The alarm monitoring industry – like many others – is experiencing a significant shift thanks to digital transformation. You may be tired of hearing the term, but it truly is more than just a buzzword.

Digital transformation is not just about being up to date. It’s about solving problems faster, more effectively, and at a lower cost. In alarm monitoring, that translates to faster responses, satisfied clients, improved compliance, and more lives saved.

The shift to digital technologies is not reserved for security companies that want to go above and beyond in service provision; there are several drivers behind the trend that are making it difficult to delay the transition any longer. This article reviews those drivers, along with the technologies behind this shift, and some tips for implementation. 

The Need for Digitisation in Alarm Monitoring 

As mentioned, there are several key drivers behind digital transformation in the security industry. Let’s review them. 

Technological Advancements

The rapid advancement of technology, particularly in areas like IoT, cloud computing, and AI, has created new opportunities for enhanced security services. In many cases, it’s not possible to integrate these new technologies when using older infrastructure.

In a market where clients and competitors are adopting these technologies, there is pressure on ARCs to also modernise to stay relevant and competitive.

High Alert Volumes

Growing urban populations, rising crime rates and environmental challenges such as wildfires are all increasing the volume of alerts that ARCs have to handle. With more organisations using IoT devices, the amount of data and potential alerts will an order of magnitude higher (more about that soon). Efficient, high-performing systems help ARCs to keep up. 

Increasing Complexity of Security Needs

With the rise in cybersecurity threats – threats that are becoming ever more sophisticated – digital transformation is necessary to safeguard sensitive data and systems. Modern digital solutions offer more advanced security features that are essential for protecting against cyber threats, compared to old legacy systems that need frequent patching. 

Cyber-physical systems are also becoming more common, meaning that, in certain facilities, a monitored alarm system may be required for physical access control, among other purposes, further increasing the alert volume. 

Globalisation and Remote Operations

The globalisation of business operations and the increasing need for remote monitoring and management capabilities are pushing ARCs towards digital platforms that can support these requirements. 

Consumer Expectations for Connectivity and Convenience

Today’s consumers expect seamless, integrated, and user-friendly services. As such, there’s a growing demand among consumers and businesses for smart security systems that can be easily controlled and monitored remotely. How does this affect an alarm receiving centre? 

Well, healthcare is one of the most prominent areas in which IoT is growing. The global market for healthcare IoT is expected to be worth USD 167.7 billion (around £132.2 billion) by 2028. The growing trend of using technology for health monitoring will potentially increase the use of personal alarms and telecare solutions.

We provide a telecare module that enables automated communications between vulnerable individuals and the control room. With an SOS button or fob, they can send alerts (along with their medical information); operators can then progress their call as required.

Data-Driven Decision Making

Digital transformation enables the collection and analysis of vast amounts of data for insights that can improve service delivery. 98.6% of executives are said to aspire to instil a data-driven culture in their organisations, while data from Google suggests that highly data-driven organisations are three times as likely to report significant improvement in decision making.

Regulatory Compliance and Industry Standards

The alarm monitoring industry is subject to strict regulations and standards. Generally speaking, digital systems are better equipped to meet these standards, ensuring compliance. Even when regulations change, diligent providers ensure their solutions are updated to reflect those changes; updates are then automatically deployed, ensuring that users are never left behind.

Key Digital Technologies Reshaping the Security Industry 

From Analogue to IP

The analogue, PSTN service will no longer be available in the UK from 2025. FTTP and VoIP will be the replacement and we recently announced new solutions that are compatible with these changes.

The PSTN switch off is not only happening in the UK; Australia and Japan are looking to complete the process within the next three years, while Singapore, the Netherlands, Estonia and Germany have already made the switch.

This gives organisations no choice but to modernise; however, they also benefit from no longer having to rely on analogue and its notorious tendency for signal loss, slower transmission speeds and delays when processing video data from CCTV cameras. As such, this change ensures that higher standards of monitoring will be implemented across the board. 

