Case Study
Industry: Electronic Security Installation & Monitoring Location: Kinston & Garner, North Carolina Years in Business: 46+ (Founded 1978) Implementation: FieldHub All-in-One Platform (March 2025)
Down East Protection Systems (DEPS) replaced a legacy software platform after years of slow innovation, inconsistent performance, and delayed support from their previous provider. After implementing FieldHub in March 2025, DEPS saw improvements in workflow, reliability, accuracy, and support. FieldHub’s automated workflows, powerful search capabilities, and hands-on implementation support have enabled DEPS to streamline operations across both offices and reduce reliance on manual processes.
After a decade with their previous software provider, DEPS faced persistent issues with system stability, limited innovation, and significant delays in support. According to Shannon Strickland, Integrator and COO, “We would reach out for support; they would not respond or would wait months before they would respond." These delays shifted the burden of troubleshooting onto internal staff, rather than the vendor.
The system also lacked workflow capabilities, forcing teams to rely heavily on verbal communication and memory to move work forward. As DEPS expanded into a second office and integrated acquisitions, these informal processes became increasingly inconsistent and inefficient.
The company needed a reliable, structured, and modern system capable of scaling with growth, eliminating process gaps, and reducing manual work.
DEPS spent three years evaluating replacement systems. A key moment came when Tom Vermillion, CEO and Visionary, met FieldHub founder Miles Fawcett at an industry conference. Vermillion explained:
“Miles was introducing his product, and as I got to know him, I learned he had a security background and ran his own security company. He also had the software development side — and to build and merge those two together, and to see how that process has gotten better and better over the last few years, has been great. That gave me the confidence to say, ‘Hey, this is something we need to look at.’”
This combination of expertise and credibility set FieldHub apart from other field service software.
After choosing to move forward with FieldHub, DEPS attended the company’s first user conference as part of their preparation for implementation. Their goal was to learn directly from companies already using the system and to gain practical insight into real-world use. “We really came to the conference to get an understanding of the product from the level of the users who were actually already implemented,” Strickland explained.
DEPS officially implemented FieldHub in March 2025 and “haven’t looked back,” Strickland said. Returning to the user conference this year allowed the team to reconnect with the contacts they made during that early learning phase and gave them the opportunity to support others who were just beginning their own journey.
With FieldHub, DEPS gained an all-in-one solution, bringing scheduling, dispatching, inventory tracking, CRM, financial management, automation tools, and [more] (https://fieldhub.com/features/) into a single, integrated platform.
The implementation support that FieldHub provides helped DEPS achieve a smooth migration. Strickland states that “The FieldHub team has been instrumental. They have truly been partners with helping us get this off the ground and getting the buy-in from our team.”
FieldHub quickly delivered the workflow structure and operational consistency DEPS was looking for. Automated workflows replaced the informal, memory-driven coordination the team had relied on for years. Vermillion said, “Workflows have been great, which is something we didn’t have before. It takes you through the process.” This provided clarity at every stage—from sales to installation to invoicing—so teams no longer needed to guess what came next or rely on hallway conversations to keep jobs moving.
“We haven’t had downtime,” Vermillion explained. “We haven’t had to worry about whether or not our information was getting to the right places.”
Information access also became significantly more efficient with FieldHub.The search option in the software allows staff to find any information they are looking for. As Strickland put it, “It’s so user-friendly…They’re able to search pretty much anything and everything.” This eliminated time spent navigating multiple screens and improved response times for both customer support and operations.
Seven months after going live, DEPS reports a measurable improvement in operational efficiency, cross-department coordination, and internal engagement. With reliable and clear workflows enabled by FieldHub’s all-in-one approach, employees across the company are now actively involved in refining and strengthening processes. Strickland noted, “Our team has really embraced the system.… they’re helping us develop processes we didn’t have previously.”
FieldHub’s centralized structure gives every department real-time visibility and a shared foundation for driving ongoing improvements. FieldHub’s all-in-one structure ensures that information flows correctly and remains consistent throughout the process and across departments. Vermillion stated, “There is confidence that our team knows that when they put stuff in there, it’s going to be in there right.” Staff no longer need to double-check entries or maintain side spreadsheets to ensure accuracy.
The company now operates with consistent processes across both offices, improving communication and coordination between field and office teams. Automated workflows and integrated modules give DEPS the operational backbone needed to continue growing without adding administrative burden.
“FieldHub has been a game changer… two thumbs up, five out of five stars.” —Vermillion
Down East Protection Systems (DEPS), founded in 1978 and owned by Tom Vermillion since 2000, provides electronic security installation, service, and monitoring across North Carolina. The company has expanded from traditional burglar and fire alarms to offer comprehensive solutions including video surveillance and access control. DEPS has grown through acquisitions—ORR Security in 2006 and Atlantic Security in 2019—and with the addition of a second office in Garner in 2023. Serving the Coastal Plain and central North Carolina regions, DEPS delivers its Core 4 offerings of fire/life safety, burglar alarms, access control, and surveillance systems from its headquarters in Kinston and its Garner location.
FieldHub provides an integrated business management platform for field service companies, particularly security integrators and low-voltage contractors. Founded by Miles Fawcett—who operated his own security company—FieldHub combines CRM, field service management, inventory control, and full accounting capabilities in a single cloud-based system. FieldHub’s open API architecture supports integration with industry-specific systems and tools.
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