Alula Awarded Product of the Year for BAT-Connect at Consumer Electronics Show

Alula, the leader in smart security and automation systems for professional installers and the award-winning inventors of the Connect+ platform, announced the BAT-Connect communicator has won the Mark of Excellence Award for Security and Surveillance Product of the Year at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The award recognizes the best new or improved security and video surveillance products.

Launched in the back half of 2019, this is the 5th award Alula’s BAT-Connect communicator has won — affirming the market need for a device that allows dealers an efficient and effective way to takeover or upgrade a residential smart home system.

More than a basic communicator, this intuitive device connects intrusion security, video and automation with the award-winning Alula Smartphone App, bringing interactive features to legacy security systems. Fueled by the secure Alula network, system control is delivered instantly to Apple and Android smartphones as well as Alula’s new Slimline Touchpad.

“We’re honored to be recognized by the Consumer Technology Association for BAT-Connect, one of the latest in the Connect family of products,” explained Alula VP of Engineering Paul Saldin. “The BAT-Connect allows a security system to become smart, integrated and automated. There is a real need to bring these new interactive features to legacy systems. BAT-Connect is also great for new installs and allows our customers to standardize their entire business on a secure and fully integrated offering.”

BAT-Connect is the first communicator with three paths of communication, including the first to use Cat-M1 cellular, the communications path optimized for the Internet of Things. With the use of Cat-M1 cellular technology, the BAT-Connect not only rescues 3G and CDMA cellular systems from the impending sunset, it also will bridge the gap to 5G and keep running long into the future.

“Cellular sunsets have long been a major problem for security professionals, and we aim to help them stop wasting time and money by updating systems every time cellular providers decide to harvest network bandwidth optimized for cell phones,” says Russell Vail, Alula’s Executive Vice President of Market Development and an industry-leading expert on cellular sunsets. “We have to get this industry out of this crazy loop where we keep repeating the same behavior and expecting different results. The BAT-Connect is a game changer that solves sunsets once and for all.”

ABOUT ALULA
Alula is the only vertically integrated security and home automation platform purpose-built for today’s independent security and installation professionals. From sensors to hub to network, Alula offers a complete, end-to-end solution and one accountable partner. Today, thousands of partners across North America have nearly 300,000 active locations secured and connected with Alula. Designed for professionals, the Alula platform provides a complete security, automation and video solution for renters, homeowners and commercial installations. Alula is a business-driven platform designed to reduce truck rolls, increase RMR, simplify inventory and put today’s professional providers in control of their business, their customers and their revenue. The Alula platform is available nationwide through distributors that cater to the alarm and integrator industry. For more information about the BAT-Connect, visit https://alula.com/communicators/bat-connect/. For more information about Alula, visit https://www.alula.com.

Interlogix shutdown creates an opportunity

Security integrators were caught off guard by the sudden announcement that UTC’s Interlogix division – one of the most popular brands in the industry – would be shutting down by the end of the year (see www.securityinfowatch.com article); in fact, integrators and long-time Interlogix customers may be wondering what their next move should be.

In the security business, the integrator’s next step should always be taken with a nod toward the future – not what has been done in the past; thus, integration businesses should see the shutdown as an opportunity to grow their business into the future.

Instead of looking around for a new hardware partner to replace the one they lost, integrators should seize this moment to make the move to a streamlined, vertically-integrated solution that encompasses both hardware and software. This will prepare integrators for a future that is predicted to include much more disruption, from both inside and outside the industry.

The Past as a Guide

Many of the integrators affected by the Interlogix shutdown are used to upheaval; in fact, many of these businesses were actually built during, or even because of, major industry disruptions. Such changes ultimately helped integrators increase their revenue by simplifying installation. Here are a few recent examples:

The introduction of reliable wireless technology meant integrators were suddenly able to set up a system in a fraction of the time it took to run wires. Additionally, the creation of self-contained panels brought the User Interface and the CPU together into a single unit, cutting labor costs and enabling multiple installations in a day. The low-labor, rapid installs that wireless and self-contained panels enabled gave rise to the fast-paced door-to-door summer sales model (another disruption) that ultimately folded back into the standard professional model.

With the launch of interactive services and the smartphone came remote control, as well as the addition of a range of services that ultimately meant more revenue for integrators, and a more engaged consumer user base.

These were seismic changes that felt disruptive at the time, but in the end they left forward-looking integrators in a stronger position. The integrators that did not embrace those disruptions are not in business today.

More Disruption Ahead

The Interlogix shutdown is the latest example of disruption coming from within the industry. This trend is likely to continue, as companies continue to innovate and change the way integrators do business; and there is more disruption coming – some of it from outside the industry. Tech giants like Google and Amazon are releasing smart security products that claim to blend seamlessly with the tech-enabled home of the future, and consumers are paying attention.

