Smartway news

CCTV and security systems are designed to operate all year round. However, it is important to keep up with the seasonal maintenance on your systems.

This is never more important than during the winter months.

The colder area and nasty weather can impact the performance of your security systems if you don’t keep up with regular maintenance.

Fortunately, it doesn’t take a lot of time to complete this maintenance!

Here’s what you can do to make sure your systems are operating as they should in any weather!

1: Check The Enclosures

The components Smartway Security use, when installed correctly, are made to last in any weather conditions. However, it is better that you periodically check the exterior enclosures of your cameras and sensors to ensure that the contents are still protected from the elements.

Check for signs of exterior damage like cracks, dents or gaps or water on the lens. If any of these are present, then the enclosures might not be providing adequate weather protection. So, if you do find any damage to your components, give us a call and we will be able to repair or replace the units.

2: Clean Your Lenses

With plenty of rain, sleet and snow falling during the winter months, it is easy for your camera lenses to get a buildup of dust and grime. Winter visibility can be impaired by weather conditions, so it is important to keep your lenses clean for an unimpeded view of what is happening at your premises, especially for harsh environments.

Gently wipe the lens of your cameras with a microfibre cloth to remove any obstructions. If a dry cloth does not do the job, then simply wet a microfibre cloth and gently wipe the lens to remove spots and smudges.

3: Check The Cables And Connectors

Give all the cables and connections a once over to verify there are no signs of fraying, wear-and-tear, exposed wires, or unplugged connections. If you do discover anything out of the ordinary, then simply give us a call here at Smartway. We can replace any cables required, or reconnect any connections that have come loose.

4: Check The Power Supply

If any part of your system runs on batteries or solar connections, then you need to check your power supply too. This is especially important after high winds or a storm when connections can become compromised. Checking the cameras frequently will ensure that your system does not lose connectivity.

5: Be Mindful Of Obstructions

This is important to check all year round, but especially important when heavy winter storms can blow objects around. Verify that none of your camera’s views are obstructed by badly parked containers or vehicles, snow, fallen tree branches, or other elements of landscaping. You obviously want every camera to continue to have a good view of your premises.

6: Book A Service

While there are parts of the general maintenance tasks you could perform yourself, there are other more intricate aspects that are essential that need to be checked by a professional.

We recommend that you get your entire security system serviced on an annual basis at the least. If you have a system with more complex needs or in a harsh environment, then a six month service is required.

At the service, your technician will go over all the components of your system to ensure everything is working as it should be. They will clean all the different parts, replace batteries where necessary, update software to install any later enhancements, check the coverage areas, plus flag any potential issues.

When was the last time you completed winter maintenance on your security system? If it has been a while, then get in touch with the team here at Smartway. We will make sure winter is no issue for your security. Give us a call to book your service today.

Business Premises

The way business premises have had to deal with visitors in the last few weeks, whether it is an office building or a retail store, has been extremely difficult to manage.

There have been all sorts of people counting methods, crowd control, and staff wondering if the people coming in have any sign of the dreaded “flu”.

Contract tracing, social distancing and vigilantly maintaining hygiene standards have become the norm. But, handling these measures manually is hard to manage and hard to sustain.

Luckily, there are technological advancements that you can make use of.

Solutions for Businesses

Now there are a number of ways that you can automatically check visitors and whether they have a temperature as they enter a doorway.

Firstly, there is the Hand Held Thermometer which gets held up to the person and it checks to see if they have a high-temperature reading.

Then, there are solutions for larger premises. These include having a special camera installed which can monitor the temperature of a number of people walking through at the same time.

Some of these can also be used as a recognition camera and used for access control to gain entry through a door.

What Might Work For You?

With all these new technologies suddenly showing up to deal with Pandemic controls, what could work for your situation?

Is it crowd control or just simply making sure your premises are protected with an Alarm or CCTV?

Whatever it is that you are interested in, give us a call and invite us around to talk to YOU about what YOU need to make you feel safe.

