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Mark Thomas became a joint owner and Director of Cortech Developments in 1996 after 18 years working for private and public sector organisations in electrical/electronic engineering and integrated security systems. Cortech has become one of the leading software integration companies in the UK building, fire, and security sector. Now in its 21st year, Cortech's modular software suite, DATALOG, is commonplace amongst critical national infrastructure throughout the UK. Mark has advised some of the UK's largest corporations on managing their buildings, assets, and people as part of their wider business strategies through software integration and centralisation. He has overseen significant solution adaptation and enhancements to assist with smarter building performance and more efficient environmental comfort, safety, and security. With the emergence of legislation for CO2 emissions DATALOG solutions incorporate BMS and energy integration. Cortech also operates across continents with software deployments in over 24 countries. Mark has been instrumental in developing a network of resellers that provide an effective route to market for integrated software solutions throughout mainland Europe, the Middle East, and, more recently, in Australia and the US. The company directors have overseen significant growth at Cortech Developments over recent years, culminating in a
Any investment strategy that incorporates software integration has to be considered with a view that it will have a limited lifetime and this risk will need to be planned for, both operationally and commercially.
System manufacturers’ technologies are evolving faster than ever in order to stay ahead of the competition. This is shortening lifetime cycles and ‘operational lifetime of use’ of products.
Systems lifetime can be extended by manufacturer software and firmware upgrades to keep pace with new innovations before hardware eventually requires replacement.
While experience has shown that minor versions offer minimal risk (but they still present a risk), major version upgrades have the potential to severely impact on operation. And new SDKs can often mean a complete rewrite with third-party integration software solutions.
If you’re experienced within the building, safety and security industry you will probably have encountered comments from vendors like this: “The hardware you have installed is no longer supported or has been superseded by ‘system x’, which comes with a new SDK.” Was the ‘lifetime cost of ownership’ considered when the solution was purchased?
This is especially the case with CCTV manufacturers when they develop new features and benefits linked to video forensics, analytics, transmission and storage.
Recently we have witnessed customer expectations and awareness evolve as they prioritise value and a return on investment in integrated technology.
Choosing an integration partner
The choice of integration providers is expanding as manufacturers respond in turn to this demand. Procurement and integration decisions are daunting and need to be aligned to the strategic aims of the business.
Customers must define the following to achieve their goals from a systems integration:
Operational requirements
Capability
Resilience
Risk criteria
Risk mitigation
How to qualify the true lifetime use of the system and cost of ownership
There are myriad criteria to consider when choosing the right integration technology partner and how the preferred solution will be supported.
BMS, video management and access control manufacturers offer direct integration with other third-party systems to promote their own hardware solutions
BMS, video management and access control manufacturers are offering direct integration with other third party systems to enable promotion of their own hardware solutions.
This type of integrated solution can appear, on the face of it, to offer a commercial advantage by excluding the additional cost for an independent software management system. But there are a host of other factors to assess, including the level of integration and its integrity, availability and cyber resilience.
Measuring the effectiveness of the solution resilience, sustainability and support is an intangible that may only become visible with the test of time. These should be questioned and qualified at the outset because a wrong decision may later to penalise the decision-maker, operationally and commercially damaging the true lifetime cost of the investment.
The merits of independent advice
The final decision should be based on a full understanding of all criteria using a combination of trusted internal and external advisory specialists.
Wikipedia states that “an adviser or advisor is normally a person with more and deeper knowledge in a specific area and usually also includes persons with cross-functional and multidisciplinary expertise. An adviser’s role is that of a mentor or guide and differs categorically from that of a task-specific consultant.”
The trusted advisor should seek to understand the client’s pains, pinch points and objective goals while resisting the temptation to take a position too early. Engage with the client to explore each option in depth, make recommendations and provide the client with information to make an informed choice.
A manufacturer-agnostic software specialist provides freedom of choice for the integration of systems that meet clients’ commercial and functional requirements
A manufacturer-agnostic software specialist provides freedom of choice for the integration of systems that meet with the clients’ commercial and functional requirements. This objective differs categorically from that of a BMS, CCTV or access control manufacturer-based systems advisor.
Not selling system hardware themselves, an independent software specialist adviser can focus on the client’s operational experience and providing supporting services to maintain and sustain integration interoperability.
A software interface is relatively inexpensive and easy to implement; sustaining, enhancing and supporting that software over time is as challenging as it is vital. This is a reality check for many in the industry.
Visit Cortech Developments at IFSEC: Live Interactive Interoperable
Cortech Developments are an independent, manufacturer-agnostic, software solutions company, providing interoperable integration for safe, secure & efficient building technologies.
We will be providing you with the opportunity to witness, probably the largest demonstration of third party manufacturer solutions for an exhibition, LIVE from London, including monitoring & control from our UK head office & Dubai demonstration theatres. Manufacturers of global leading brands will be in attendance, providing you with the perfect learning environment regarding their technologies and sustainable integration.
About Cortech Developments
Cortech Developments are an independent, manufacturer-agnostic, software integration specialist. For the past 27 years they have specialised in providing sustainable software integration solutions that bring together third party manufacturers software technology, to become visible usable entities that interact and add value with increased safety, high security and building performance.
LIVE Demonstration theatres interconnected to UK & Middle East offices, offer the facility for customers and consultants to witness first hand ‘working interoperable solutions’. They offer an ideal learning & questioning environment to evaluate risk based challenges and to make a more informed choice. Being able to physically demonstrate and provide tangible evidence goes one step further to eliminate risk. If they can ‘see it, they can believe it’ which is backed up by customer reference sites and a proven history of providing credible sustainable support.
Cortech Developments is exhibiting at IFSEC International, 19-21 June 2018, ExCeL London. You can find them on stand H308. Register now.
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Security systems integration: How independent advice can extend your operational lifetimeA manufacturer-agnostic software specialist provides freedom of choice for the integration of systems that meet clients’ commercial and functional requirements, unlike a BMS, CCTV or access control manufacturer-based systems advisor, writes Cortech Developments.
Mark Thomas
IFSEC Insider | Security and Fire News and Resources
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Hannan Ahmad
September 26, 2019 8:39 am
Reactive maintenance, also referred to as a run-to-failure strategy, focuses on asset’s repairs only once a failure occurs. This mentality has wedged many organizations between a rock and a hard place at one point or another. As the name suggests, a run-to-failure strategy aims to use an asset until it shuts down. Repairs are then made, attempting to bring the asset back to its working condition. Typically no maintenance is carried out between failures unless a maintenance manager or technician happens to detect a need for it. Reactive maintenance focuses on restoring asset back to normal operation after a breakdown.… Read more »
Visit Cortech Developments at IFSEC: Live Interactive Interoperable
Reactive maintenance, also referred to as a run-to-failure strategy, focuses on asset’s repairs only once a failure occurs. This mentality has wedged many organizations between a rock and a hard place at one point or another. As the name suggests, a run-to-failure strategy aims to use an asset until it shuts down. Repairs are then made, attempting to bring the asset back to its working condition. Typically no maintenance is carried out between failures unless a maintenance manager or technician happens to detect a need for it. Reactive maintenance focuses on restoring asset back to normal operation after a breakdown.… Read more »