In Hedengren Security’s customer Q&A, we explore the background of clients’ purchasing decisions. The building and security technology contractor ARE integrated the ProdexFIREscape system with the Hedengren Service Platform and was surprised by the results. What opportunities have the new fire graphics and digital services opened up for the company and its own customers?
1. Who are you, and what kind of company is ARE?
“I’m Atte Magga, and I lead the development and programming of fire graphics at ARE’s Jyväskylä office. ARE is a Finnish family-owned company with over 100 years of history, specializing in building and security technology contracting. We provide solutions and services for the entire lifecycle of a property. We aim to be a pioneer in building technology, which is why we continuously develop our operations.”
2. Why did you decide to use the Hedengren Service Platform?
“It offers a versatile and visual fire graphics interface that allows you to manage the entire system and execute control commands. The platform also opens up new possibilities for remote access and data utilization. An important feature of the Hedengren Service Platform is that it enables integration with systems from different manufacturers.”
3. Which system have you connected to the platform, and in what type of property have you used the interface?
“We tested the platform’s functionality with the ProdexFIREscape combination system. The test site was a large office building where we were able to maximize the benefits of using the platform.”
4. How would you describe the platform’s functionality and features?
“The interface was surprisingly easy to use and clear from the very first interaction. I also attended a one-day training session at Hedengren, where all the platform’s features and implementation steps were reviewed with an expert. Of course, the platform has many more features than we’ve had time to utilize so far.”
5. What benefits does the interface offer to property owners?
“The most obvious benefits come from improved usability and expanded features of security systems, as well as remote access, monitoring, and other advantages brought by digitalization. For example, when users receive advance information about smoke detectors getting dirty, maintenance can be scheduled proactively, avoiding unnecessary fire alarms. Data can also be used to define long-term trends, which can help property owners optimize operations in terms of safety, usage, or energy efficiency.”
6. And for contractors?
“Contractors also benefit because the platform helps anticipate problems and makes it easier to locate faults. It also reduces the number of physical components. For example, you don’t need to install separate room temperature sensors when you can get room temperatures from smoke detectors.”
7. And for property or system users?
“The most important thing is that the fire alarm user or security guard can immediately see where the fire is if a factory site or property is burning. A large factory site can have dozens of buildings. Users can also easily disconnect areas undergoing renovations or disturbances. There’s no need to walk through the area when disconnections can be done remotely from the control room.”
8. How aware are customers and designers of digital interfaces or fire graphics services, in your experience?
“Property owners are already quite aware. They know to ask what fire graphics services are available and which systems can be connected to the platform. Designers tend to lag behind and don’t always explain to property owners the benefits of digital or graphics services.”
9. How has implementing the platform developed your own operations?
“We now also provide graphics training ourselves and have built a test environment within the company to demonstrate to customers how integrations work and what fire graphics look like.”
10. How important is it today that security systems are open and manufacturer-independent, like the Hedengren Service Platform?
“It’s extremely important. Not all customers fully understand this yet because there are so few providers of open systems. Openness is practically the key to the future, as the benefits of integrations will continue to grow with smart technology.”
11. How has cooperation with Hedengren Security been?
“I previously worked as a security device installer at ARE, so I’ve installed and programmed many Hedengren systems. In addition to durable and open systems and high-quality technical support, I appreciate the company’s excellent personal customer service. Over the years, I’ve never encountered a situation where I didn’t receive help or answers. We’re both domestic, family-owned, and forward-thinking companies, so working with Hedengren people is easy and pleasant.”
Interested in digital services?
Hedengren Security’s digital services are solutions built around the customer’s internal network or open internet to enhance the performance of security systems and simplify installation, maintenance, and servicing. Data is managed via the Hedengren Service Platform interface, which provides a unified, visual view for processing information from different systems. The interface is available with Basic, Advanced, and Enterprise licenses, so customers can purchase only the features they truly need.
Benefits of Hedengren’s digital services:
- Security and reliability: Domestic systems with strong encryption, suitable for critical infrastructure.
- Seamless integration: Open APIs enable third-party system connections.
- Remote management and monitoring: Cloud-based or local access for real-time control and situational awareness.
- Scalable and modular: Flexible architecture that grows from single sites to global environments.
- User-friendly management: Centralized control and intuitive interfaces reduce manual work and improve efficiency.
For more information, contact security@hedengren.fi or call +358 207 638 635 >>
Learn more about the Hedengren’s digital services >>