by Jessica Barnes | Jun 3, 2024 | Uncategorized
To enhance our support and expertise in aligning dealer goals with WHIRC technology, we are introducing the role of Technology and Sales Coordinator. We are pleased to announce that veteran dispatcher Tabitha Rudloff stepped into this position on June 1.
Rudloff recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity from Metropolitan State University. She is an expert in monitoring technology and adept at problem-solving. Her focus will be on providing technical support to our dealers, ensuring smooth operations, and enhancing customer service.
In this new position, Rudloff will work within WHIRC’s technical infrastructure planning system updates to minimize disruption, alarm automation, and technology implementation. She will also support our sales team and leverage different types of monitoring to align with dealer’s goals. She will play a key role in customer service, billing, and dispatcher training, ensuring compliance with industry standards.
What does this mean for our dealers?
Tabitha’s new role will help facilitate the account conversation process, optimize technical systems, enhance dealer growth, and provide an additional point of contact for our valued partners.
by Jessica Barnes | May 7, 2024 | Uncategorized
Rockford, Minn. (May 7, 2024) — WH International Response Center (WHIRC) recently renewed the prestigious “TMA Five Diamond Monitoring Center” designation from The Monitoring Association (TMA) for the 21st straight year. WHIRC first earned the “Five Diamond” designation in 2004. It is granted annually to monitoring centers that satisfy all the requirements of the “five points of excellence.” These are:
- Commitment to ongoing job-related education and testing by having 100% of its monitoring center operators certified using the TMA online training series on industry best practices.
- Commitment to random inspections and quality criteria standards by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as FM Approvals, Intertek/ETL and UL.
- Commitment to raising the industry standards through TMA membership and participation in its activities.
- Commitment to reducing false dispatches.
- Commitment to the highest levels of customer service.
The TMA Five Diamond designation means that WHIRC has demonstrated an exceptionally high degree of responsibility to their businesses and customers through the investment of time, money, and commitment to quality operator training.
Of the nearly 2,700 monitoring centers in the United States that communicate and interact with police, fire, and emergency services agencies, fewer than 200 have achieved the Five Diamond designation, setting WHIRC apart.
To learn more, visit WHIRC’s website at whirc.com or call (800) 858-7811.
WHIRC is a leading national central station monitoring partner for residential and commercial security, alarm, and personal emergency response system dealers. WHIRC’s headquarters are in Rockford, Minn.
by Jessica Barnes | Apr 1, 2024 | Uncategorized
Partnering with the right monitoring center ensures you can focus on growing your business. When you choose WHIRC, you’re not just getting a monitoring center; you’re entering a relationship that prioritizes customer service and quality with a personalized touch.
Choosing WHIRC means selecting a partner dedicated to your success. Our commitment to swift onboarding, customization, expertise in the field, and a personal touch sets us apart in the industry.
At WHIRC, we believe in the power of customization. Our relationship begins with a detailed conversation with you and our technical sales team. We take the time to understand the nuances of your business, from jurisdictional considerations to the types of security services you offer. This deep understanding allows us to tailor our monitoring services to meet your business’ specific needs. Regardless of the size or location of our dealers, WHIRC ensures every partner receives the same level of exceptional service.
One of the key aspects that sets WHIRC apart from other monitoring centers is our commitment to a swift onboarding process. In as little as a week, our dealers are up and running with our TMA Five Diamond and UL Listed monitoring center, ready 24/7 to provide outstanding security monitoring services.
Changing monitoring centers has its challenges but WHIRC is here to make it seamless. We not only assist in the swift transfer of data, but also provide support to help dealers smoothly convert their accounts. Our goal is to make the monitoring transition as smooth as possible, ensuring minimal disruption to your operations.
by Jessica Barnes | Nov 6, 2023 | Uncategorized
According to Park Associates, the home security camera market is expected to grow by nearly five million households in the next five years. Video verification and video health monitoring can be an excellent source of recurring monthly revenue (RMR). For dealers looking to expand their service offerings, a monitoring center with the Universal Connector from Bold can be a solution.
A Universal Connector is a virtual monitoring center receiver that processes communications from devices in the field to create an alarm in the same way receiving a signal from a burglar or fire panel does. WH International Response Center (WHIRC) uses its universal connector to provide monitoring to a variety of security products. Some examples include HVAC systems, GPS devices, video health monitoring, and alarm verification. Texts, email, open database connectivity (ODBC), protocols including FTP, TCP, and UDP, and simple files can now be processed as an alarm.
