ihiji Ships Category Changing, Low-Cost, and Energy Efficient Remote Network Monitoring Appliance Jan 31
ihiji Ships Category Changing, Low-Cost, and Energy Efficient Remote Network Monitoring Appliance
- At $200, the new INV-APP-500 is the industry’s lowest cost remote monitoring appliance
- Simple and easy to deploy – field installation takes only minutes
- New low cost service model starts at no annual fee
- Enables remote power management via the cloud for existing IP-based power products
- Cost efficient way to own a customer’s network – large or small
Austin, TX – January 31, 2012, – ihiji, creator of the award-winning cloud-based remote monitoring and support system invision, has begun shipping the new and much-anticipated INV-APP-500. This low-cost and energy-efficient remote monitoring hardware appliance is destined to be the industry standard for installations large and small.
The INV-APP-500 boasts a game-changing starting price of $200 and is sold as part of the ihiji invision solution. When implemented, dealers are able to further reduce remote servicing costs while simultaneously increasing system reliability, thereby earning recurring revenue and maximizing operating efficiencies. Furthermore, in contrast to competitive solutions, ihiji’s annual services have been greatly reduced, and the first monitoring tier is free. This enables dealers to deploy an appliance on virtually every installation. Therefore, authorized ihiji dealers are now able to offer both hardware and the first year of service for as low as $200, which is easily recouped by avoiding just one truck roll.
The end-user benefit is equally impressive. ihiji’s low-power appliance INV-APP-500 can deliver a remarkable $700 in annual energy cost savings per location, when compared with traditional in-home server scenarios.
“With the introduction of our new INV-APP-500 appliance, dealers are able to implement robust and reliable remote monitoring and support services for a fraction of the price,” according to ihiji VP of technical operations, Michael Maniscalco. “Our goal is to enable dealers to own their customers’ network and doing so requires remote management. With ihiji invision’s cloud-based architecture, all of the heavy lifting is done on our servers, meaning dealers do not sacrifice features or reliability with the new low-cost appliance. Utilizing cloud services, dealers can offer the most reliable monitoring and support solutions available while keeping the costs of entry and ongoing maintenance as low as possible. We believe this approach to the category is more than a trend. It’s an emerging industry standard.”
invision is the only cloud based monitoring solution built specifically for custom dealers and designed to simplify remote management. It also avoids the high costs and complexities associated with traditional IT-focused monitoring solutions. Developed and maintained entirely in-house by ihiji’s software engineering team, invision has been frequently lauded by dealers as being both the most robust and the most easy-to-use solution available, providing “profound benefits”.
To join the ihiji invision community, or to learn more about establishing business-stabilizing proactive recurring revenue streams and improved customer loyalty, please email info@ihiji.com or call (512) 538-0520.
Residential Systems Magazine ihiji Editorial: “Selling Service Contracts with Teeth” Jan 6
The number-one complaint from integrators who are successfully selling service contracts has been that they waited too long to start selling them. As technology continues to evolve at a manic pace, it is up to you to find effective ways to service each of the components you install and integrate in order to ensure reliable performance. Service contracts provide not only the means to secure an ongoing relationship with your client, but they also proactively protect their investment.
Some of your clients will immediately embrace your service contract option, some will ask for changes, and others will pass altogether. This is normal and to be expected as one single package will rarely meet the needs of all clients. Learn from the feedback received during the sales process, and then tweak your offering accordingly.
At First, Start Small. A basic service contract is relatively simple to put together, and can include a simple checklist of items that can save you time and money while providing real value to your customers. Some examples for this could include services such as an annual twohour inspection and basic calibration, an hour of firmware upgrades, a VIP call in line, access to remote support and service, or a basic remote monitoring solution. Once established, you can gather feedback from clients and utilize it to build a more robust service contract over time.
Know Your Service Costs. Even a basic service contract structure requires a thorough understanding of associated service costs, which is a healthy exercise for any organization to go through. Once costs have been determined, you can establish the services you intend to offer, and calculate your desired margin and the prices you will need to charge for each service tier. It is not uncommon for an integrator’s base service contract program to be based on a fixed price while their higher-end contract is based on a percentage of the total system package price.
Create a Name for Your Contract. Not surprisingly, titles are important. Thus, many integrators have found that they have had greater adoption rates when calling the service or maintenance contract something similar to a “Preferred Client Care Program.” This provides the client with a sense of protection and security. Be careful, however, not to employ excessive fear tactics. Instead, simply illustrate the benefits and costs savings, and you will have far greater success.
Marketing, Training, and Roll Out. Finally, create compelling marketing material, train your sales staff, and roll out the program to your customers. Be sure to present these new services to your previous customers and those with whom you have not interacted with recently. Review the equipment they have, make suggestions for upgrades, and perhaps add remote monitoring and support that provides insight into the connected equipment’s health and status. Take advantage of the opportunity to show them something new, to assist them with any issues they may be experiencing, and create a new transaction. Show your customers that you care, and you may be pleasantly surprised by their reactions.
Michael Maniscalco (info@ihiji.com), ihiji co-founder and vice president of technical operations, served as one of the principal architects of invision, the company’s cloudbased real-time remote systems monitoring and support solution.
ihiji’s Director of Sales and Business Development Awarded Custom Retailer Magazine Young Turk Award Jan 5
ihiji Director of Sales and Business Development, Seth Rubenstein, was recently named to Custom Retailer Magazine’s annual Young Turks of Custom Electronics list. Seth is a prime example of fresh minds creating a “next generation” approach to the sale and implementation of commonly needed and often-overlooked software solutions.
Establishing a firm basis for his future success, Seth received his Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Black Studies, from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1994. He then went on to receive a Master of Education with Advanced Study in Counselor Education from Pennsylvania State University in 1997.
Prior to joining ihiji Seth served as Sales Director for D-Tools, where he managed the sale of software and services to more than 2500 accounts in North America alone. There, he implemented a recurring revenue model, effectively raised predictable cash flow, and achieved status as the top sales performer.
Since joining ihiji during the summer of 2011 as Director of Sales and Business Development, Seth has been instrumental in providing ESC’s the proper knowledge and education required to be successful in the Remote Monitoring and Support category.
Volunteering his time and energy for the betterment of our industry, Seth has held concurrent appointments for over five years, including a recent term as Chairman of CEDIA University’s College of Customer Relations, and as Vice-Chair of the highly impactful CEDIA Management Conference. In 2008, he was honored as CEDIA’s Manufacturer Volunteer of the Year and remains committed to initiatives that continuously raise the stature and prosperity of the entire ESC community.
Contribution to the company:
As a relatively new member of the team, Seth has focused his energies on increasing the industry’s awareness and adoption of the ihiji invision solution. Advocating and educating, he provides dealers the expertise to handle the transition from a reactive break-fix service model to a proactive and more efficient service approach.
Seth’s masterful relationship building skills and client-centric consultative sales approach enable him to provide extensive education and support to dealers, bolstering their knowledge base, and establishing a strong foundation of success for each firm in the Remote Monitoring and Support category.
Utilizing his extensive experience selling enterprise software solutions, Rubenstein interacts with and educates CEDIA dealers worldwide, working tirelessly to promote a positive and holistic development of the industry and Electronics Systems Contractors alike.
Contact Information
Seth Rubenstein phone: 512.538.0520
Seth Rubenstein e-mail: seth@ihiji.com
Click to see the entire 2012 Custom Retailer Magazine’s Young Turks edition.