What Innovative Business Software does

Innovative Business Software (operating as Innovative, founded 1983) is a privately held vertical software vendor that builds and supports the Security Business Net (SBN) platform for alarm monitoring central stations. The company's core product is an integrated, ERP-style suite covering scheduling, servicing, billing, marketing, purchasing, and monitoring functions, deployed either on-premise or via SBN Cloud, a hosted service that in January 2015 became the first cloud-based solution to receive UL Central Station Host Services certification. SBN Cloud runs on triple-redundant infrastructure split between data centers in Dallas and Virginia more than 1,000 miles apart and carries a MEW rating of 100,000+. The platform currently monitors over 5 million customer accounts worldwide across the Americas, Europe, and Africa, and integrates with major video (Axis, Honeywell, Cisco, Hikvision, OpenEye, March Networks, Videofied, OZVision), communications (IVR, PSAP), and personal safety systems (Safe & Secure lone-worker app), backed by thousands of APIs.

The company is headquartered in Irving/Carrollton, Texas with a European regional headquarters in Madrid, Spain, and operates as a family-led firm under President & CEO Jens Kolind, supported by long-tenured CTO Andreas Jensen (with the company since 1985). Innovative makes money through recurring SBN software licensing and SBN Cloud subscriptions (pay-as-you-go, scaled by accounts, receivers, and paths), supplemented by custom integration and development services and Safe & Secure app licensing for end customers. Go-to-market is predominantly direct enterprise sales to alarm monitoring centers and central stations, complemented by industry partnerships (notably Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum), trade publications, and an annual SBN user conference. Customers include proprietary central-station operators (e.g., Walmart, Target, Walgreens), wholesale monitoring firms, security integrators, and verticals such as banking, healthcare, and lone-worker industries.

Name

Innovative Business Software

Legal name

Innovative Business Software, Inc.

Website

https://innovative247.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Innovative Business Software builds and supports the Security Business Net (SBN) platform — an integrated software suite plus the first UL-certified cloud-based variant — for alarm monitoring central stations and proprietary monitoring operators worldwide, serving over 5 million accounts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alarm Monitoring Software

NAICS

Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621), Security Systems Services (56162), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial & Industrial Alarm Monitoring (BPAKAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Video Alarm Verification & Remote Video Monitoring (VSaaS Monitoring) (BPAKAFAE), Cloud-Managed & Managed Security Systems Services (Remote Monitoring, Maintenance) (BPAKAGAJ), Professional Monitoring (Burglar/Intrusion) (HSAHAAAA)

Keywords

• Alarm monitoring software
• Central station automation
• Security business management
• Cloud alarm monitoring
• UL certified monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Irving

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. SBN Software Licensing: On-premise Security Business Net software licensing for alarm monitoring centers covering scheduling, servicing, billing, marketing, purchasing, and monitoring operations
2. SBN Cloud Subscription: Cloud-based alarm monitoring service with pay-as-you-go model, scalable based on number of accounts, receivers, and paths used
3. Custom Development Services: Custom integration and development services for complex requirements, delivered in 5 days to 6 months based on specifications
4. Safe & Secure App Licensing: Personal safety mobile application licensing with customizable branding for lone worker monitoring, creating additional monthly revenue stream for central stations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Innovative Business Software develops and sells enterprise alarm monitoring software for central stations through its Security Business Net (SBN) on-premise suite and the SBN Cloud hosted platform, the first UL-certified cloud-based monitoring service. The integrated product covers scheduling, servicing, billing, marketing, purchasing, and monitoring, and is complemented by modules such as Safe & Secure lone-worker safety app, A.T.O.M. account portal, IVR, PSAP integration, and APIs for video and access-control systems.

Product overview

Innovative Business Software offers a platform-plus-modules architecture centered around two core products: Security Business Net (SBN) for on-premise deployment and SBN Cloud for cloud-based monitoring. SBN is a fully integrated ERP-style suite for alarm monitoring central stations, while SBN Cloud provides the same capabilities as a hosted service. The platform includes multiple integrated modules for specific business functions: Monitoring, Scheduling, Billing, Marketing, Purchasing, and Servicing. Additional products include Safe & Secure (lone worker personal safety app), A.T.O.M. (online account management portal), IVR (interactive voice response), and PSAP integration (emergency services lookup). The products work together as a unified security business management ecosystem monitoring over 5 million customer accounts worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Security Business Net (SBN): A fully scalable alarm management software suite for central stations covering all IT and business-related needs including scheduling, servicing, billing, marketing, purchasing, and monitoring.
• SBN Cloud
• Safe & Secure
• A.T.O.M. (Account Transactions Online Manager)

