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labs@atheron:~/industries/security-services$ patrol --checkpoints --report --client

Security software

Every tour, shift and report on the record.

Your clients judge you on what they can see: that the tour was walked, the post was covered and the incident was written up properly. We build the apps, schedules and portals that put those records in front of them, and take the retyping and the spreadsheet chasing off your supervisors.

// what you are up against

The problems we hear most.

01

Tours nobody can prove

Checkpoints are signed on paper or in an app guards avoid, and a client asking whether a round was walked gets a supervisor's word for it.

02

Schedules and licences in spreadsheets

Shifts are built in a spreadsheet, and a guard licence or first aid certificate that lapses is found when a client asks.

03

Reports retyped for every client

Guards write incident notes on their phones, and supervisors rewrite them into each client's format before sending.

04

Systems that never meet billing

Alarm monitoring, access control and scheduling each keep their own records, and invoices are built by hand from all three.

// example projects

Systems we could build for you.

Each one is hypothetical, labelled as such, and priced live from our rate card. Open any of them in the estimator and make it yours.

Example projectWeb appMobile app

Guard tours that work offline

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A guard company proves its patrols with paper checkpoint sheets, and its guards often work in parking garages and basements where a phone has no signal.

// What we would build

A guard app for iPhone and Android that scans NFC tags at each checkpoint, records the time and place even without signal and syncs later, takes incident notes and photos, and shows supervisors live tours and missed checkpoints on a web console.

// What is in it

  • Checkpoints scanned by NFC tag, with time and place recorded
  • Works without signal, and syncs when the phone reconnects
  • Incident notes and photos taken on the tour
  • Missed and late checkpoints flagged to the supervisor
  • A web console of live tours by site

// Stack

  • React Native
  • Next.js
  • PostgreSQL
  • NFC
  • AWS Canada

// estimate

Build
≈ US$112,000 to US$171,000, delivered within 25 weeksCAD 159,400 to 243,800
Hosting
≈ US$492 a monthCAD 700 a month
Support
≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery
2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Design approved
4.4 to 7.4 weeks
Core features
1.9 to 2.9 weeks
Full build
0.9 to 1.9 weeks
First build on devices
3.4 to 5.9 weeks
Testing and fixes
0.4 to 0.9 weeks
Store submission
0.9 weeks
Offline tours tested on a real site
0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Launch
0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

App store review
1 week
NFC tags delivered and placed
2 to 6 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%
CAD 31,880 to 48,760
Discovery 8.1%
CAD 12,911.40 to 19,747.80
Design approved 8.1%
CAD 12,911.40 to 19,747.80
Core features 6.6%
CAD 10,520.40 to 16,090.80
Full build 4.4%
CAD 7,013.60 to 10,727.20
First build on devices 17.6%
CAD 28,054.40 to 42,908.80
Testing and fixes 2.2%
CAD 3,506.80 to 5,363.60
Store submission 5.8%
CAD 9,245.20 to 14,140.40
Offline tours tested on a real site 8.7%
CAD 13,867.80 to 21,210.60
Launch 8.5%
CAD 13,549 to 20,723
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%)
CAD 15,940 to 24,380
Example projectWeb app

Scheduling with licence tracking

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A security firm builds its schedule in an old spreadsheet full of macros that one person understands, and finds out a guard's licence has lapsed only when a client asks.

// What we would build

We replace the spreadsheet with a scheduling app that fills posts from qualified guards, tracks licence, first aid and site training expiry dates, warns before anything lapses, and sends approved hours to payroll. Licence rules come from your compliance lead.

// What is in it

  • Posts and shifts filled only from guards qualified for the site
  • Licence, first aid and site training expiry tracked with warnings
  • Shift offers and swaps by text message
  • Approved hours sent to payroll
  • The old spreadsheet's data moved across and checked with you

// Stack

  • Next.js
  • PostgreSQL
  • Twilio
  • Payroll API
  • DigitalOcean Toronto

// estimate

Build
≈ US$59,300 to US$90,700, delivered within 16 weeksCAD 84,500 to 129,200
Hosting
≈ US$176 a monthCAD 250 a month
Support
≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery
2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Design approved
2.9 to 4.9 weeks
Core features
1.9 to 3.4 weeks
Full build
1.4 to 2.4 weeks
Testing and fixes
0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Launch
0.9 to 1.4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%
CAD 16,900 to 25,840
Discovery 7.7%
CAD 6,506.50 to 9,948.40
Design approved 7.7%
CAD 6,506.50 to 9,948.40
Core features 23.3%
CAD 19,688.50 to 30,103.60
Full build 15.5%
CAD 13,097.50 to 20,026.00
Testing and fixes 7.7%
CAD 6,506.50 to 9,948.40
Launch 8.1%
CAD 6,844.50 to 10,465.20
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%)
CAD 8,450 to 12,920
Example projectWeb app

Client portal with your brand

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A security company's clients get incident reports as email attachments in different formats, and ask the office for post orders and visit logs by phone.

