A couple of years ago, security installer Jeff Bowles of Bowles Built In Systems outfitted Torch Tabacaria in Brooklyn, Ontario, with an Ajax platform focused on both intrusion and environmental control. This Ajax Systems case study examines a single specialty retail location where product quality depends on stable climate as much as on door and motion security.
Site context and baseline deployment
Torch Tabacaria stores premium cigars that require tight CO₂, temperature, and humidity ranges. The team deployed an Ajax Hub with a layered smart alarm system and environmental monitoring built around Ajax LifeQuality. The initial rollout combined core intrusion devices with video verification and audible alerts, plus climate sensing to protect inventory. We keep the description high-level here, since the exact mix can vary by shop size and layout, but the takeaway is simple: one ecosystem handles both security and preservation.
First lessons learned from real-world use
Early incidents showed why this approach matters.
- A humidity spike triggered by a steam event was caught in the middle of the night, allowing the owner to vent the humidor and avoid product loss.
- A morning alarm caused by a staff arrival was verified in the app with a motion snapshot, preventing an unnecessary police dispatch.
- A late-night intrusion attempt was detected by the motion camera and deterred when the siren fired, with no damage reported.
These outcomes illustrate the value of pairing environmental sensing with intrusion tools in a single workflow. For North American specialty retailers, especially those with climate-sensitive goods, the combination delivers practical risk reduction without adding operational friction.
Strengthening the system after two years
Now, two years after the first deployment, Bowles Built In Systems returned to enhance protection with AI-powered cameras and a Yale Assure Lock® 2. The cameras bring intelligent detection of people, cars, and animals with reliable day-and-night performance, while the smart lock integrates access control into the same Ajax alarm system. Together, these upgrades show how a business alarm system with cameras and a smart lock can evolve to meet higher expectations for both security and convenience.
Ajax equipment was installed earlier
Core devices in the initial Ajax alarm system
The baseline build at Torch Tabacaria centered on Ajax Hub 2 Plus, which anchors the Ajax alarm system and keeps all peripherals in sync through the mobile app. Perimeter entries were covered with wireless door and window contacts, and interior movement was verified using MotionCam with photo-on-demand so staff could confirm the cause of an alert in seconds. The team added both indoor and outdoor sirens, using the indoor unit as a door chime during business hours and a deterrent after closing. A dedicated panic button at the cashier desk provided a simple, high-priority path for staff to summon help if needed.
For a specialty retailer, this layout strikes a balance between intrusion coverage and day-to-day usability. Entry delays, armed modes, and scheduled arming reduce false trips, while event photos from MotionCam help managers make the right call before dispatch. The result is Ajax smart business security that stays manageable for a small team without sacrificing response quality.
Role of Ajax LifeQuality
The shop’s product quality depends on a tight climate window, so Ajax LifeQuality became a core part of the smart alarm system rather than a nice-to-have. The sensor continuously monitors CO₂, temperature, and humidity inside the humidor and sends instant notifications when readings drift from the owner’s targets. That early warning gives staff time to vent excess moisture, adjust humidification, or investigate HVAC issues before inventory is at risk.
For cigar stores, restaurants with wine storage, florists, and any business handling sensitive goods, uniting environment data and intrusion events inside one Ajax Systems ecosystem simplifies operations. Managers review a single timeline, correlate alarms with climate changes, and document conditions for incident reports, all without jumping between apps.
Fresh Additions to the Ajax System
AI cameras integrated into the ecosystem
The upgrade adds two 5MP cameras with on-board analytics, including Ajax TurretCam with IR for true day-to-night coverage. Inside the Ajax app, events appear on the same timeline as alarms, so managers filter quickly by object type and jump straight to the moment that matters.
What changes on the ground:
- Object recognition identifies persons, vehicles, and animals to streamline post-incident search and reduce review time.
- IR-assisted night video preserves detail after hours without adding visible light.
- Unified evidence trail pairs alarm events with clips and snapshots for faster decisions and cleaner reports.
- Retail-first placement covers the entry, the POS area, and storage transitions, which helps catch loitering, after-hours returns to the shop floor, or door props.
