The Real Deal with ROI in Campus Security Solutions

The plans can be tailored for each constituency, issuing different instructions for faculty and students, then for first responders.

Solutions like CrisisManager make it possible for universities to continually update their safety plans and disseminate the information to everyone on campus based on the information they need to know, says Mirisis.

Tips for Purchasing

Wynn says that the first step in purchasing new security technology is “knowing what it is you want, because there is a product out there that will do it.”

He advocates staying informed on the latest technology by going to trade shows and conferences.

“You kind of have to keep your eyes open,” Wynn says.

He also suggests looking at two or three products rather than just one, “because you may find something else that [makes] you go, ‘Wow, this is really perfect.'”

And be careful not to overbuy, Wynn says.

“There are a lot of systems out there that do what I want, but they also do fifty other things that I’m not going to use, and I don’t want to pay for those if I don’t have to,” he says.

Jamie Underwood, Director of Marketing Communications for Alertus Technologies, suggests that colleges “[take] into consideration groups such as the deaf or hard of hearing. You have to be mindful of how you’re reaching out to folks. Are you executing a solution that reaches people visibly versus audibly?”

Additionally, Underwood says that colleges need to keep in mind “codes and mandates” such as the Clery Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act when deciding what technologies to purchase.

“Look for a system that not only complies with those, but exceeds those requirements,” she says.

One of Graham’s biggest caveats is that “You get what you pay for.”

When deciding what kind of monitor to use for digital signage, he strongly recommends commercial grade monitors “simply because if they’re going to be on 24/7, 365 [days a year] you want that commercial warranty of three years.”

Although commercial grade monitors cost more than a standard T.V., they will last much longer.

“Preplanning is the most important thing,” says Graham, who recommends looking at major purchases like digital signage as a business would. “What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats?…What kind of money do we need? How often are we going to get that money?”

The Role of ROI in Campus Security

One important step in deciding the best security systems for the needs of the university is to look at the return on investment, or ROI.

Traditionally, ROI is calculated with a simple formula: ROI = (profit from investment – cost of investment) / cost.

But for colleges purchasing a large security system, quantifying the benefits of securing campus is not always possible.

Soft costs

According to Wynn, determining the ROI of security technology becomes a matter of looking at what he calls “soft costs.”

For example, installing electronic access control doors won’t replace staff members, but it will increase the efficiency of the custodian as he closes the building up for the night.

Limited liability

Ryan Ockuly, National Sales Director of Alertus, says that having an emergency notification system won’t bring in a profit, but it will “limit some of [a university’s] liability.”

By having the proper policies and equipment to alert students in case of emergencies, universities comply with the Clery Act and avoid “up to $50,000 in fines,” in addition to avoiding the loss of federal funding.

Equipping the right tools

Ockuly also says that having the proper security technology helps with the enrollment and retainment of students because “notification appliances like our alert beacon are very visible on campus tours…Some of the first questions from the tour are, ‘What are you doing around campus to make sure my kid is safe here?'”

And in the worst-case scenario of an active shooter or a tornado ripping through campus, having the right equipment helps maintain a university’s reputation after the fact.

“PR-wise, it’s better to come out with, ‘We issued 5,000 desktop notifications, we issued this many test messages to notify people so they could take the right actions,'” Ockuly says. “That’s invaluable for a university.”

Return on Objective

At WVU, decision-makers look at what they call return on objective, says Graham, looking to see how the technologies they purchase uphold the objectives they set beforehand.

“Our objective is reaching our students, faculty, and staff,” he says. “Our objective is to build brand awareness and brand loyalty. Our objective is to have a functioning and reliable emergency messaging system.”

Save money

Not all technologies only have soft returns on investment.

In the case of the mobile platform CrisisManager, universities will save money.

“What we have seen is that historically, institutions are spending a lot of money in the paper generation of these [safety] plans every year,” Mirisis says. “So the average institution can spend $20,000 to $40,000, depending on student size, to get all this information printed and secure.”

Although the costs of purchasing and maintaining security technology for a university can be staggering, making sure your campus is secure is a top priority.

“How do you prepare for what happened in San Bernadino…?” says Graham. “You have to be ready. You better be ready. If you’re not, there’s going to be problems.”

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