These new developments, coupled with the looming sunset of the 4G LTE standard, feel like gathering storm clouds for the security integrator, who must grapple with technologies going obsolete at the same time tech giants are invading their turf.

The industry has weathered plenty of storms in the past, and there’s no reason that integrators can’t once again come out in a stronger position.

Preparing for the Future

High RMR, lowered installation costs and reliability have always been the building blocks of successful security integration firms. Now that tech giants are bearing down on the security space, what is the more feasible approach for maintaining those principles: a vertically integrated solution or a two-way arrangement with network provider and a separate hardware provider?

Major tech is appealing to consumers with seamless, vertically integrated solutions; but security businesses can do this as well, in fact, many forward-looking companies already are. The Interlogix shutdown is an opportunity for integrators who are still using separate services and hardware providers to make this move, instead of looking for a new hardware partner that will help them cling to an aging business model.

The old model was all about a common interactive services provider rolling out features, distributing their development efforts and feature roadmap more or less equally amongst all the hardware players. It has been difficult for any one hardware player to distinguish itself substantially from the rest, and new developments tend to come slowly.

The future of this business is all about leveraging the full hardware/services stack. There are multiple benefits to an elegantly-designed system, as opposed to two parts glued together.

With new entrants in the market, consumers will expect a comprehensive and seamless experience – not so different from driving a great car. The dashboard should be wonderful, but beneath it there must be an amazing suspension system that absorbs all the bumps, turns and uncertainties the road can deliver. Bottom line is: the best of class services and best in class hardware are the ones that were designed together.

The hardware solutions integrators choose must enable the security integrator to continue to deliver a smooth solution for a long time to come. The shutdown of Interlogix was one more surprise in an industry that’s full of surprises and disruptions. Hopefully, integrators will see this moment as the opportunity it really is.

Brian Seemann is EVP of Operations Development for Alula. He was formerly VP of Engineering for GE-Interlogix. Connect with him via LinkedIn, at www.linkedin.com/in/brianseemann. Request more info about Alula at www.securityinfowatch.com/ .

Alula Offers Connect-XT to Extend the Life of Popular Simon Panels after Interlogix Shutdown

ST. PAUL, MINN. (PRWEB) OCTOBER 16, 2019 — Alula, the leader in smart security and automation systems for professional installers, announced it will keep popular Simon panels by Interlogix operating far into the future with the introduction of a sunset fix that features the latest in cellular radio technology, Cat-M1.

Connect-XT easily upgrades Simon XT, XTi and XTi5 panels to a modern, interactive security experience, adding smartphone control to these legacy security panels. The Connect-XT replaces 3G CDMA or GSM cards that will cease to function with the pending 3G cellular sunset.

The new cellular card interacts with the Simon panel serial automation interface, providing full sensor status, system status and arming controls. Connect-XT features Cat-M1 LTE radio technology, which provides improved range from tower to panel over traditional LTE, allowing for more flexibility in difficult installations where cell signals struggle to penetrate.

“Like the rest of the industry, we were surprised by the announcement of the pending closure of Interlogix,” said Alula Vice President of Product Management, Dave Mayne. “Our focus is on helping dealers impacted by this to have an elegant and cost-effective transition path going forward and offer them a solution for Sunset and panel upgrades that will help them continue doing business smoothly.”

In addition to improved performance over older LTE technologies being shipped by most manufacturers, Cat-M1 also brings the advantage of 5G compatibility. This means that dealers installing Cat-M1 cellular cards today can be confident that they will be supported by cellular carriers long into the future

Connect-XT communicates alarm signals over Cat-M1 via Verizon or AT&T, and is available in versions with or without Z-Wave automation. Customers with Simon panels installed can easily upgrade to a fully automated home with video monitoring, including the popular Video Doorbell, using the new card, even if they are still using landlines.

Alula’s popular Sunset rebate program will apply to Simon upgrades as well. Eligible installers can receive up to $50 when they replace a Sunset-prone Simon radio with the new Connect-XT, helping relieve the burden imposed on installers by the sudden shutdown.

ABOUT ALULA
Alula is the only vertically integrated security and home automation platform purpose-built for today’s independent security and installation professionals. From sensors to hub to network, Alula offers a complete, end-to-end solution and one accountable partner. Today, thousands of partners across North America have nearly 300,000 active locations secured and connected with Alula. Designed for professionals, the Alula platform provides a complete security, automation and video solution for renters, homeowners and commercial installations. Alula is a business-driven platform designed to reduce truck rolls, increase RMR, simplify inventory and put today’s professional providers in control of their business, their customers and their revenue. The Alula platform is available nationwide through distributors that cater to the alarm and integrator industry. For more information about the Connect+ platform, visit https://alula.net/connect/. For more information about Alula, visit http://www.alula.net.
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Putting DIY to Work for Professional Integrators

Some analysts and industry experts have compared the professional security installer to an endangered species – a dinosaur soon to be obliterated by the massive twin meteors of Amazon (Ring) and Google (Nest)…with extinction to follow. But a funny thing happened on the way to the tar pits – security pros began to adapt and evolve. Many are not just surviving alongside the new DIY model, but thriving.