Call the team at Smartway today.

Secure The Property Now Left Vacant

Because many of our businesses cannot operate in the same way currently, chances are your premises will be unattended more than usual.

This can be worrying as you don’t know what might be going on. While we are all meant to be home if not working or exercising, not everyone plays by the rules. Especially if they are up to no good!

Yes, of course, you can lock your doors and windows to secure your premises. But unfortunately, that isn’t always enough. It is advised to take your security one step further.

If you are worried about your property that will be left unattended during the level 3 and 4 restrictions, then you can take action. At Smartway, we are able to install an alarm system and offer 24/7 monitoring.

Not only will your alarm threaten any intruders who set off your sensors, but it can also activate an alert to our team. We can then immediately notify you, or whoever you have chosen to act as your contacts.

It is essential during a time like this to have your security functioning properly. Our alarm monitoring will also include daily testing which will ensure your alarm system is working without fault.

Keeping A Close Eye

We are aware that many business premises need to be left unattended or lower staffed during these times. Due to the short notice, we were given before the lockdown came into effect, many buildings and offices still have expensive equipment and items left in them. This can be unsettling for those who do not have appropriate security in place.

Fortunately, Smartway can help here too. We also offer the installation of CCTV cameras. Our particular CCTV technology comes with a system that can be viewed from anywhere, with complete remote access.

Popular for securing commercial and residential property, these cameras are able to record any movement that takes place around the designated area. Even though you are now restricted from visiting your workspace, you will have the luxury of keeping an eye on your property from the comfort of your own home.

Making Sure Everything Is Functioning Well

Even if you have security systems in place, they will be useless if they are not functioning properly. Which is why servicing and maintenance are so important right now.

The team here at Smartway offer servicing for all equipment, regardless of whether we were the ones to install it. We understand that at this time, things may seem a little out of your control due to movement restrictions. Smartway is ready and able to allow you to regain the control you have over your properties through faultless, reliable security.

Not only will adding security protect your property, but it will also give you peace of mind during these restricted times of trade.

Our staff are taking all the relevant Government precautions and guidelines to keep you and themselves safe.

So, if you want to make sure your premises are protected right now, give us a call here at Smartway. We have been approved to operate at all levels of social restriction as protecting your premises is essential.

Get in touch with us today.

Keep Safe

Regards

Roger Bull

Managing Director

So, how much protection do you truly have in place at your premises?

For instance, do you have an alarm or CCTV system? And more importantly – are you using it correctly? We find that many businesses install their alarm systems and everything comes to a grinding halt from there.

The number of people who admit to us that their alarm hasn’t been working correctly for a while and they have been meaning to call us is (excuse the pun) alarming!

Regular servicing will ensure that your alarm system is functioning correctly at the exact time you need it to be. There is no point having one installed if it is not going to sound when trouble arises!

Recent statistics show that burglary victimisations have increased by 2.7% compared with the previous 12 months! 75% are residential and most burglaries happen in the early afternoon. (Official Police statistics for the year ending August 2019).

Prevent your place from being another statistic by keeping your alarm system functioning at all times. We can help you with a regular servicing arrangement here at Smartway!

What Happens If Trouble Does Arise?

What happens when your alarm goes off? Is a monitoring service advised directly or do you receive the alert yourself?

While there are some alarm systems that you can monitor yourself via an app, it is extra peace of mind to know that your alarm is professionally monitored. You are guaranteed that “someone away from your property knows there is a problem” and will respond to it!

This is especially true if it is the weekend or you are travelling for business and the alarm sounds. You might be nowhere near the property and would struggle to check the status yourself. However, when the alarm is monitored by Smartway, we will send a patrol to check that there is no sign of entry.

If there is a confirmed break-in, then you don’t have to deal with that alone. Plus, if you have a Smartway CCTV system installed too, you will have plenty of great evidence to submit to the police.

The Importance Of CCTV

Do you have a business with no cameras installed?

