Productivity is currently a hot topic for many organizations. With increasing competition and a savvier customer, management needs every advantage it can find to help ensure business success – and the right tools and the right technology are key elements in helping to achieve that success.

The reality of doing business today presents many challenges to the SMB owner/manager. A globalized economy affects competition and can impact profitability and growth; high speed digital connectivity has affected all segments of the operation from inventory to marketing to customer service; additionally, there is an increased focus on optimizing employee productivity and morale. More complex environments have also created a greater need for comprehensive security to safeguard and protect the company, its people and information. All these are just a few of the key issues that a small and medium business owner must face.

Reports published on several industry web sites indicate that shorter and more frequent vacations are becoming the norm in the American workplace. In this new environment, employees are opting more for long weekends, adding a few days on to a holiday such as July 4th or even just taking a day off here and there, rather than being away from work for one or two weeks at a time.

The use of electronic safes is growing in popularity within the residential market as homeowners look for ways to store and secure valuable items without having to rent a safety deposit box at the bank. Jewelry, cash, firearms, and even medications as well as legal documents, passports, tax records, credit cards, mementos, photos and so on can all be stored and protected from theft in a safe.

Securing a facility should not be a matter of compromises. Purchasing one system instead of another because it is less expensive even though it doesn't quite meet all the requirements. Staying with manual systems instead of upgrading to automated ones because upgrading requires personnel to learn a complex new system. Running separate systems because the technology does not allow integration. And so on . . .