Products and services

• Security Business Net (SBN) Fully scalable, on-premise integrated software suite for security industry central stations covering all IT and business needs including marketing, service, scheduling, monitoring, and billing.
• SBN Cloud Cloud-based alarm monitoring solution hosted on triple-redundant infrastructure with MEW rating of 100,000+; the first-ever UL certified cloud-based monitoring service, eliminating maintenance and equipment costs for central stations.
• Safe & Secure Personal safety mobile application for lone workers featuring accompanied walks, check-ins, timers, safety words, GPS tracking, and two-way voice communication; customizable with company branding and integrated with SBN and SBN Cloud.
• A.T.O.M. (Account Transactions Online Manager) Online portal allowing employees or clients to update account data, make online payments, change open/close schedules, view billing history and alarm logs, and access service technician features through integrated websites.
• Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Automated telephony system integrated within SBN that allows computers to interact with callers through voice and keypad tones; responds to alarms with automated voice messages, provides multi-lingual support, and supports multi-lingual speech and prompts.
• PSAP Integration Public Safety Answering Point web service integration that automatically looks up appropriate emergency services based on account address or GPS location and retrieves police, fire, and medical response information.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 million+ customer accounts monitored worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration17 records

AI capability2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum (The Alarm Exchange)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustry partner providing alarm contracts and legal services for the alarm industry. Innovative Business Software is proud to work with this industry organization.
• Cloud Security AlliancecoreTechnology or IntegrationSBN Cloud is self-assessed and registered through Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) annually. The Consensus Assessment Initiative Questionnaire (CAIQ) evaluates SBN Cloud on security factors including application security, audit compliance, data security, and infrastructure security.
• UL (Underwriters Laboratories)coreTechnology or IntegrationUL certified SBN Cloud as the first-ever Central Station Host Services certification for cloud-based monitoring. Both US data centers have been approved for US government contracts.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• CMS (Criticom Monitoring Services): CMS is a UL-listed wholesale central station that operates multiple facility locations, serving the same wholesale monitoring customer segment that IBS's software platform targets.
• AvantGuard Monitoring Centers: AvantGuard is a wholesale monitoring provider that uses and integrates with central-station software platforms including those competing with SBN; comparable in customer base (wholesale alarm dealers) rather than in software offering.

Broad incumbents

• Stanley Security (Securitas): Stanley Security, now part of Securitas, is a broad incumbent providing monitored intrusion and central-station services at scale; it operates its own proprietary central stations akin to IBS's enterprise retail customers.
• Tyco Integrated Security / Johnson Controls: Johnson Controls (via Tyco/CCURE) is a broad incumbent in integrated security and monitoring solutions, operating proprietary central stations and representing both a competitor and a potential customer for central-station automation software.
• Alarm.com: Alarm.com is a broader smart-security platform serving dealers with end-customer-facing software; while its focus is downstream rather than central-station automation, it represents an adjacent incumbent that could expand upstream into monitored service software.

Direct peers

• Bold Group: Bold Group develops Manitou and Stage central-station automation software directly competing with IBS's SBN platform for alarm monitoring operators, serving similar wholesale and proprietary central stations.
• DICE Corporation: DICE's Matrix monitoring software is one of the leading central-station automation platforms, directly competing with SBN and SBN Cloud for alarm monitoring operators, with similar UL-certified hosted monitoring capabilities.
• SedonaOffice (by Great Plains Communications): SedonaOffice is widely used by central stations for service, billing, and accounting functions that compete with several of IBS's SBN modules (Billing, Servicing, Marketing).
• Micro Key Solutions: Micro Key's Solutions suite and Central Station software directly competes with IBS's SBN offering for security alarm monitoring operators, with overlapping ERP-style functionality for central stations.

Others

• Cloud Security Alliance (CSA): CSA is an ecosystem participant — IBS uses its STAR registry and CAIQ framework for SBN Cloud's security assurance — and represents the broader industry certification ecosystem that reinforces IBS's regulatory moat.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/innovative247
• Facebookfacebook.com/innovative247

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Innovative Business Software