Theft and Burglary are just one of the reasons to have cameras installed these days. In fact, Health and Safety is actually the number one reason for installing CCTV at business premises.

You can have all of the Health and Safety practices in the world in place at your company. However, they are not always followed. Even if they are, there is the very real possibility of human error or an accident.

You can protect your team and your business by making sure you are covered with the correct CCTV system. That means you are prepared in the event of an unfortunate incident.

Ready to get your protection up to scratch? Then call our team today about getting Alarms, Monitoring or CCTV installed in your business or home.

Let me be the first to wish you all a very Merry Christmas everyone!

Yes, it is that time of year again when you need to check up on how much protection you have in place?

For instance, do you have an alarm and more importantly – are you using it correctly?

The number of people who admit to us on the phone that their alarm hasn’t been working correctly for a while and they have been meaning to call us is (excuse the pun) alarming!

Also what happens when your alarm goes off?

Does it go direct through to monitoring or have you tried to save money by doing it yourself?

On some alarms, the APPs are sort of OK but nothing quite beats having an alarm monitored, for peace of mind that “someone away from your property knows there is a problem” and will respond to it!

There is nothing worse than being away at the beach a few hours’ drive from home and the alarm goes off! What would you rather do, be woken up by your phone after a night partying with friends and expected to drive home to check – or have a message from monitoring to say they have sent a patrol to check and there is no sign of entry?

Or worse still that it is a confirmed break in?

Then you can make plans accordingly.

Recent statistics show that burglary victimisations have increased by 2.7% compared with the previous 12 months!

75% are residential and most burglaries happen in the early afternoon. (Official Police statistics for the year ending August 2019).

So to help you make up your mind and protect your home we are offering a special End-of-year offer!

Signup to our Alarm Monitoring now in November and we will come and connect you AND service your alarm for FREE – saving you over $130.00. (subject to Terms and Conditions) Cost of any materials are excluded.

So don’t delay, beat the rush now and give our team a call on 07 824 5566.

On top of that, the statistic show that there have been over 28,000 recorded thefts from Retail Premises!

Do you have a business with no cameras installed??

Theft and Burglary are only just one of the reasons to have cameras installed these days.

Health and Safety is actually the number one reason we are given now for CCTV covering the premises.

The laws now are getting so picky that it tends to take the responsibility away from the worker who is likely to make the mistake and instead push it onto a business owner, common-sense has gone out of the window!

So make sure you are covered with the correct CCTV Coverage to protect your business in the event of an unfortunate incident.

Call our team today about getting CCTV installed in your business or home.

So let us help you make it a “Happy New Year” and get protected now before something happens?

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year everyone

Regards

Roger Bull

Managing Director

Home alarm systems and surveillance cameras are readily available in DIY kits, with a variety of cameras, recording equipment, access control systems, motion detectors and so on. You’ll find many wholesale home security systems and camera providers online. Keep in mind that many of these items maybe mediocre quality because the higher end “professional” equipment is only sold to licenced companies. Ensure you do not get ripped off with a low-quality home security system, buy only from reputable resellers and enquire at local security companies and homeware stores about similar products. All sellers and installers MUST hold a Security Licence to come to your property and discuss or install Security Alarms and Cameras & their licences can be checked by looking up the government register online. There is a hefty fine for not holding this licence and/or possible jail time..

At a minimum, your property should have an alarm system which acts as a deterrent, scares off intruders and alerts neighbours and the occupants of possible problems. No matter your home’s layout, opt for window and door sensors, primarily on ground level, but also at any balcony entry doors. Passive infra-red or “motion” detectors should be pointed to entry points, passages and windows that might not have sensors in order to pick up any movement as soon as possible. Basic do-it-yourself alarm systems are relatively simple to install and can instantly improve protection of your property but cannot be connected to professional monitoring services.

Some systems come with flashing lights and sirens that can alert the neighbours. These are a good deterrent to intruders as long as they do not frequently go off for no apparent reason. Be sure to let your neighbours know if you’re leaving home for an extended period, ask them to keep their ears and eyes open.

