Page 22 - Security Today, April 2021

Steering
the Conversation
Speaking to what’s important to each stakeholder By Kevin Taylor
Five years ago, the Smart City market was approach- ing the peak of inflated expectations – lots of buzz, but not a lot of traction. Since those early days, ambitious visions of tech-centric metropolises have given way to more pragmatic expectations, laying the groundwork for a steady and sustainable move towards adop- tion. The general concept of Smart Cities – leveraging technology to improve livability – holds promise for communities of all sizes; large and small.
When navigating the Smart City market, it is wise to speak to the priorities and concerns of diverse stakeholders, many of whom might lie outside the security integrator’s traditional busi- ness.
While the list of key stakeholders is nearly infinite, they gener-
ally fall into five major categories: • Law enforcement
• Transportation management
• Resilience and sustainability
• City management
• Technology management
TALKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
In large metropolitan markets, law enforcement often encom- passes multiple agencies: the local police department, regional of- fices of state and federal agencies, and even peripheral agencies that are within campus, stadium or convention center organiza- tions. In smaller communities, the stakeholders could simply be the local police department.
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APRIL 2021 | SECURITY TODAY
SAFE CITIES
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