The Partner
For more than 21 years, Digital Dreams has helped organizations across California design, deploy and support technology solutions ranging from low-voltage cabling and LED walls to physical security systems. Headquartered in Sacramento, the company serves mid-market and enterprise customers throughout the Bay Area, with a growing portfolio of technology, AI and startup customers.
Led by owner Ben Buckley, Digital Dreams has built a reputation for helping organizations adopt modern, easy-to-use technology that aligns with how people work today. When it comes to physical security, Buckley's philosophy is simple: "When it comes to access control and cameras, Verkada is the only thing we sell. We like to say Verkada or ‘Nada.’"
The Challenge
Buckley had grown increasingly frustrated with traditional security systems. Legacy platforms were often difficult to support, cumbersome for customers to use and time-consuming to maintain. Tasks that should have been simple such as finding footage, exporting video or training end users, often created unnecessary complexity for both customers and integrators.
Digital Dreams needed a better way to serve their customers - a solution that simplified deployments, improved the user experience and allowed his team to focus on solving problems instead of troubleshooting outdated technology. "It was a challenge trying to teach an end user… on legacy systems," says Buckley. "It's hard for them to export footage or share video and overall, just a terrible experience."
Why Verkada?
While researching emerging security technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic, Buckley came across Verkada, ordered a demo camera and experienced the platform firsthand. The intuitive, “out-of-the-box-turn-it-on” experience solved many of the user-based challenges he had experienced with legacy systems. Ultimately, the decision wasn't about adding another vendor to Buckley’s portfolio. It was about finding a platform he could confidently stand behind and recommend to customers. "I can't sell something I don't believe in. I have to know it's going to do what it says it's going to do. Once I touched your product, I was like, 'Oh my God, I've been waiting for something like this."
The Solution
Digital Dreams focuses on working closely with customers, taking on a personalized approach to every project as each has unique needs and security goals. One recent example is its work with NODE Foundation, a nonprofit located in downtown Palo Alto, California. NODE is a first-of-its-kind digital art gallery dedicated to reimagining how people experience digital art.
Built to showcase digital artwork and emerging technologies, NODE’s facility required a modern security environment that matched the innovative nature of the space. To support the gallery's day-to-day operations, Digital Dreams deployed a comprehensive security environment spanning approximately 30 cameras, 12 access-controlled doors and multiple intercoms throughout the nonprofit’s facility. The solution helps NODE securely manage employee, contractor and artist access while streamlining deliveries, visitor entry and ongoing operations across the property.
The Result: Driving Business Impact
For NODE, security needed to be as forward-thinking as the technology and artwork it protects. The project showcases Digital Dreams' ability to support highly innovative environments with security solutions that complement rather than complicate their customer’s unique security needs.
Protecting the Bottom Line
While modern security improves visibility and operational efficiency, it can also deliver significant financial impact. Another customer highlight from Buckley was their work with Recology, a long-time Digital Dreams customer that operates waste and recycling facilities throughout California.
After deploying security solutions across multiple locations, Recology used camera footage to disprove two fraudulent slip-and-fall claims. According to Buckley, the incidents saved the company millions of dollars. "Two people claimed they slipped and fell and it's already saved them millions." The success reinforced the value of modern security technology and accelerated additional deployments across Recology sites.
A Better Experience for End Users
For many customers, the biggest benefit is simplicity. Whether reviewing footage, managing access permissions or unlocking doors, Digital Dreams consistently hears positive feedback from organizations that want technology that works the way people expect it to. "Everybody loves Touchless Entry," says Buckley, "People don't want to carry a badge anymore. They just want to walk up, grab the handle and get into the office."
Looking Ahead
As Digital Dreams continues to grow throughout California, Buckley remains focused on Digital Dreams helping its customers adopt technology that delivers real value while also simplifying day-to-day operations.
For him, successful partnerships start with trust: trust in the technology, trust in the people behind it and trust that the solution will perform as promised. That's the standard Digital Dreams brings to every customer engagement.
Interested in becoming a Verkada partner? Learn more here.