Thinking Outside the Box
We have all probably heard the phrase “think outside the box”. It is somewhat of an unofficial mantra for many when tasking ourselves or employees to solve problems or finding new innovative solutions.
Is this a good or bad way to “think”? You be the judge, because ultimately, whatever works for you today to obtain the end result is the best - or is it?
Recently, most of us have had to make some very serious adjustments in our day to day work and personal lives due to COVID-19 disrupting many businesses and activities, some more than others, some less than others. Regardless of the level of adjustment, we all have shared in the experience and adapted the best we can.
We all can change and adapt with the times. But do we all “adapt with the times” when it comes to our business with new and or different ways to increase sales and RMR? I would say no to some degree: “if it works don’t fix it”. It’s all about our “comfort zone”, right?
|
|
Smile Week Wrap Up
By: Sarah DeLuca, GMS Human Resources Manager
Smiling may not be an airborne virus but it is contagious. Did you know that when you smile you release dopamines, endorphins, serotonin, and neuropeptides? These feel-good chemicals can help lower your stress and elevate your mood.
At GMS, we wanted to give our employees a reason to smile so we celebrated National Smile Week. The festivities included different themed days such as; Team Player Day, Luau, and Wacky Hair/Hat Day. Employees were encouraged to dress up and let those smiles loose. We also had a variety of treats sprinkled throughout the week to sweeten things up in the Central Station. Here are a few pictures of our amazing GMS staff showing off their spirit, individuality, and smiles over the week.
|
|
Did you miss our webinar?
To wrap up the month of July, our president, Robert Few, led the “Why Choose GMS?” webinar in participation in K&K’s “Why You Should Use Our Central Station” webinar series. Robert discussed how at GMS, we’re able to offer you a complete suite of centralized monitoring solutions including Intrusion, Fire, Medical, Video, Elevator, Area of Refuge, Environmental, Loneworker, GPS Tracking, and custom solutions to include a wide range of IoT sensor solutions.
We at GMS are delighted to have taken part in this webinar. While we strive to retain the personal service of a smaller central station, we are also pleased to have the large central monitoring station capabilities. Whatever your monitoring needs, we stand ready to help you succeed. Through this webinar opportunity, we communicated our belief in a lifetime partnership rather than a one-time customer experience with our customers.
|
|
GMS Staff Achievements and Appreciation |
|
Employee of the Month
GMS would like to celebrate Cynthia Karsh as our August Employee of the Month. Cynthia has been a part of the GMS family for just under a year and has become someone that her shift can depend on to help and assist them when things go astray. GMS is quite lucky to have Cynthia on our team. Congratulations, Cynthia!
Anniversary Mentions
We are delighted to recognize our Dealer Support Manager, Robert Young for his seventh year of service at GMS as well as our Central Station Operator, Liela Ross for her second year of continued dedication at GMS.
Superstar Recognition
GMS would like to take a moment to commend one of our employees, Angelica Pfingsten, for having three captures in the month of July!!! Angelica's quick response to a fire alarm activation led to the detainment of a transient on site. Angelica was also responsible for two additional detainment's that were in response to burglary alarms she received. Thank You, Angelica for your expeditious reaction time and for providing exceptional service to our clients and the public.
|
|
Industry Insider Insights |
|
Are You Maximizing the Value of Your Alarm Accounts?
By: Jim Wooster, Jr., Alarm Financial Services, Inc.
In the security and fire alarm industry, we all love RMR - Recurring Monthly Revenue from monitoring and related services. It’s how we measure the value of our businesses, it’s the high-margin cash flow that keeps on giving. It’s what we hope to cash in on someday for retirement. And over the years, through good economic cycles and bad, the value of RMR has held up.
But are you maximizing the value of these recurring revenue accounts day in day out? Certainly, you are benefiting from the cash flow, any billable service, the referrals, the upgrade and add-on opportunities, the marketing visibility that comes from yard signs and window stickers. However, perhaps the most underutilized value of RMR accounts is your ability to borrow against them.