// What we would build

A client portal designed around your brand where each client sees its own sites, post orders, tour history and incident reports, signs off on changes to post orders, and gets notified of incidents the way it prefers.

// What is in it

  • A portal designed with your brand, from research with a few clients
  • Each client's sites, post orders, tours and reports, and nothing else
  • Post order changes signed off by the client
  • Incident notifications by email or text, as each client chooses
  • Reports downloadable as PDF in one consistent format

// Stack

  • Next.js
  • PostgreSQL
  • Figma
  • S3-compatible storage
  • DigitalOcean Toronto

// estimate

Build
≈ US$59,000 to US$90,200, delivered within 17 weeksCAD 84,000 to 128,400
Hosting
≈ US$176 a monthCAD 250 a month
Support
≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery
2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Design approved
4.9 to 7.9 weeks
Core features
1.9 to 2.9 weeks
Full build
1.4 to 1.9 weeks
Testing and fixes
0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Launch
0.9 to 1.4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%
CAD 16,800 to 25,680
Discovery 7.7%
CAD 6,468.00 to 9,886.80
Design approved 7.7%
CAD 6,468.00 to 9,886.80
Core features 23.3%
CAD 19,572.00 to 29,917.20
Full build 15.5%
CAD 13,020 to 19,902
Testing and fixes 7.7%
CAD 6,468.00 to 9,886.80
Launch 8.1%
CAD 6,804.00 to 10,400.40
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%)
CAD 8,400 to 12,840
Example projectAPI

Alarm and access data, joined up

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

An alarm monitoring firm keeps signals in its monitoring software, access events in two access-control systems and contracts in its billing system, and builds every invoice and client report by hand.

// What we would build

An integration hub that reads signals, events and accounts from each system through its published API, joins them by site and client, and passes billing events and report data on to your billing system and client portal. It reads only: it never arms, disarms or unlocks anything.

// What is in it

  • Read-only connectors to your monitoring and access-control systems
  • Signals and events joined by site and client
  • Billing events passed to your billing system
  • Webhooks for the client portal and reports
  • Monitoring and alerts when a connector stops

// Stack

  • Node.js
  • PostgreSQL
  • OpenAPI
  • Vendor APIs
  • DigitalOcean Toronto

// estimate

Build
≈ US$50,400 to US$77,000, delivered within 14 weeksCAD 71,700 to 109,700
Hosting
≈ US$176 a monthCAD 250 a month
Support
≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

API contract agreed
2.9 to 3.9 weeks
Core resources built
2.4 to 3.9 weeks
Security, gateway and connections
1.4 to 2.9 weeks
Docs, SDKs and load tests
1.4 to 1.9 weeks
Launch and first callers
0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

API access from each system's vendor
1 to 4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 30%
CAD 21,510 to 32,910
API contract agreed 7.5%
CAD 5,377.50 to 8,227.50
Core resources built 22.5%
CAD 16,132.50 to 24,682.50
Security, gateway and connections 15%
CAD 10,755 to 16,455
Docs, SDKs and load tests 7.5%
CAD 5,377.50 to 8,227.50
Launch and first callers 7.5%
CAD 5,377.50 to 8,227.50
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%)
CAD 7,170 to 10,970
Example projectWeb appAIOpen-source model

Incident report assistant

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

Guards write incident notes in a hurry, supervisors spend hours turning them into client reports, and the reports differ from guard to guard.

// What we would build

An assistant that turns a guard's notes and photos into a first-pass report in the client's format for the supervisor to check and send, on an open-source model in your own cloud account so incident details stay private. It drafts; the supervisor decides what is sent.

// What is in it

  • First-pass reports from a guard's notes and photos, in each client's format
  • Every first pass reviewed and sent by a supervisor
  • Past reports and post orders used as reference
  • An open-source model served in your own cloud account
  • A set of real past incidents run before every change

// Stack

  • Llama or Mistral (open-source)
  • vLLM
  • PostgreSQL with pgvector
  • Next.js
  • DigitalOcean GPU

// estimate

Build
≈ US$84,900 to US$130,000, delivered within 20 weeksCAD 120,900 to 184,700
Hosting
≈ US$4,360 a monthCAD 6,210 a month
Support
≈ US$1,000 a monthCAD 1,425 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

AI route
Open-source model
Model running cost
≈ US$4,190 a monthCAD 5,960 a month

Timeline by milestone

Discovery
2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Specification and evaluation plan
0.4 weeks
Design approved
2.4 to 3.4 weeks
Core features
1.4 to 1.9 weeks
Full build
0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Working pilot
2.9 to 5.4 weeks
Testing and fixes
0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Launch
0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Production
0.9 to 1.4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%
CAD 24,120 to 36,880
Discovery 2%
CAD 2,412 to 3,688
Specification and evaluation plan 10.3%
CAD 12,421.80 to 18,993.20
Design approved 2%
CAD 2,412 to 3,688
Core features 6%
CAD 7,236 to 11,064
Full build 4%
CAD 4,824 to 7,376
Working pilot 31.1%
CAD 37,506.60 to 57,348.40
Testing and fixes 2%
CAD 2,412 to 3,688
Launch 2%
CAD 2,412 to 3,688
Production 10.6%
CAD 12,783.60 to 19,546.40
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%)
CAD 12,060 to 18,440
GPU time for training and testing, at cost
CAD 300. Billed up front, at cost, outside the milestones
Example projectWeb app

Operations dashboard, looked after

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A guard company's managers cannot see hours scheduled against hours billed, or which sites keep missing checkpoints, without a week of spreadsheet work.