Progressive residential security integrators incorporate the best aspects of DIY – such as simple installs and easy-to-upgrade systems – while also recognizing and helping where DIY falls short, like customer service and expertise at integrating multiple, complex systems.

These savvy professionals are creating a new market niche – the Do-It-With-Me model.

The Complexity of a Smart Home

The commercials make it seem so simple: A video doorbell communicates effortlessly with the screen of a smartphone or tablet. What the ad fails to mention is that installing the doorbell requires an amp meter and some knowledge of electrical wiring; in fact, almost one in five DIY amateur installers say their system or equipment does not work properly after installation.

From robotic vacuums to internet-connected clocks, lights, doorbells, speakers, window blinds, ovens, baby monitors and cooking utensils, the consumer today faces a daunting range of choices. Which of these gadgets – some of which run on Wi-Fi, some on ZigBee and others on Z-Wave – can play nice together? How many different apps will it take to control all these different aspects of the home? Even the bravest DIY-er soon realizes there is no definitive playbook.

Although sales of video doorbells and other smart home security products have been growing exponentially, a surprising number of devices are returned to retailers only gently used, or not used at all. Complexity and difficulty are the No. 1 reason customers return DIY systems after activation.

Maintaining the Smart Home

The marketing for automated home security systems tends to focus on the promise of these technologies – and the way things look when everything is humming along perfectly. But real life has a way of confounding those rosy scenarios. The truth is, automated security systems need more than a one-time installation – they require ongoing maintenance, firmware updates and monitoring. This means that a system that once worked harmoniously can easily fall out of tune.

A consumer who has purchased smart security products may capable of getting a system up and running after hours of reading, research and  YouTube tutorials; however, what happens when that consumer’s dog knocks a sensor loose, and the system starts emitting an annoying beeping sound?

While some DIY-ers might have the time and the bandwidth to install, maintain, optimize and set up their system more than once, those people will be in the minority; in fact, most consumers probably will not know they have done something wrong until it’s too late.

In the end, peace of mind is a large aspect of the security industry – something that gadgets alone cannot offer.

Monetizing the New Model

Some progressive security installers we work with are learning to monetize the latest trends in security – even the rise of DIY products – and new technologies are making installation faster and easier than it was in the past, which should translate into a savings of time and manpower.

For example, in the past, acquiring a new customer involved two separate visits to the home – one call for sales and another for installation. Security professionals today are able to accomplish the same outcome with a single visit. After making a sale, the integrator can immediately begin installation, working side-by-side with the customer as security devices enroll on the network, in a consultative sales model that leads to happier customers and more robust revenue.

Some residential integrators are taking this concept a step further, and are leveraging the DIY movement to set up digital storefronts where customers can assemble their own custom kits to fit their unique needs. The professional can then pre-provision the hub and sensors and send it as a package for the customer to install themselves, since many sensors are now peel-and-stick. This saves a truck roll for the professional and a day off work for the customer.

In my experience, if a security integrator has 100 sales prospects, expect about 15 to sign on the dotted line right away, while the other 85 say “not right now.”

Because modern security systems are easily customized and upgraded, the integrator no longer has to write off that 85 percent as a loss; instead, they can offer an introductory version of the system for a lower cost, with an expectation that it will be upgraded later. Start the customer with a Video Doorbell; within the next few months they’ll be asking for additional cameras, door and window sensors, and smart thermostats to complete their system.

New technologies have offered new flexibility when it comes to installation and pricing, and forward-looking businesses are using that flexibility to boost the bottom line.

The Professional’s Changing Role

Today’s security professionals have the opportunity to become tomorrow’s smart home security consultants, and importantly, they are better positioned to offer this service than Big Box stores or online retailers offering DIY solutions. That is important, because the definition of security is changing as the market grows. Sometimes being able to see who is home, what they are doing, and when they leave is enough. There’s value in that for today’s consumers, and smart home security consultants stand ready to benefit.

Security pros may need to make some changes in order to evolve. But progressive installers are embracing growth and new opportunities. When they do, they find that their consumers will need them far into the future.

Russell Vail is EVP of Market Development for smart home and security provider Alula. Learn more about the company at www.securityinfowatch.com/12070939.