Infolink's automated alarm set-up wins for security firm

By ADAM GIFFORD

The use of internet-based collaboration software from Infolink is paying off for the Protector Security Group in increased sales of monitored home security systems.

Directors Mark Kennedy and Tim Giles attribute the company's growth to SecuriFlow, an application which automates the business processes of selling and installing security alarm systems. That includes a three-year monitoring contract to ADT/Armourguard, a part of global conglomerate Tyco.

SecuriFlow sits on top of Infolink's Vibe business process management engine and is hosted at Infolink's Newmarket data centre. Protector Security identifies potential customers by old fashioned door-knocking, but from then on things move at internet speed.

When the salesperson has a contract signed he/she goes back to the branch and enters the details into SecuriFlow. The system automatically checks the applicant's credit rating with Baycorp, schedules a time for the installation to be done, orders the equipment from the warehouse, contacts the courier and sends an invoice through to ADT so Protector Security can get paid its cut.

When the installation is complete - usually within three or four days of the initial sales call - SecuriFlow puts the correct contact information into Armourguard's monitoring system.

Mr Kennedy said the SecuriFlow includes the sort of tools expected in a customer relationship management system, so sales people can manage prospects and appointments.

About 1000 systems a month are sold through Protector Security's 16 New Zealand branches, making it the second largest ADT dealer worldwide last year.

Mr Kennedy said this country was almost at its limit and growth will come in Australia, where the company ranks tenth in sales from its foothold in New South Wales.

Infolink sales manager Phil Dagger said Infolink is talking to Tyco about ways SecuriFlow can be made into a generic application for ADT/Armourguard vendors.