Talking Shop with...Luis Orbegoso

Talk about ADT. 

Luis Orbegoso: ADT is the only security company that has been providing 24/7 security monitoring for more than a century. In fact, ADT has been deeply involved in both protecting and empowering small and commercial-sized businesses. From the ability to remotely arm your system and operate your locks, to light and temperature control, ADT is dedicated to enhancing the efficiency and protection for business owners’ most important asset. On the cutting edge of the Internet of Things network, we are committed to keeping companies connected to the best technologies on the market. 

What programs does ADT offer that can benefit retailers? 

Every business should be confident with their security systems and video monitoring. With so many moving parts, automation and remote monitoring can be a retailer’s best friend. 

 As much as some may try, you cannot spend 24 hours a day at your business, and remote monitoring allows for more control from a distance. With ADT Pulse for small business, and more advanced solutions for commercial-sized retailers, you can monitor activity—both live and with push notification alerts. There is no need to wonder when a manager opens your store, or arms the system at the end of the day. We have had customers report that remote security access alone gives them almost double the time spent off-site due to these technologies.

 Even seemingly small, but critical, issues in your business can be tracked. For example, if you have a sensitive food storage area or freezer, you can receive an alert if the temperature rises above a set point. Perhaps you have had an issue with a refrigerator door that will not stay closed. You can set a system notification if the door is open for more than 60 seconds. The magic of automation technology is that you can make it work for you and your unique business needs.  

If retailers implement these programs, how does it drive additional value for them? 

Remote monitoring can provide tremendous value, both literally and figuratively. For example, the energy savings of smart thermostats and storage area management alone offer cost efficiencies that can be applied to other areas of your business. The less obvious value lies in the peace of mind that automation technology provides. You do not need to worry that your location is opening late; an alert will notify you if any activity deviates from your desired plan. Technology has vastly improved how business owners operate their business, and ADT’s offerings are a great example of how to leverage these advancements for success.

What is in store for the future?  

With the connected small business truly taking shape, the future holds amazing potential for strategic tracking and planning. In particular, we are excited about how technology will help map ideal customer, product and employee patterns.

 For example, the USDA estimates that food retailers discard about 44 billion pounds of food per year in the struggle to be competitive. That is a huge potential profit loss. Not even the best employees can accurately determine exactly how much product their store will need for that day, week or month. In the future, technology may be able to track the customer demand and help automate the process of food ordering, allowing a store to cut down on spoilage while still keeping shelves full for customers. This would not only impact the business world but the global food supply. 

 Video analytics is another tactic that leverages customer behavior for insights. There is heat-mapping, which illustrates where customers spend their time in a store to explain the success of a certain promotion. Business owners will also be able to quantify foot-traffic on a particular day or time to revise staffing plans. These examples are a small sample of the smart applications of monitoring and automation, and we can’t wait to optimize our customers’ businesses for growth. 

What steps should retailers take if they are interested in these programs?

While a business might feel confident with its video systems, you would be amazed what automation can do to impact overall business efficiency. ADT offers free consultation sessions for businesses, where our security and automation expert will visit a location to assess needs and what technologies would make the biggest impact on the day-to-day operation.