Alarm Software
Alarm and Security Service Software: Why SSaaS beats SaaS
One of the big buzzwords right now is “SaaS”: Software as a Service. Today I’m coining a new term (drum roll please…): “SSaaS.” Let me elaborate on both of these and explain why SSaaS is superior. Cloud-Based or Local? The old business model for software, of course, was to buy it, install it on the local network, then maintain and upgrade it over time. MANY companies in…
Read MoreCornerstone integrates with NMC
We are excited to announce that Cornerstone Billing Solutions is fully integrated with National Monitoring Center (NMC), adding another excellent partner integration for our customers. What this integration means for our NMC dealers: PULL data from NMC (preferred) – set up new accounts as usual through the NMC Monitoring portal. Then, by clicking Download Customer…
Read MoreMaking Sense of Your Numbers: Part 2
The main point of Part 1 is that most security dealers would benefit by separating their ‘steady Eddy’ recurring revenue / profit (RP) from their more messy and volatile Service & Installation revenue / profit (SIP). These two simple buckets will drive your company’s success or failure, because they drive your operating profit. Knowing your…
Read MoreSoftware For Alarm Companies: Little Differences Matter!
A question for our security dealer friends–do you agree with this statement? “Your security company is just like any other contractor business.” Nearly all our customers would shout: “NO WAY! Our business is unique!” Cornerstone has served this industry for over 21 years, and we completely agree. In fact, our business probably wouldn’t exist if…
Read MoreAlarm Industry Service Software is like a Supermarket
When was the last time you visited a butcher shop to get your meat and poultry? Then a bakery to get your bread and rolls? Followed by a farm stand visit to stock up on vegetables? If you’re like most people, not recently. Instead, people get nearly all their food at a supermarket. Why? Because…
Read MoreVacation? Stay-cation? No-cation?
We hope you enjoyed July 4th, especially in a year when most fireworks, parades, and celebrations were canceled. For most people, July and August are vacation season. This year, most of us will need to settle for some version of a stay-cation. Wikipedia defines a stay-cation as “a period in which an individual or family…
Read MoreAlarmPayments.com Success Stories
“The Alarmpayments.com portal makes us look much more professional to our subscribers,” says Paul Allen, owner of Protective Security Services.
Read MoreQuickBooks vs. Alarm Company Software: What’s Best for You?
If your security company mainly uses QuickBooks to manage your subscriber accounts and jobs, you’ve probably asked this question: “Would we be better off with more industry-specialized software?” The answer depends on your company’s situation, and how much friction you are encountering while trying to use QuickBooks to manage things. It’s possible, maybe likely, that…
Read MoreHome Work? Easy, With Cloud-Based Alarm Software
When Cornerstone established our cloud-based alarm software platform in early 2001, we definitely felt like pioneers. The dominant business model then was locally-installed and maintained software. Over the last 20 years, there has been a sea change. Small businesses now embrace the many advantages of accessing services, tools, and even their precious customer data using…
Read MoreSave With Automated Billing Software
The security services industry is being transformed on many fronts, including recurring automated billing software. When Cornerstone Billing Solutions was founded in 1999, recurring billing was still quite manual. With 80%+ of payments made via paper check. Today, autopay via ACH debit or credit card constitutes more than 75% of subscriber payments across all of…
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