By tapping into the value of these assets to borrow money, you can increase marketing, expand geographically, and most importantly make acquisitions - yes, put on 200 new accounts or $6,000 in RMR, for example, with no money out of pocket. This allows you to add more RMR to your company, increase your borrowing ability, and continue the cycle of growth.
Of course, you have to be careful about keeping your level of debt reasonable relative to the value of your assets, just as in all aspects of your life. But a responsible amount of borrowing helps you increase the worth of your company. That’s why they call it leverage! If you’re not looking into how you can borrow to grow, you are not maximizing the value of your alarm accounts.
GMS and AFS will be presenting a series of articles outlining the many aspects of making an acquisition and financing that acquisition using the RMR accounts as collateral. Upcoming topics include:
- Finding a company to acquire
- Determining how much to pay for RMR accounts
- Conducting due diligence for an acquisition
- Financing the acquisition of RMR accounts
- Merging acquired RMR accounts into GMS
- Managing a successful acquisition after the deal is done
or contact Jim Wooster directly at
|
|
3G Sunset - We've Got Your Back
Brian Dotson – Pacific Coast Sales Manager
TelGuard | AMETEK
Cellular sunsets have happened before and will more than likely continue in the future. The sunset is an inevitable carrier event that is part of the natural evolution of technology. Current 3G and CDMA devices will stop working by specific dates in 2022 at the latest, and you should want to address those before any issues appear. With that being said, it's human nature to put off decisions that seem far off. Our team has put together a comprehensive sunset strategy but I thought I would note the highlights below:
- Get the facts & avoid common misconceptions
- Gather customer information
- Brainstorm ways to add value for customers during the transition
- Prioritize next steps
- Act quickly
Providing instant savings through your local distributors.
For these next 2 sunsets, we wanted to create a hassle-free way our dealers could benefit. We are running monthly promos on various Telguard models and work with our distribution contacts for volume purchases. We’ve also designed a more economical TG-7 series upgrade board, the TG-7UBL. This board works for the TG-7FS commercial fire communicator, the TG-7 commercial intrusion communicator, and the TG-7A banking/financial markets.
Buy 3 TG-1 Express LTE communicators, get one free.
Simply contact your participating distributor for instant sunset savings on Telguard universal LTE communicators. For every three TG-1 Express LTE devices you buy, you’ll get one free. Right then, right there.
Activate a TG-1 Express LTE communicator with HomeControl Flex and get HomeControl Flex free of charge for three months.
Not only can you get the TG-1 Express LTE at a great discount now, when you sign up for HomeControl Flex we’ll give you the service free for three months. Hello, RMR!
|
|
Industry News and Tips Links |
|
What’s It Going to Look Like When Police Protection Dries Up?
For years, we’ve taken our safety, security, and comfort for granted. Up until three years ago, the last 20 years in this country have been the safest decades in American history. Crime rates have consistently gone down year after year beginning in the early 90s. Street crimes and violence were down over 70% compared to that period of time. What would happen if law enforcement just disappeared?
|
|
App Challenge Brings Innovative Solutions to Security and Safety Things Store
Developers from 16 different companies have been working on apps that can provide solutions to COVID-19 needs or common industry pain points within the retail, transportation, and manufacturing sectors. The apps will run on cameras powered by the operating system developed by Security & Safety Things.
|
|
Security’s Role in Civil Unrest
How alarm companies, monitoring centers, law enforcement and video surveillance must react and function as a unit to protect customers in times of crisis (Security Business August 2020 cover story).
|
|
What Security Pros Need to Know About the Telephone Consumer Protection Act
Security companies are not immune from being targeted by litigious consumers and law firms for non-compliance with the TCPA. Here’s what to consider when calling or texting consumers.
|
|
Silly Criminal Video of the Month |
|
Current and Active Dealer Partners will receive up to $1,000.00 in the form of an invoice credit for referring a new dealer to GMS for Monitoring Service Solutions. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
