Bold Technologies acquires ABM Data Systems

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Bold Technologies, a provider of central station and PSIM software, has acquired central station software provider ABM Data Systems, based in Round Rock, Texas, the company announced recently.  

Chuck Speck, president of Bold Technologies, described the acquisition as a good fit for several reasons. From a human capital standpoint, the deal gives Bold an influx of data conversion talent—no small feat in an industry where it's “tough to go out and find people that can make an impact right off the street,” Speck said.

On the account side, the acquisition enhances Bold's presence in some key proprietary verticals.  

“They have a lot of universities and folks in the education vertical. They also have a lot of municipal police departments, as well as manufacturing and retail customers,” Speck told Security Systems News. “[Bold] has a strong customer base in some of those verticals as well, but I think this really cements our presence there.”

Speck also said ABM, which has been providing alarm automation solutions throughout North and South America since 1980, is a valuable addition to the company due to its customer service strengths, which have helped foster a “very high” customer retention rate for its account base, Speck said.

Bold Technologies will continue to support and maintain ABM's Phoenix platform, Speck told SSN, adding that he's confident the move will give Phoenix end users access to some add-ons from Bold's own Manitou automation platform.

“ABM customers will now have an online university, monthly training sessions, outreach, access to our Bold Talk, an online community forum they can leverage which also has a Phoenix-specific portion,” Speck said.

Users of the Phoenix platform will also now have access to business analysis tools, GPS tracking, an IVR solution, integrated video and social media monitoring, Speck told SSN.

“All those add-ons the Manitou platform has brought to the table and proven can either be integrated with the Phoenix product, or we can give those Phoenix customers an upgrade path to the Manitou software,” Bold said.