Brivo, the global provider of cloud-based physical security, has acquired Parakeet Technologies, a provider of smart building solutions which include sensors, thermostats, wireless locks, and lighting controls. The acquisition accelerates Brivo’s ongoing push to enhance its in-building capabilities beyond its current access control, video, and security.
The companies had already been working together as partners, and now plan a deeper integration between their products, including a common user interface, unified billing, and bundled services.
Highly reliable remote management
“We saw Parakeet’s IoT platform as an ideal way to quickly bring Smart Office capabilities to our channel partners and end users,” said Steve Van Till, President & CEO of Brivo. “Parakeet has a great track record of providing highly reliable remote management to widely dispersed properties, and they share our core values around customer service, cybersecurity, and innovation.”
The Parakeet product leverages cloud services, cellphone apps, and an on-premise IoT gateway. The gateway provides connectivity to Z-wave sensors, locks, thermostats, lighting and other devices. Internet connectivity to the gateway is supported via WiFi, Ethernet or an integrated cellular modem with a built-in service plan.
Manage smart building infrastructure
We uncovered a need for a remotely managed IoT service that would boost productivity and save money"
Parakeet’s responsively designed web app enables property managers and security personnel to manage smart building infrastructure from one central dashboard, while collecting data to track, monitor and manage staff.
Parakeet launched its product in 2015 in the Vacation Rental market. According to Brad Huber, Founder and CEO of Parakeet, “Among property managers who cover large geographic territories for dozens or hundreds of clients, we uncovered a need for a remotely managed IoT service that would boost productivity and save money.”
Professional installation and ongoing service
Commenting on the installation challenges across large regions, he added that “being able to provide our products through Brivo’s international base of security dealers will give our customers the convenience of professional installation and ongoing service.”
The Parakeet platform will continue to be offered as a stand-alone solution for the Vacation Rental Market under the new name, Brivo Vacation Rental, and will be unified with Brivo’s billing system. All current Parakeet customers will continue to be supported on the existing product, with options to add Brivo offerings to their current service plans.