IP-signalling is also growing in popularity due to the introduction of the IoT and the new dimension it brings to monitoring. Using alarm monitoring software that can receive alerts from IP-enabled sensors and other devices opens up many doors, allowing organisations to go beyond CCTV monitoring or intrusion detection.

Such devices can transmit data on levels of toxic gases, traffic congestion and much more, making it integral for use cases such as smart buildings, smart cities, and industrial applications. 

The Cloud

We mentioned that it’s often not possible (let alone feasible) to use new technologies alongside outdated infrastructure. That’s where the cloud comes into the picture. For example, both IoT and AI applications require systems that can process large volumes of data with ease (which cloud based software can); the cloud also facilitates the remote access and control of alarm systems.

Cloud technology also enables better integration among systems, as well as scalability, flexibility, and enhanced data storage and management.

Global spending on cloud infrastructure has skyrocketed, rising from USD 22.3 million (around £17. 6 million) in 2013 to USD 90 billion (around £71 billion) in 2022. Considering the benefits, these figures are not surprising. 

Artificial Intelligence

AI and advanced analytics methods are game-changers, allowing for the automation of routine tasks and more intelligent, data-driven decision-making. AI, for example, can be used for video analytics for more effective threat detection; it’s also essential for advanced alarm filtering applications.

Steps for Successful Digital Transformation

Embarking on the digital transformation journey is a significant undertaking for any organisation. Here are a few tips to ensure success:

• Assess the current setup: Evaluate how well your existing systems are able to handle demand, meet regulatory standards, and whether they’re future-proof (i.e., scalable, able to integrate with new technologies, and to adapt to changing business needs). Other vital requirements include filtering non-urgent and false alarms (GeminiSense excels at both, now more than ever thanks to our Speechbot technology, a tool that uses NLP technology to screen alarms before involving an operator).
• Define clear objectives: It’s essential to define clear objectives in terms of the outcome digital transformation will bring. Is it specifically about improving response times? Is improving accuracy a bigger priority? What about the requirement to monitor additional variables using the IoT? Or the imperative to remain compatible with new network technologies? Naturally, this will guide the selection of new systems.
• Data management: It’s also important to review your data management strategy and ensure it remains suitable in light of any changes.
• Training and support: Provide comprehensive training and support to all users of the new system to ensure they’re comfortable and competent in using the updated technology – and to make sure they’re using it to its fullest capacity. 

Factors Driving Successful Digital Transformation

Research by McKinsey also brings some insights to increase the chances of a successful transformation. They found that when the factors below were present, organisations were up to three times more likely to be successful:

• Implementing a clear change story for transformation
• Implementing tools that make information more accessible across the organisation
• Creating a sense of urgency for making the changes
• Having both senior management and others in key roles ensuring collaboration between units on transformation initiatives
• Modifying standard operating procedures to include new digital technologies
• Encouraging employees to experiment with new ideas
• Having people in key roles challenge old ways of working
• Involving people in key roles more in developing initiatives compared to during previous change

Respondents that reported success said their organisations’ transformations were very or completely successful at improving performance – as well as equipping the organisation to sustain improvements over time.

The Importance of Data Culture

Finally, IDC research indicates that 70% of organisations that implement digitization/data-driven strategies fail because they don’t establish a data culture alongside it. 

‘Data culture’ refers to the emphasis and value placed on the use of data at all levels for decision-making. In a data culture, data is not just used by specific departments or analytics teams; it’s integrated into the everyday workflows and mindset across the entire organization. This culture encourages the active use of data to drive actions, where employees are empowered to access, understand, and leverage data in their roles.

Conclusion

The digital transformation of the security industry is a necessary step towards a more efficient, secure, and forward-thinking future, characterised by the ability to respond to alarms with unprecedented speed and accuracy.

ARCs must embrace the opportunity; it’s a chance to set new standards in alarm monitoring and establish a new benchmark for safety, security, and efficiency.

GeminiSense is a market leading alarm monitoring platform. Able to integrate with virtually any CCTV system or any intelligent device, it empowers your organisations to track a wide range of threats. To book a demo, contact us today.