This turns a business alarm system with cameras into an operational log. Staff verify alerts before dispatch, and owners can audit open and close routines without digging through multiple apps. In practice, it functions as a security system with AI cameras and a smart lock where every action is accountable.
Smart lock for automated access
The second piece is Yale Assure Lock® 2 integrated with the Ajax alarm system for keyless control and safer routines. With the lock tied to arming states, the door auto-locks when the system arms, and managers can remotely lock or unlock for deliveries or late arrivals.
Why it matters to small teams:
- Eliminate physical keys and the risk of copies.
- Issue time-bound PINs for staff and contractors and revoke them instantly.
- Create open-close automations so the lock, sirens, and recording rules align with business hours.
- Maintain an access audit trail alongside video and alarm events in the same interface.
Together, the AI cameras and the smart lock move this deployment from a basic alarm to Ajax smart business security that protects people, inventory, and procedures with minimal friction.
Torch Tabacaria owner on the benefits of the Ajax system
Real incidents, real prevention
Bruno, the owner of Torch Tabacaria in Ontario, has run the Ajax Systems setup for about three years and sees daily value from the mix of environmental sensing and intrusion tools. A late-night alert from Ajax LifeQuality flagged humidity spiking to roughly 98% in the humidor. He responded immediately, vented the space, and saved inventory that would have spoiled.
On another morning, a family member entered without disarming. MotionCam photo verification showed a known person on site, so he canceled dispatch and avoided a false alarm. In a separate incident around 3 a.m., the system detected an attempted break-in. Sirens sounded, the intruder fled, and the front door remained undamaged. These events show how a smart alarm system pairs environmental monitoring with fast, evidence-based response.
Day-to-day business impact
The same tools that stop emergencies also streamline routine operations. Continuous CO₂, temperature, and humidity tracking keeps cigars within target ranges, which protects product quality and customer experience. Integrated sirens act as both a deterrent and a door chime during business hours. A dedicated panic button at the cashier station gives staff a simple, reliable way to escalate if they feel unsafe. In practice, the Ajax alarm system reduces noise in the signal, helps owners make quick decisions with visual confirmation, and builds confidence that the shop stays protected after hours without constant hands-on oversight.
What it means for an installer to work with Ajax Systems
Why integrators choose Ajax in the field
Security installer Jeff Bowles explains the appeal clearly: the Ajax Systems app feels unified, camera integration is native, and pulling clips for an incident takes seconds. For a team that lives on service calls, that matters. This case study shows how a single smart alarm system can tie together intrusion sensors, MotionCam photo verification, environmental controls, and access with Yale Assure Lock 2 without bolt-on middleware.
Deployment workflow and app integration
Installers adopt devices in a predictable flow: enroll the hub, add wireless contacts, pair sirens, then bring cameras and the smart lock online. The Ajax mobile and desktop apps mirror the site map, so technicians label zones once and keep names consistent across intrusion events, video bookmarks, and lock audits. That reduces training time for managers and cuts return visits. For a business alarm system with cameras, having video, alarms, and lock states in one timeline speeds incident reviews and reduces false dispatch.
Scaling without adding complexity
Jeff’s team works across small shops, homes, and larger facilities. The same Ajax smart business security stack scales from a single doorway to a multi-zone layout with outdoor motion, parking lots, and staff panic buttons. The UI stays consistent as sites grow, which keeps support simple for owners and technicians. When a store adds video analytics or a second entrance, the security system with AI cameras and smart lock extends cleanly rather than forcing a redesign.
Serviceability, aesthetics, and client satisfaction
Ajax devices ship with a clean industrial design, which helps installers place hardware in customer-facing spaces without complaints about visual clutter. Remote diagnostics and quick clip retrieval cut labor, while Ajax TurretCam style 5 MP units with IR cover day and night workflows. In practice, that mix improves the service experience and builds trust with business owners who want professional results with minimal daily effort.
Partner installer
This project was delivered by Bowles Built In Systems.
