About GS1 Group
Founded in 2006, GS1 Group has established itself as a leader in the security solutions industry, blending over 80 years of combined law enforcement experience with cutting-edge technology to deliver exceptional executive protection, private investigations, and uniformed security services. Led by CEO and Co-Founder Mike Severo, GS1 Group offers tailored security solutions designed to meet the needs of high profile individuals and businesses across California.
Company Name: GS1 Group
Location: California, United States
Transition from Law Enforcement to GS1 Group
Michael Severo, a seasoned detective and SWAT team member, embarked on a significant career transition from law enforcement to the private sector. Michael and his business partner, both former police officers, began exploring private investigations as a side venture. This endeavor eventually evolved into GS1, a full-time security and investigations firm. Founded in 2006, while Michael was still serving as a police officer, GS1 grew from a part-time pursuit to a leading entity in the security industry. The transition became official when both Michael and his partner retired and committed fully to developing GS1.
Michael Severo’s journey from law enforcement to the private security sector reflects a profound career transformation. Initially starting GS1 Group as a part-time endeavor alongside his law enforcement career, Michael and his business partner gradually transitioned the venture into a full-time operation after retiring from their police roles. This shift was driven by their shared vision and passion for private security, coupled with a desire to leverage their extensive law enforcement expertise in a new context.
What GS1 Group Provides:
- Unmatched Expertise and Experience
At GS1 Group, the emphasis on experience is evident. The team consists of current and former law enforcement professionals, as well as military personnel. This diverse expertise ensures that every security solution is not only effective but also delivered with a deep understanding of the complexities involved in high-stakes protection.
- Comprehensive Security Assessments
GS1 Group’s approach begins with a thorough assessment of a client’s existing security structure. The process involves on-site evaluations, meetings with key management personnel, and a detailed analysis of potential vulnerabilities. This meticulous attention to detail allows GS1 to craft bespoke security strategies that address every weak point, ensuring comprehensive protection.
- Custom Solutions for High-Profile Clients
Specializing in executive protection for high-net-worth individuals and celebrities, GS1 Group understands the unique challenges faced by such clients. Unlike other security firms that might lack proper licensing and experience, GS1 Group’s team is highly trained and fully licensed, eliminating the risk of ineffective security measures.
- Diverse and Specialized Services
GS1 Group offers a broad spectrum of services tailored to various security needs:
- Executive Protection: From risk assessments and security strategy development to armed protection, GS1 provides customized solutions for high-profile clients requiring top-tier safety measures.
- Private Investigations: Supporting individuals, businesses, and legal teams, GS1’s investigative services include surveillance, person location, debugging, and fraud operations.
- Uniformed Security: GS1’s uniformed security personnel deter crime with visible patrols and protection services for commercial, residential, and financial institutions.
Challenges Faced Before Celayix
Operational and Technological Challenges
Prior to adopting Celayix, GS1 faced considerable challenges in scheduling and workforce management. Their previous system was cumbersome, resulting in inefficiencies in understanding and managing personnel schedules. Attendance tracking was particularly problematic, with outdated technology leading to inaccuracies and difficulties in monitoring time-in and time-out processes.
“Before adopting Celayix, we struggled with managing schedules effectively as our staff grew. The process was cumbersome and lacked seamless integration. Our old system made check-ins and check-outs challenging and inefficient.”
The limitations of the old system impeded GS1’s ability to scale operations and maintain effective workforce management, creating barriers to growth and operational efficiency.
The Transition to Celayix
Initial Challenges in Implementation
The transition to Celayix was met with initial hurdles, including a steep learning curve and the challenge of moving away from established systems. Adopting a new technology required not only understanding the new system but also altering the mindset and workflow of the GS1 team.
Michael acknowledged the support provided by James, a Celayix representative, in navigating this transition:
“James was a real asset during this process. He was incredibly patient—much more patient than I could have been. He guided us thoroughly through each step and the training.”
James’s support was crucial in addressing issues and facilitating a smoother implementation process, despite the inherent difficulties of integrating new technology.
Benefits and Impact of Celayix
The adoption of Celayix brought about transformative changes for GS1 Group. The new system addressed many of the inefficiencies that plagued their previous setup, offering significant improvements in accuracy and operational efficiency.
Tangible Benefits
GS1 experienced significant improvements with the adoption of Celayix:
- Enhanced Accuracy and Efficiency:
Michael: “With Celayix, it’s now much easier to manage day-to-day operations with our employees, including their attendance, scheduling, and notifications. The system has significantly improved our ability to track actual hours worked and enhanced overall operational efficiency.”
- Real-Time Tracking and Cost Savings:
One of the most notable improvements was in time tracking and attendance management. The old system allowed for discrepancies in logged hours, potentially leading to inaccuracies in payroll. Celayix’s robust features helped GS1 Group avoid these pitfalls, ensuring that employees’ actual hours worked were accurately tracked.
Michael: “Celayix has streamlined our scheduling and attendance tracking, allowing us to scale more effectively. The new system has helped us avoid paying for more time than was actually worked, providing cost savings and greater accuracy.”
- Enhanced Transparency:
The integration of Celayix aligned with GS1’s focus on transparency. The system’s features allowed for better communication and management of workforce data, which in turn improved client interactions and satisfaction.
- Improved Scalability:
The streamlined scheduling and attendance processes facilitated GS1’s growth. The efficiency gained from Celayix opened doors for further expansion, enabling the company to handle a larger workforce more effectively.
- Mobile Integration:
The Manager App and Schedule Xpress Mobile were particularly beneficial for GS1, as their supervisors often worked in the field. The mobile app enhanced their ability to manage operations on the go, though Michael suggested improvements, such as a comprehensive contact list feature for quicker access to employee details.
“We were quite fortunate with the Manager App because it was crucial for our operation. Since our supervisors are out in the field and don’t have access to desktop versions, the mobile app was a big win for us. I leaned heavily on James to get us involved in the beta testing phase, and overall, the system works well.”
Feedback and Recommendations from GS1 Group
User Experience and Suggestions
Michael’s feedback highlighted both positive outcomes and areas for improvement:
Manager App and Feature Recommendations:
Michael: “The Manager App has been crucial for our operation, especially since our supervisors are out in the field. However, I would recommend adding a comprehensive contact page to the app for easier access to contact information.”
Future Outlook
Vision for GS1 and Technology’s Role
Michael’s vision for GS1 emphasizes the importance of continuous innovation and technological advancement. He stressed the need for Celayix to remain forward-thinking to avoid stagnation:
“GS1 is always growing and evolving. Technology plays a crucial role in our development, so we’re committed to staying on the cutting edge. My advice to Celayix is to keep pushing forward—don’t stand still. Continue to innovate and expand the product.”
Michael’s commitment to leveraging technology for growth and efficiency reflects his dedication to maintaining GS1’s position as a leader in the security industry.
The integration of Celayix’s Manager App into GS1 Group’s operations has marked a significant milestone, thanks to the invaluable feedback from Michael Severo. Michael’s insights provided our first substantive feedback on the app, highlighting both its strengths and areas for improvement.
Having feedback from such a respected professional not only validates the effectiveness of our technology but also guides us in refining our product. Michael’s constructive evaluation reflects his commitment to excellence and helps us ensure that our solutions continue to meet the needs of our clients.
We are grateful for Michael’s partnership and look forward to further collaboration, using his feedback to drive continuous improvement and deliver exceptional value to GS1 Group and other clients.
