by Daniel Banda, Softguard
The decision to make when incorporating a new software tool for alarm monitoring can be simple if certain guidelines are taken into account.
Although the technical aspects are usually a guide to discern between the proposals that are evaluated, the objective evaluations on services that the different software-house offer on their products in the after-sales period should not be left aside.
A calculation method ready to enter into service in this determination, would be to list the different characteristics and evaluate them on a numerical scale, for example from 1 (bad) to 5 (optimal), to finally obtain as a result a clear and concise selection ranking .
Aspects to examine in the selection
Technical categories on the product in order of priority according to personal criteria :
•Type of database you use
• Modularity and additional features to other areas of the company
•Ability to concentrate alternative monitoring services
•Compatibility with current receivers and systems (*only if you upgrade a previous system)
•Operating environment
•Account and terminal capacity
•Local and remote operation (web)
•Simplicity of operation for the operator
•and others of your special interest.
Let's explore a little the most important ones:
•Type of database you use: this is one of the technical axes of the system. Currently relational database systems such as; SQL Server, allow to achieve the best performance in relation to speed, integrity and security of the data. These systems value well above traditional file environments such as DBF structures, which are old and typical of the D.O.S era as an operating platform. SQL-type database engines have the ability to autonomously process information, centralizing critical functions such as debugging, backup, etc. eliminating risks of information management in the network terminals.
• Modularity and additional features: it refers to the fact that state-of-the-art softs operate in ERP environments, adding modules to specify the activity of the entire company in the same system. Thus, technical functions of monitoring and dispatch of alarms are integrated into customer services, facilities, technicians, fleets, billing, collections, etc.
• The capacity of alternative services: allows a software package to be extremely dynamic, accepting the connections with the multiple diversity of technologies that are emerging to the market. An example to mention is Internet monitoring that includes equipment that transmits over broadband, GPRS cellular networks, etc. Having a platform that is open and connects to everything new gives more life to the product and minimizes the processes of changes that destabilize the reception centers.
Balanced consideration
Just as you have already evaluated technical aspects, they are no less important
the ratings listed below in order of priority accordingly
at personal discretion:
•Background of the company that produces the system (Software House)
•Technical support offered by the provider, type of service and term
•Language of the country in which it occurs and compatibility with yours
•Presence in your country of a subsidiary or representative of the same
•Experiences of other users with the system.
•Price and payment method
Let's analyze the scope of them:
The background of the producer is important when deciding and must be valued in its proper measure.
It is very easy to recognize a software that comes from a real software house simply asking for the precedents and investigating them in the alarm market.
The current software comes from two branches mainly, on the one hand that of the software-house inserted in the framework of the electronic security industry, in an environment of companies that produce alarm equipment, digital receivers, detection devices, etc., with strong ties of communication and future development between them. On the other hand, custom designed software for an alarm monitoring company that has been then projected for sale as a new commercial activity or "added value" from them. Clearly assess the origin of the system they offer you and consider the implications of either of these two models. The technical support offered by the provider in type and term is extremely important and the cases of success or failure of the implementations usually depend on it.
If the source language of the product matches yours, you will have at hand a product much more adapted to local use and your business style. The disagreements in this case go beyond mere translations of poor quality but philosophies of service provision.
The local presence of the producer or an official representative in his country is also of the highest priority
The experiences of other users are always useful for evaluating a product. For the analysis to be comparatively valid, it is recommended to ask for specific references on some of the technical or commercial aspects, listed here, using a specific valuation method by score or similar.
Of course, finally, the price and the form of payment define the situation, but they must not be the factors that frame the selection of a tool that due to its importance will have absolute responsibility for the quality of the service that your company will give.
With all aspects evaluated and with your assigned scores prepare
an X-Y array.
The aspects on the Y axis (vertical), are different software packages evaluated.
On the X(horizontal) axis if you want to highlight the most important aspects in the choice, score from one to ten the three or four most important aspects, both technical and commercial, and from one to five the least relevant. Add up and get a result
Final evaluation
Software is increasingly the center of the monitoring system. Receivers and auxiliary hardware equipment tend to disappear as we evolve into a more efficient computer with more comprehensive software.
The software is periodically updatable and you are choosing more than just a system, you are selecting an ally. Keep this in mind: your software vendor will be that ally. Leave the enemy sleeping outside.