With the DIY option, the points of installation are very important. Seeing that you are not making use of an expert in security, who will know where to position and point your passive infra-red detectors and so forth, you need to make 100% sure that all possible areas and access points are covered properly, which is why it’s best to use a professional company. 

MONITORED ALARM SYSTEMS AND SECURITY COMPANIES

A good house security system should have monitoring and surveillance services. Smartway can offer security system installation, maintenance and 24/7 monitoring. We have trained personnel who respond to an alarm system that’s been triggered. Whether you need medical assistance, protection from intruders or any other safety-related matter, they have the facilities to cater for it all for a small monthly fee (less than 1 cup of coffee a week!)

Generally, your best option is an experienced security provider with resources and technical skills to provide adequate home security systems. We provide installation and maintenance of integrated safety solutions and also offer you monitoring of your security system at a nominal fee & we have been providing an alarm monitoring service since 1999.

So contact the Team @ Smartway today and let them help you to protect what is important to you!

The start of the computer revolution was back in the 1950’s where big and bulky mainframe computers took up a whole room and had to be programmed with a punch card. They were used to automate Accounts and Payrolls.

Then by the 1980’s to 2000 the second revolution started when we began to have desktop computers in the office, and then came the home PC.

The third revolution was the mobile one which reduced them in size to be able to fit in our pockets, so we could take them anywhere and use them on the go.

Now the next shift has started and in our homes, smart assistants like Google Home or Amazon Echo are steadily colonising our personal spaces, along with home automation for smart lighting and security systems.  There were over 640 million of these units sold last year and the market will be doing twice that by 2023.

By that time we can expect something like a 50% growth in sales of wearable devices like smart clothing and fitness trackers- a huge market that Apple is looking to – where it will be approaching 300 million units a year.

As for the workplace, AI is starting to take hold where it is transforming factories and production lines. Sometimes referred to as the forth revolution or industry 4, this sector is forecast to double to over 150 billion by 2023 and over a Trillion dollars by the early 2030’s.

Tech companies will increasingly seek to improve our lives with this explosion of smart devices that will be crunching the sensor data from all this hardware, as well as all the activities that we do on our smart phones. There are also plenty of start-ups staking out their territory  in this new frontier.

When it comes to your home it is important to know what you want and when you “don’t know what you don’t know” the best thing is to talk to a company that is experienced in security systems before you build and not settle for a one size fits all approach that some builders and electricians install as a part of a package.

Your Security System is a personal thing and needs to be researched correctly to make sure you know what you want and how you are going to use it – because it’s no good having one installed if it’s too hard to use, that would just be a waste of money.

Smartway Security and Technology have been installing CCTV for over 19 years and Monitored Security Alarms for longer than that. Why don’t you give them a call and let them help you to understand how you can protect what is important to you.

Remember “Experience the Difference because the Difference is Experience.

Call and speak to the team at Smartway today on 0800 93 63 63

What Solutions Are Available?

Existing security systems will more than likely need to have a module installed so your alarm will still talk to the monitoring desk. There is also that big danger of being caught out in the event of a power cut when the new equipment is installed, that is unless you have a backup battery supply – called a UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) installed. 

Previously your landline would still have kept you connected, but now you need a battery backup to keep your Router & ONT (Optical Network Terminal) alive.

Smartway Security & Technology have a solution for this and can supply you with a UPS Battery Backup so you don’t get caught short.

Will You Need A Costly Upgrade?

The short answer is no! You won’t need a costly upgrade. In fact, there might not be any cost involved at all.

Smartway can supply a UPS Battery backup for FREE (subject to T&Cs) when you change over to having your alarm monitored with us or resign a new contract. That will save you $120.00 + GST!
As a side note to that, if your Router and ONT are in different locations in the house you will need a second UPS. We will also be able to supply you the second battery a special discounted price of $85.00 + GST. 

