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What is Advent and what do you do?

Advent Systems, Inc. (“Advent”) is a Utah company that was formed in 2004 as a developer and distributor of advanced digital security and surveillance systems utilizing digital video recorders (DVR), digital capture technology, digital cameras and data compression technology to stream full-motion images over computer networks and the Internet. Advances and refinements to DVR systems coupled with advanced data compression techniques controlled by Advent place the Company as one of the leading security and surveillance providers currently serving its target markets. 

The Advent System is commercially proven and is gaining more traction in the market. Advent has installed numerous security systems for federal and state government entities, as well as commercial customers throughout the nation. Existing and recent customers include the U.S. Secret Service, Utah State Tax Commission, Utah State Youth Corrections Facilities, Embarcadero Systems, Peace Corps, Phillips/Conoco, NCIS, and Verizon Wireless, to name a few.

What sets you apart from other competitors in your field?

Newer technology available in DVRs today provide some major advantages, and the Advent 7000 DVR has incorporated those differences to benefit our clients. These differences include:

• Storage Capacity.  In independent, studies the Advent 7000 has provided 42% greater storage capacity than other DVRs. Whereas others provide, at the most, 60 days of storage with a standard configuration, the Advent 7000 provides 60-plus days of storage -- with the same quality and frames per second (FPS). .
• Recording and Viewing Speed.  While real-time motion is 30 frames per second (FPS), the human eye only sees at 15 FPS. The Advent 7000 records at 30 frames per second for all 64 cameras. This is unheard of in the industry. 
• Number of Channels.  90% of all DVRs only allow for 16 cameras, which means that anyone installing more than 16 cameras must install multiple DVRs. The Advent DVR allows for up to 64 cameras on a single system.  . . 
• Video Quality.  The Advent DVR monitors and records video that is DVD Quality.
• Smart Search. The Advent DVR has the ability to search by objects and motion rather than only by time and date. 

What are some of the trends you’re seeing in the security and surveillance markets?

With the slumping economy, employees are more prone these days to helping themselves to company supplies, including pens, pencils, paper, cleaning supplies and even gas for their own cars. Over the course of several months, the loss of these items adds up, resulting in tremendous losses to a business.  

Who are some of your customers, and what markets are you targeting with this surveillance software?

We have a number of state and federal customers as well as private and public companies. Some customers include the 37 Utah State Youth Correctional Facilities, 21 offices of the Utah Driver’s License Division, the Utah Department of Motor Vehicles, over 60 Intermediate High Schools, the Colorado Northwestern Community College, 13 nationwide locations of the Peace Corps, McConnell Air Force Base, United States Department of Defense, the United States Navy, The United States Secret Service for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Domino’s Pizza, Verizon Wireless, Sundance Ski Resort, Conoco Phillips, the Ogden Airport, SYSCO Intermountain Food Services and Suffolk Construction.

We’re in the process of establishing our channel program and will continue to focus our efforts on the state and federal markets as well as education and small business markets.

Does the economy negatively influence potential customers’ buying decisions? 

No. In fact, the current economy is driving people to want to protect their assets, and the industry is growing.  And, as I mentioned earlier, companies are losing things due to employee shrinkage, which can lead to thousands of dollars of loss every month. 

Are company’s purchasing surveillance systems like this as a reaction to theft, or is it a proactive purchase designed to prevent theft?

Both. Two years ago it was 100% reactive; it is probably closer to 50-50 now.  We have many more customers that are being proactive, using video surveillance as a deterrent to prevent theft and other situations from happening. For example, administrators in schools can spend time looking for certain trends so they can prevent specific behaviors from developing. 

What is your background and how did you come to be a part of Advent?

I received my BS degree from the University of Utah in 1996.  I have always been in sales and marketing and had a neighbor approach me about some technology that he had developed, but he didn’t know what to do with it.  We started the R&D process in 2001 and in 2004 we launched the company and began selling the Advent DVR.