From locksmiths to IT consultants, audiovisual integrators, and gate companies, cloud access control systems have emerged as a game-changer for all kinds of security businesses. These systems offer big-time advantages over traditional on-premise solutions, providing new flexibility and efficiency for integrator partners. This article explores three essential ways cloud access solutions make security businesses more efficient: easy installation, remote maintenance, and recurring monthly revenue opportunities.
Overall Benefits of Cloud vs. On-Premise Access Control Systems
Cloud access control systems like ProdataKey (PDK) represent a massive leap for the security industry. Unlike traditional on-premise systems, which require significant initial hardware investments and routine maintenance, cloud-based systems are hosted through the cloud and don’t require costly on-site servers. They are more straightforward to install, manage, and scale, making them a good opportunity for security businesses to expand their services.
Moreover, cloud solutions have advanced security features, automatic updates, and remote management, offering a more efficient and cost-effective solution for both integrators and their customers.
1. Easy System Installation
Any security integrator or business owner knows that the key to success is efficiency. One of the most significant advantages of cloud access control systems is the ease and flexibility of installation. ProdataKey’s early configuration feature allows integrators to set up their customers’ accounts before connecting any physical hardware. Integrators can add users, create groups, and customize permissions before the installation to save time on-site. They can even start training their end-users on how to use the software to reduce the initial learning curve. Pre-configuration offers a streamlined process for installing cloud access systems, significantly lowering integrators’ workloads.
ProdataKey offers a mobile-first approach to cloud access control, offering more convenience for both integrators and end-users. During installation, integrators can use the ProdataKey mobile app to add, view, test, and modify new devices. Teams can walk to every controlled door on the site and verify that each device is configured correctly, eliminating the need to constantly return to the head-end unit. This level of flexibility can vastly reduce installation time and boost efficiency, allowing businesses to complete more projects in less time.
2. Remote Troubleshooting and Management
Because they are hosted in the cloud, access control solutions like PDK offer integrators and systems administrators remote management from either the mobile app or the PDK.io web platform. Cloud systems are in stark contrast to on-premise systems that often require on-site IT teams for management. By leveraging cloud solutions, integrators can manage their customers’ systems from anywhere, so they don’t have to be on-site to access the software. Remote management helps teams work more efficiently and improves the customer service level by enabling them to instantly make necessary system changes.
Beyond remote management, cloud solutions also give integrators new remote troubleshooting capabilities that help them provide better customer service while resolving potential issues swiftly. The System and Health dashboard on PDK.io gives integrators critical system information to help them quickly identify potential warnings across all their customer accounts. The dashboard is optimized to push devices with issues to your attention, making it easy to manage multiple systems and respond efficiently.
If a system has an issue, arriving at a site and immediately knowing which device to address can save integrators countless hours of downtime, especially for large systems. Some simple issues can even be resolved remotely using tools like ‘Restart Controller’, saving integrators valuable time and reducing unnecessary truck rolls. Remote troubleshooting empowers businesses, especially those with smaller teams, to spend less time maintaining systems and more time installing new ones.
3. Monthly Recurring Revenue Opportunities
Perhaps the most significant advantage of cloud access systems for security businesses is the opportunity to generate recurring monthly revenue. With on-premise systems, it’s essentially a one-time installation payment with some ongoing maintenance for manual updates and hardware replacements. On the other hand, cloud solutions like PDK operate on a subscription basis, charging a recurring fee for the cloud management services.
Though integrators still provide ongoing customer support, managing cloud access systems is essentially passive income or “mailbox money.” Integrators can count on a steady revenue stream that continues to compound with every new customer, exponentially boosting the company’s value and financial stability. A monthly recurring revenue model also offers protection for businesses during economic downturns. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many security businesses could stay afloat with cloud-hosting payments even though they could not install any new systems.
Cloud access control systems like ProdataKey have shaken up the way security businesses operate, delivering efficient solutions and massive opportunities for growth. Easy installation, remote management, and monthly recurring income are just a few ways these systems can transform how integrators do business. By taking advantage of cloud access technology and partnering with PDK, security dealers can completely revamp their offerings and build a business ready for the future.