Technical Summary of Devices
Ajax Hub 2 Plus – backbone of the smart alarm system
Role in this case study: central controller that ties intrusion, video verification, environment sensors, and access control into one app.
Core capabilities: multi-path communications (wired and wireless options), support for MotionCam photo verification, granular user roles and groups, automation scenarios for arming logic and lock control, remote updates, and detailed event logs. In practice, it keeps alarms fast and consistent while giving the installer safe hooks to automate doors and schedules.
Ajax LifeQuality – CO₂, humidity, and temperature monitoring
Why it matters to retailers: cigar storage, food prep, florists, galleries, and server rooms need stable air quality.
What it does: tracks CO₂, temperature, and relative humidity, shows trends in the app, and sends threshold-based alerts. Readings can trigger scenarios, for example: raise an alert to staff after-hours or notify management if humidity drifts outside the humidor band. This is the sensor that protects inventory in our case.
MotionCam Jeweller – fast photo verification of alarms
Purpose: reduce false dispatches and speed decision-making.
How it works: a PIR detects motion, then the built-in camera captures a short series of images with IR assist. Thumbnails arrive in the app within seconds, so staff can tell nephew-opening-early from a real break-in. Features include adjustable sensitivity, pet immunity, and privacy controls (photo on alarm only).
Ajax TurretCam 5 MP (2.8 mm) – AI camera inside the ecosystem
Image pipeline: 5 MP resolution with IR for night scenes.
Analytics: on-camera AI can classify people, vehicles, and animals to sharpen searches and notifications.
Integration benefits: live view and clips sit next to alarm events in the same timeline, so managers can review incidents without jumping between apps. Fixed 2.8 mm lens simplifies setup for small interiors and counters.
Yale Assure Lock 2 – smart lock tied to arming logic
Access control: key-free entry options plus app control for remote lock and unlock.
Automation with Ajax: the lock is linked through the system, so arming can auto-lock the door, and disarming can allow timed access for staff. Event history creates accountability without manual key management.
Why integration matters
Unified response: intrusion, video, and environment live in one interface, which shortens investigation time and reduces errors.
Lower false alarms: MotionCam verification and intelligent camera filters prevent unnecessary police dispatch.
Proactive security: LifeQuality catches environmental drift before product loss, and the Yale Assure Lock 2 removes key risks while tightening close-up routines.
Scales with the site: the same app and playbook work for single-store fronts, multi-room boutiques, and back-of-house stock areas, keeping Ajax smart business security manageable for owners and installers alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Ajax systems support AI cameras?
Yes. Ajax TurretCam and related models include AI-powered analytics that classify people, vehicles, and animals to speed up reviews and reduce false alerts. In this Ajax Systems case study, AI detections sit in the same timeline as alarms, so you can jump from an event to relevant clips without leaving the app.
Can Ajax work as a business alarm system with cameras?
Absolutely. Ajax Systems combines intrusion sensors, cameras, and access control in one smart alarm system. That unified flow turns the platform into a practical business alarm system with cameras for small shops, boutiques, and specialty retailers.
Does Ajax LifeQuality really protect inventory?
It helps you prevent loss. Ajax LifeQuality tracks CO₂, temperature, and humidity, then pushes alerts when thresholds drift. In environments like humidors, kitchens, florists, or galleries, those alerts let staff act before stock or exhibits are damaged.
Can I retrofit Ajax with existing doors and locks?
Yes. With Yale Assure Lock® 2, many standard doorframes can be upgraded with minimal drilling and no rekeying. Tying the lock to the Ajax alarm system also enables scenes like auto-lock on arming and remote unlock for managers.
Is Ajax suitable for small businesses in North America?
Yes. Ajax smart business security scales from a single storefront to multi-room sites without adding complexity. Owners get one app for intrusion, cameras, and access, and installers can expand zones or add MotionCam later as needs change.
Do I need a professional installer or can I self-install?
Both paths exist, but a certified security installer is recommended for mixed deployments that include cameras, automation, and door hardware. Pros ensure clean wiring, correct MotionCam placement, and reliable lock alignment, which improves long-term system stability.
