Camilo Puentes Bermeo, who is currently the general manager of the company Smart Security Ltda., has forged his own good name with both he and his company in the security industry, so, for this edition, he is our guest as professional of the month in SECURITY SALES.
by Santiago Jaramillo H.
Our Professional of the Month was born in Pitalito, Huila, a municipality known as the capital of southern Colombia. At the age of 12 he came to study in the city of Bogotá, the capital showed him a world of opportunities that he could not miss. That is why, a few years later, he began his studies at SENA, a recognized governmental educational institution in this country, obtaining the title of technologist in electricity and electronics.
However, his first steps in the electronic security industry were taken only until in the middle of a football match, Rodolfo Buitrago, a friend of his childhood asked for his help to work in the installation of alarms, work he did for almost a year; later, he joined the company CM Electrónica.
"Thanks to my work in the latter company, I had the opportunity to work at Wackenhut, an American security company that allowed my training in all the processes of the security industry and make visible the problems that surrounded it," said Camilo Puentes Bermeo, who is currently the general manager of the company Smart Security Ltda.
After working there for six years, Puentes Bermeo joined the Bank of Bogotá as an employee within the security department for approximately twelve years. It was there that he realized the needs of the bank in the implementation of increasingly efficient security systems and thought about the infinity of security devices that could improve these systems.
From that moment began a new stage in the life of our guest: "It occurred to me to implement new security technologies and offer them to the market, this being a problem that involves all social spheres and taking into account that it is always necessary. Through my knowledge in the area and the development in the different jobs, it was possible for me to establish future perspectives. My best mentor, the mind and the fighting spirit that combined with the knowledge of the industry gave me the necessary guidelines to develop a new business model."
But our guest did not stop there, although he has worked in the security industry since he came of age, as an employee for approximately 18 years and as a manager of the business group in which he currently works for about 30 years, his interest in learning from the industry has never waned, that is why he frequently attends several congresses and training seminars on security issues, such as the Mobile World Congress (Barcelona, Spain), the World Security Congress (Cartagena, Colombia), the Colombia Pyme Tour Seminar, Expo Seguridad Mexico; among others, which has allowed him to have a global vision of the needs of the industry.
The challenges
More than a manager Camilo Puentes feels Smart Security as a family committed to being an agent of change in society, one of the central challenges is to achieve the objectives of the company efficiently; thus, from the technician to the manager, communication is fundamental for the development of the company both internally and externally.
Likewise, our Professional of the Month, warns that in an industry that is constantly growing and innovating, challenges are the order of the day, which implies the construction of effective organizational systems that respond to changing dynamics, as well as the effective execution of plans.
"We seek to generate spaces in which our customers can take advantage of technological advances in security; this, not only at the level of tools and equipment because we also propose the adaptation of our products to be at the forefront of technology, making every day a challenge to excel, innovate and provide the best service, "he highlights.
When asked what are the objectives that a manager must achieve in the field of a security company, Puentes Bermeo said that the constant flow of society, markets, customer needs and technological innovations make the industry tend to a response that accommodates the changing needs of the world in terms of security.
Therefore, it emphasizes that among the main objectives is the provision of high quality services, always responding to technological innovations. Likewise, to promote the articulation of efficient systems at an internal level so that external relations are enriched day by day.
Camilo Puentes tells us that his working day often has no beginning or end, because according to him the industry moves 24 hours a day, seven days a week; "it is imperative to be at the foot of the canyon very early. I try to listen to the doubts of my employees, as well as customers and suppliers to articulate effective responses from beginning to end," he stresses.
He also reports that he follows up weekly on the work plans of each of the area managers and a permanent follow-up to the monitoring center, which is the central core of his company. Also within its success strategies it organizes appointments with its clients periodically, to follow up on the processes that have been implemented; thus verifying their satisfaction levels.
"We seek very pleasant relationships because we are a family at the service of society, we work as a team and in this way we solve the problems that may occur in the course of the week, always articulating the vision of each of the areas of work," he says.
Vision of the region
According to our guest, Latin America as a region is a world of infinite possibilities. He also ponders that economic stability has allowed a dynamization of the market and the security industry has not been left behind, "the growth of the sector has resulted in the demand of customers for more innovative products and increasingly efficient solutions", he ponders.
He also emphasizes that "this panorama exposes the need for development of the industry and investors are generating relationships of trust to allow it; security fairs, for example, are small windows to the future where obviously the sector represents opportunities everywhere."
In the specific case of Colombia, the general manager of the company Smart Security Ltda., comments that the evolution of the sector has been significant in recent years, "Colombia is emerging as one of the fastest growing sectors in the electronic security industry; although there are no specialized statistics in the sector, the truth is that the import volumes of articles for electronic security are growing and the demand for these services is on the same path".
It also concludes that the challenges in the industry are increasing and focus on the ability to respond to new problems in security issues, in addition to providing increasingly innovative services capable of making use of new technologies. Customers also demand effective solutions within a widely competitive market, which means that organizations always seek to be at the forefront.
BOX
5 success factors in your company
1. Customer orientation, as it is considered the engine of the company. Thanks to them, we grow as an organization and as a work team, products and services are improved to meet security needs.
2. Human capital, taking into account that it is the team that allows the achievement of objectives, the work in them is a success factor as it allows the development of the organization.
3. Quality in products and services, the company must work to generate highly competitive services in aspects of quality, innovation and opportunity.
4. Capacity for innovation. Always seeking to improve the services provided.
5. Permanence and Infrastructure, the organization must have a solid and consolidated infrastructure. This allows the company to be one step ahead.
BOX
A family man dedicated to the home
I am a very familiar person and I really enjoy sharing different spaces with them. I live with my wife Sandra Díaz, a woman who inspires me every day and who has become my unconditional support, she is my right hand.
I have four children: Camilo Andrés, María Camila, Josimar and Jessica whom I love deeply and of whom I am very proud for their personal achievements and two grandchildren; Jan Marco and Sara, who steal all my smiles.
Even though the world of security dominates much of my days, I enjoy traveling with my family, getting to know new places and cultures because I feel it as a form of personal growth, and why not, that I can apply in my own company.
In addition to this, I try to practice tennis regularly as it is a sport of my total taste.
