A couple of years ago, Ron Walters was doing a presentation on two-call verification, also tagged Enhanced Call Verification, or ECV. At the time, SIAC members had probably been on the road touting the benefits of ECV for at least three or four years. During that time, you would imagine the mantra penetrating the electronic security industry. You would think many individuals and most companies had heard of the effort, understood what it meant, and were taking steps to implement it.
So, when Ron asked for a show of hands at a large state security annual meeting regarding, “Who knows about ECV?,” he was puzzled when well less than half of the audience’s hands went affirmatively up. That was then. This is now, and that message still isn’t getting heard the way it should be.
More companies should know about ECV, and more companies should be taking aggressive steps to implement it. SIAC needs to continue preaching this message. It’s important for every company in our industry because it is the SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE way we can reduce unnecessary alarm calls for police dispatch. The more we can prevent putting demands on police departments across the country, the better the relationship our industry will have with law enforcement officials. They will be more responsive, and willing to work with us in key situations.
Ron’s experience was not unique, nor was it a single incident. We continue to make presentations across the country, talking to groups large and small, explaining why ECV helps security installing and monitoring companies alike. It builds a good impression of the companies in our business, and that helps sell systems. ECV is good for the bottom line. Despite our outreach, far too frequently we’re still met with too many blank stares when we ask groups if they know what ECV is.
If you aren’t using ECV at your monitoring center, please look into it. Go to www.siacinc.org, and read up on the practice. It’s a simple measure to implement, and you can then tout it as a service you provide your dealers.
If you’re an installer, please encourage your monitoring center to use ECV. Or, choose a monitoring center that already applies ECV. Your choice builds a positive impression of your company with consumers and local officials, and helps the industry as a whole.
Spread the word. Get on the bandwagon. Be a leader.
If you’re not doing two-call verification (ECV), you’re part of the problem….