Now in addition, depending on the alarm you have and how old it is, we can also set you up with an APP on your phone that will allow you to communicate with the alarm and it can have a number of different functions. 

Depending on the make and model of your alarm, it could allow you to set and unset your alarm remotely from your Smart Device. In some cases, it can even provide an up-to-date log of who has set or unset the alarm, when they did it, plus other benefits.

Interested in ensuring your alarm will continue to work in all situations? Then, call us today to find out how we can help protect what is most important to you. Our phone number is 07 824 5566.

How Can You Use Security To Your Advantage?

Security is valuable for everyone who wants to protect what is important to them. 

That ranges from a major commercial client wanting to protect their premises and look after their health and safety, right through to the average householder who wants a home alarm, and maybe some security cameras or gate alerts around the house.

The main benefit of having a security system is peace of mind. You don’t need to worry about your business, your staff, or your home if you can’t be there. Our systems allow you to be alerted immediately if something happens. Plus, you have the added benefit of being able to go back and see what happened with the camera system. 

It is really like having eyes in the back of your head.

Here at Smartway, we can make security work for you. We cover all spectrums and we have customers in every different direction you can think of across New Zealand. We have major corporate accounts that we look over, (like the 90 sites of Bridgestone Tyres nationwide), but we also service hospitals and rest homes, as well as small shops and offices. As you can imagine, they all have very different needs and we produce a security solution that works for each. 

What Are Your Different Options?

Most security systems concentrate on CCTV as their main component. But there are a number of different options you can use to complement the CCTV system. At Smartway, we certainly do everything electronic that comes along with CCTV. That includes alarms, access control, gate alerts and other forms of security and alerts to help you protect yourself and what is important to you.

If you are considering security, you really want to know what you are getting. At Smartway, we help you “experience the difference”! We are an extremely experienced company, in fact, experience is our difference. We have been involved with CCTV for over 19 years and have well over 4000 camera systems installed across New Zealand.

We can also give you firsthand experience of what your security system will look like before you even buy it. We have a fully equipped demo truck that we can bring to your premises. That means we can park it within your yard, you can sit inside the truck and experience how the cameras would view your driveway or other locations. By doing that, you get to see the quality of the cameras, the resolution of the imaging and get a firsthand experience of the system in action. 

Surprising Protection Benefits

Most people expect that their security system will protect them against theft. But that is only one of the protection benefits. There are plenty of other ways…

1. Monitoring the health and safety practices of your staff. By operating cameras in your high risk areas, you can encourage staff to be more careful and also discover the cause of any accidents that might happen so you can prevent them from repeating in the future. 
2. Better management of your business. We have had a number of occasions where staff members have been caught stealing from their employers on hidden cameras. It gives you, as the business owner, proof and the ability to take action. And it also allows you to have an objective picture of the day to day runnings in a certain area. Watching the footage can help you to improve efficiencies.
3. Discovering the truth. We had a recent example of a visitor to a business premises who claimed their vehicle was damaged while onsite. Because the business owner had Smartway CCTV installed, they were able to look back on the footage and prove that the car had driven into the premises with the damage already on their vehicle. Without the physical proof of the footage, it would have been hard for the business owner to argue the point.

So there you have it, three excellent ways that your security system can protect your business from more than vandals and external wrong doers! 

Are you ready to protect the things that matter the most to you? Then give us a call or email us here at Smartway. We can arrange a time to come and see you and check out how we can help protect your property or what is important to you.

The Importance of CCTV Surveillance Systems

Companies all over the world need a secure location for their business to thrive. And over the last decade, technology has improved so well that these companies have become so dependent on it, relying on it for safety and progress. With this evolution came the birth of CCTV, which wasn’t a mere coincidence but a necessary invention to safeguard those who need security. Following this vision, Smartway Security & Technologies is proud to be New Zealand’s leading CCTV and alarm systems provider.

