system dealers to generate RMR while providing a very valuable service to your customers.
Thanks for attending the Symposium!
On behalf of all of us WHIRC, we would like to thank all our customers, dealers, manufacturers, and peers that attended our 13th annual Partner Symposium, which was held at Mystic Lake Center in Prior Lake, MN on July 20, 2023.
If you were unable to join us this year, here is what you missed.
We focused on the theme Reliability You Can Count On. One of the many highlights of the day-long event was the four-person dealer panel, which gave guests the opportunity to discuss several topics including how technology sunsets impact our business, labor and staffing, and technology integrations. Industry peers shared best practices and discussed changes in the industry.
Guest speakers from OneTel, Alula, Bongo Technologies, and Telguard presented their latest products and shared insights on navigating the POTS sunset. Vendors answered questions and provided additional information on a variety of topics including products, platforms, technology, and regulatory standards.
For the first time, WHIRC was able to deliver continuing education credits to its attendees. Scott Gobbi from Telguard presented a Certified Class on Alarm Communication Technology.
Some dealer comments heard throughout the day included: “Great event;” “Thank you so much for all the information;” and “We will be evaluating how to implement this new technology.”
Some other positive feedback we heard came from Chris Walsh from Stone Security: “We pass any increased costs onto our customers through our monitoring pricing because we monitor with the best.”
WHIRC is proud to host a space for dealers, manufacturers, and industry partners to come together and exchange ideas, connect, and learn about the latest technology. If you missed the opportunity this year, we hope to see you in the summer of 2024!
Convert phone lines to cellular with Bongo P2C communicator
Plain old telephone service (POTS) is no longer the most reliable communication path and in many cases, no longer functions at all. Now is a great time to begin transitioning POTS communication to cellular, like elevator phone lines.
WH International Response Center (WHIRC) has partnered with Bongo Technologies, a manufacturer of cellular communicators. All Bongo devices communicate on FirstNet, a prioritized network, that will keep the users safe and connected. Bongo’s P2C (phone to cell) communicator is an easy way to move your equipment off unreliable copper POTS lines and onto FirstNet. Connect the existing line directly into Bongo without needing to reprogram your panel. Some of the Bongo features include:
- Priority cellular service to communicate with emergency responders.
- Already embedded, certified, and approved on the FirstNet Network.
- Emergency cellular voice plan.
- Authorized FirstNet TMA certified central call center monitoring.
- Easy to install.
All of Bongo P2C communicators are monitored 24/7 by WHIRC who will quickly respond and properly route the calls. Learn more at https://bongotechnologies.com/ or call Ashley Raisanen from WHIRC at 763-477-3122.
WHIRC renews prestigious designation as a “TMA Five Diamond Monitoring Center”
Rockford, Minn. (April 27, 2023) — WH International Response Center (WHIRC) recently renewed the prestigious “TMA Five Diamond Monitoring Center” designation from The Monitoring Association (TMA) for the 20th straight year. WHIRC first earned the “Five Diamond” designation in 2004. It is granted annually to monitoring centers that satisfy all the requirements of the “five points of excellence.” These are:
- Commitment to ongoing job-related education and testing by having 100% of its monitoring center operators certified using the TMA online training series on industry best
practices.- Commitment to random inspections and quality criteria standards by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as FM Approvals, Intertek/ETL and UL.
- Commitment to raising the industry standards through TMA membership and participation in its activities.
- Commitment to reducing false dispatches.
- Commitment to the highest levels of customer service.
The TMA Five Diamond designation means that a monitoring company has demonstrated an exceptionally high degree of responsibility to their businesses and customers through the investment of time, money, and commitment to quality operator training.
There are approximately 2,700 monitoring centers in the United States that communicate and interact with police, fire, and emergency services agencies. Fewer than 200 have achieved the Five Diamond designation, setting these companies apart.
To learn more, visit WHIRC’s website at whirc.com or call (800) 858-7811.
WHIRC is a leading national central station monitoring partner for residential and commercial security, alarm, and personal emergency response system dealers. WHIRC’s headquarters are in Rockford, Minn.
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