WHIRC also uses the Universal Connector to monitor outdoor automated external defibrillator (AED) smart cabinets created by Advocates for Health. In October 2023, WHIRC was able to dispatch first responders to a local park after a good Samaritan opened the monitored cabinet to retrieve an AED to help someone having a heart attack, saving his life.
Jessica Theisen from Advocates for Heath noted, “the Universal Connector receiver allows WHIRC to work with Advocates for Health’s monitoring software to receive critical alerts from a monitored cabinet that stores an AED. When these alerts are received, WHIRC can send out important texts, emails, and most importantly, dispatch emergency services so that help can be sent to the location of the emergency.”
Two of the most common use cases for the Universal Connector are video health monitoring and remote alarm verification.
Video health monitoring can trigger alarms when a part of the system isn’t working. Some examples of alarms that can be created include when a hard drive is full, a camera is not working, hard drive failure, poor video quality, and poor network connection. The process to set up video health monitoring with your monitoring center includes reviewing how the recording devices communicate, establishing a template for alarm generation, and identifying the type of response required.
Remote alarm verification allows your monitoring center to view security camera footage to see what activated the alarm and confirm the emergency. This information is sent to emergency services for a quicker, more accurate response. Camera systems send an email with events and can include video clips. From there, the dispatch staff can determine what caused the event and how to proceed. Custom programming is required to properly parse out information to identify which account is sending the notification. Once the account is identified, dispatch staff will follow the action steps developed in the planning phase.
A Universal Connector can monitor nearly any type of camera system with minimal integration, regardless of brand. It enables security system dealers to generate RMR while providing a very valuable service to your customers.
by Jessica Barnes | May 15, 2023 | Uncategorized
Rockford, Minn. (April 27, 2023) — WH International Response Center (WHIRC) recently renewed the prestigious “TMA Five Diamond Monitoring Center” designation from The Monitoring Association (TMA) for the 20th straight year. WHIRC first earned the “Five Diamond” designation in 2004. It is granted annually to monitoring centers that satisfy all the requirements of the “five points of excellence.” These are:
- Commitment to ongoing job-related education and testing by having 100% of its monitoring center operators certified using the TMA online training series on industry best
- practices.
- Commitment to random inspections and quality criteria standards by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as FM Approvals, Intertek/ETL and UL.
- Commitment to raising the industry standards through TMA membership and participation in its activities.
- Commitment to reducing false dispatches.
- Commitment to the highest levels of customer service.
The TMA Five Diamond designation means that a monitoring company has demonstrated an exceptionally high degree of responsibility to their businesses and customers through the investment of time, money, and commitment to quality operator training.
There are approximately 2,700 monitoring centers in the United States that communicate and interact with police, fire, and emergency services agencies. Fewer than 200 have achieved the Five Diamond designation, setting these companies apart.
To learn more, visit WHIRC’s website at whirc.com or call (800) 858-7811.
WHIRC is a leading national central station monitoring partner for residential and commercial security, alarm, and personal emergency response system dealers. WHIRC’s headquarters are in Rockford, Minn.
by Jessica Barnes | Feb 28, 2023 | Uncategorized
WHIRC recently began monitoring, testing, and receiving alarms from ten Safe Haven Baby Boxes (SHBB). SHBB are a safety device that allows a mother in crisis to surrender a newborn safely, securely, and anonymously.
Each box is installed in the exterior wall of a fire station or hospital and has an exterior door that locks automatically after the placement of a newborn baby. An interior door gives medical staff access to the baby to offer care and shelter.
Each box has:
- A thermostat, heater, vents, and a fan to automatically control the temperature.
- A bassinette to keep the baby from rolling over.
- A bag of resources for the parent that surrender the baby.
A three-alarm system alerts when the door opens, after the baby is placed in the bassinette, and if the power goes out. These are routed through an alarm monitoring center like WHIRC who then alert a 911 dispatch center.
Each SHBB is tested once a week to make sure the box’s alarms are working properly and looked at twice a day to make sure the box and sensors are working properly.
To learn more about baby boxes, visit the SHBB website.
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