As we all know, CCTV stands for closed-circuit television, which is technically described as a set of video cameras that is used to transmit signals to a monitor. It captures and records images in areas like shopping malls, banks, hospitals, parks or any place that needs to be monitored by security personnel.

The first known CCTV surveillance system was installed in 1942 at Test Stand VII in Peenemünde Airfield by the German company Siemens AG. The person responsible for its design and system installation was a German engineer named Walter Bruch. The first commercial CCTV system became available in the US in 1949 by a company called Vericon. What made the evolution of CCTV interesting was its earliest form of surveillance — when a security personnel would have to constantly watch the monitors all day since recording and storing images wasn’t invented at that time. But a few years later, the reel-to-reel media process was invented, allowing them to record hours and hours of video footage, making it easier to review the collected images.

CCTV in action

Today, various types of CCTV with amazing state-of-the-art features are available from different manufacturers all over the world. From high-definition IP cameras to face recognition and audio monitoring capability, achieving a secure environment is not a complicated choice anymore.

But no matter how digital — and dangerous — the world has become, some business owners are still hesitant in using CCTV surveillance systems in their companies. One reason is they mostly think of it as an overpriced investment or a mere additional cost, unaware of the benefits, capabilities and convenience brought by CCTV. Read on to know why installing CCTV is crucial in every business.

Prevent and Deter Crime

The presence of a CCTV camera in your business location (retail shops, gasoline stations, parking lots, etc.) can monitor the activities in the area, especially in your absence. It records crimes or any suspicious activities that may happen in your location. When people or criminals are aware that a CCTV camera is watching them, it will hinder them from acting on a crime which can put them and others in jeopardy.

CCTV cameras can be a very handy set of eyes at home too. In times when you leave your kid with the babysitter, or when your furry cats and dogs are left alone by themselves, the digital IP high definition camera allows you to monitor activities with just one click from your laptop or mobile phone — leaving you worry free wherever you are.

Help Collect Evidence
CCTV cameras are very helpful in case of an unfortunate event. With the recorded videos, it can help identify culprits. One perfect example was in 2013, when the Boston Marathon bombing suspects were tracked with the help of CCTV footage analyzed by the FBI. They were initially called Black Hat and White Hat, but as soon as their images were released, they were finally identified as the Tsarnaev Brothers. This incident popularized the use of CCTV in the USA. Weeks later, a poll by New York Times/CBS found that 78% of the respondents have valued its use and advantage.

Also, most companies today rely on cash-in-transit and bank services to do the banking for them. With video surveillance, you can monitor incoming collections or any activities from inside and outside the premises. Since CCTV allows you to review images recorded on previous days, it is also very helpful in solving internal problems like employee fights, non-productive workforce, sexual harassment and theft. Having CCTV in the area will give both employees and clients a sense of security while they’re doing business with you.

Cost-effective for Security

Companies with CCTV installed say it helps improve employee punctuality and productivity by 30%. In a recent poll by Harris Polls, 66% of business owners believe that CCTV is the most valuable security measure to alleviate problems in the office since it can monitor the employees’ productivity. These cameras protect not only you but your employees too, without the need of hiring excessive security personnel.

CCTV cameras today have a live viewing feature where you can view real time HD video 24/7. With this capability, you can keep an eye on what is going on in your office or home. It helps prevent break-ins from intruders, keeping your company and your assets safe 24 hours a day.

Investing in CCTV systems or video surveillance for your company is one of the most cost-effective ways to provide your business and your employees a secured workspace. Though CCTV today is highly modern and advanced, Smartway Security & Technologies is happy to provide you a seamless self-monitoring service at a very competitive rate.

There are still a lot of advantages in using CCTV that are not mentioned here, but it all leads to only one conclusion — CCTV surveillance systems are vital for the success of every business. Whether you run a small business, a big corporation or you need security at home, you can rely on Smartway Security & Technologies to provide you the best trusted service.

If you’re unsure about what CCTV service you need, feel free to talk to a CCTV installations professional at Smartway. You may visit our website or call us at 0800 93 63 63 today!