// What we would build

A dashboard over your scheduling, tours and monitoring data showing hours scheduled, worked and billed, missed checkpoints by site and alarm volumes by client, hosted and monitored by us with priority support.

// What is in it

  • Hours scheduled, worked and billed by site and client
  • Missed and late checkpoints by site and week
  • Alarm volumes by client from your monitoring system
  • Managed hosting, monitoring and backups
  • Priority support month by month

// Stack

  • Next.js
  • PostgreSQL
  • Metabase
  • AWS Canada

// estimate

Build
≈ US$34,300 to US$52,500, delivered within 13 weeksCAD 48,900 to 74,800
Hosting
≈ US$176 a monthCAD 250 a month
Support
≈ US$5,010 a monthCAD 7,135 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery
2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Design approved
2.4 to 3.4 weeks
Core features
1.4 to 2.4 weeks
Full build
0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Testing and fixes
0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Launch
0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

API access from your system's vendor
1 to 4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 30%
CAD 14,670 to 22,440
Discovery 6.6%
CAD 3,227.40 to 4,936.80
Design approved 6.6%
CAD 3,227.40 to 4,936.80
Core features 20%
CAD 9,780 to 14,960
Full build 13.3%
CAD 6,503.70 to 9,948.40
Testing and fixes 6.6%
CAD 3,227.40 to 4,936.80
Launch 6.9%
CAD 3,374.10 to 5,161.20
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%)
CAD 4,890 to 7,480
Example projectWeb appBlockchain

Reports both sides can trust

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A security firm and a large client sometimes disagree about what an incident report said at the time, and an emailed PDF proves little once it has been forwarded and edited.

// What we would build

Each incident report and its photos are fingerprinted when the supervisor sends them, and the fingerprint is recorded on a private permissioned ledger that the firm and the client each run a node of, so either side can check a report has not changed. A signed PDF often does this job; the ledger helps when several clients or contractors share one record.

// What is in it

  • Each report and photo fingerprinted when it is sent
  • Fingerprints recorded on a private ledger with a node for firm and client
  • A check page that shows whether a report has changed
  • No report content on the ledger, only fingerprints
  • Reports and photos kept in your own storage

// Stack

  • Next.js
  • Hyperledger Besu (private, permissioned)
  • PostgreSQL
  • S3-compatible storage
  • DigitalOcean Toronto

// estimate

Build
≈ US$82,300 to US$126,000, delivered within 22 weeksCAD 117,200 to 179,300
Hosting
≈ US$176 a monthCAD 250 a month
Support
≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery
2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Architecture
0.4 weeks
Design approved
2.4 to 3.9 weeks
Core features
1.4 to 2.4 weeks
Full build
0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Devnet
2.4 to 3.9 weeks
Testing and fixes
0.4 weeks
Testnet
2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Launch
0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Mainnet
0.9 to 1.4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%
CAD 23,440 to 35,860
Discovery 2.5%
CAD 2,930.00 to 4,482.50
Architecture 6.7%
CAD 7,852.40 to 12,013.10
Design approved 2.5%
CAD 2,930.00 to 4,482.50
Core features 7.5%
CAD 8,790.00 to 13,447.50
Full build 5%
CAD 5,860 to 8,965
Devnet 20.2%
CAD 23,674.40 to 36,218.60
Testing and fixes 2.5%
CAD 2,930.00 to 4,482.50
Testnet 13.4%
CAD 15,704.80 to 24,026.20
Launch 2.5%
CAD 2,930.00 to 4,482.50
Mainnet 7.2%
CAD 8,438.40 to 12,909.60
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%)
CAD 11,720 to 17,930

// questions

What buyers in this industry ask us.

Do you work with guard companies of every size?

Yes, from a single-site firm to companies with many sites and clients. The estimator shows what each part costs.

Where are you, and who do you work with?

We are in British Columbia and work with security companies anywhere; we set our working hours around yours. Prices are in Canadian dollars.

How do payments work?

A deposit to start, then payments at agreed milestones, with 10% held until 30 days after launch. The deposit is a smaller share on larger projects.

Who owns the software?

You do, once the work is paid for, including your data, report formats and integrations.

// where we work

Find your market.

We work from Kelowna with clients across Canada, the United States and further afield. Each market page covers working hours, hosting, the privacy law that applies, and prices in your currency.

// next

Not quite your project?

Tell us what you have in mind. We will come back to you with a range and the questions that would narrow it. Or book a call and talk it through.

Software for guard companies, mobile patrol and alarm monitoring firms | Atheron Network Labs