As technology races ahead by leaps and bounds, one thing never changes when operating a business. In the end it’s all about customer service.

Across the Rio Grande Valley there are several locally owned companies offering residential and commercial security systems, and they all say their success is grounded in connecting with customers. Unlike some national security companies that contract with sales representatives and service technicians, these businesses take pride in the fact that they maintain a local staff and provide full and prompt service.

“We are 100 percent locally owned,” said Galiguer Manjarrez, owner of Xtreme Security in Brownsville. “If a customer has a problem they can come directly to us. If you need service we send our own people. I can provide a service of peace of mind to my customers.”

In today’s wireless world, security systems from company to company offer similar services, from basic burglar alarms to sophisticated camera surveillance networks. And they all can be operated from anywhere using a smartphone or tablet. A system can even be designed to include the ability to turn lights on and off or change thermostats from remote locations.

“Businesses want to protect their goods and services. Homeowners want to do the same thing,” said Colin Ashburn of Superior Alarms in McAllen. “We have every latest and greatest technology for checking on your house, your baby, your pets – anything you need. We also do advanced work for corporations and government.”

In Weslaco, Smith Security Group owner Daryl Smith relishes his connection with the community and his customers. “If you go with a big company that contracts out the work then you can end up with a lot of guys coming in your house that you don’t know and working on your security system.”

Modern security systems can be tailored to meet the individual needs of homeowners and businesses. “A lot of what we do is education,” Ashburn said. “We send someone out to evaluate at no charge.” From there a system is designed and installed to achieve whatever level of security the customer needs, a process similar to the approach taken by other locally owned security companies.

Superior Alarms was founded in 1986 by the Yoder family, which opened its first Valley business in the 1920s with Yoder Motor Company. Ashburn said one thing that sets the company apart from others is its security monitoring. “We are the last locally owned and operated security company with its own central station.”

While other Valley security companies maintain local staff, they do work with out-of-the-area companies to monitor systems and respond as needed, saying it does not affect the company’s ability to quickly respond to problems.

Xtreme Security in recent years has branched out beyond security and surveillance systems by becoming certified to install and monitor fire prevention and alarm systems, where most of their clients are commercial enterprises. “One of the things I like about offering fire protection is you can save lives,” Manjarrez said.

Manjarrez said he got into the security business by accident. “I was going to college and needed a job. I got a job with a security company and liked it. He founded Xtreme Security in 2001 and became incorporated in 2003.

Smith, with 20 years experience in the security industry, opened Smith Security Group two and a half years ago. He takes pride in contributing to the community. He is active with Crime Stoppers and sponsors youth groups and local events, something he said helps build business relationships.

“I like keeping money in the community,” he said. “Doing business with local companies keeps the money here. And we know how we are doing because our customers are our neighbors, people you know who you see at the H-E-B.”