Industry Context — Common BS Fingerprints in Security, Surveillance & Cybersecurity
Alula
(https://alula.com) 📸 Data Snapshot: May 26, 2026Analyze the raw signals below. How would a machine score this business’s credibility?
Here are the exact signals captured from up to six pages of the site — the same raw inputs the evaluation engine analyzed. They are grouped by signal type so you can weigh each the way the machine does.
🏗️ Semantic Structure — heading hierarchy & page identity (Info Density · Commodity Fingerprint)
HOMEPAGE Professional Smart Security System | Home Security Dealer Program | Alula (https://alula.com)
Professional Smart Security System | Home Security Dealer Program | Alula
Alula provides innovative technology covering both professional security systems and services for security dealers and system integrators. Our award-winning products and services are uniquely designed to be easy to learn, fast to install and simple to operate
NAV_HEADER_HEADING_REPEATED_BODY_FOOTER About Us – Alula (https://alula.com/about/)
About Us – Alula
NAV_HEADER_HEADING_REPEATED_BODY_FOOTER Contact – Alula (https://alula.com/contact/)
Contact – Alula
NAV_HEADER_REPEATED_FOOTER Find a Dealer – Alula (https://alula.com/find-a-dealer/)
Find a Dealer – Alula
📝 The Narrative — clean text per page (Info Density · Semantic Coherence)
HOMEPAGE (https://alula.com) Professional Smart Security System | Home Security Dealer Program | Alula
[H2] What we do We provide differentiated security, automation and smart property solutions that help professional alarm dealers and integrators grow their business more profitably. Our award-winning products and services are uniquely designed to be easy to learn, fast to install and simple to operate. Wherever your security needs take you, we have solutions that can help. End-to-end platform for professional security dealers and integrators Built for both residential and commercial applications Hardwired and wireless options IP-based communications complemented by 5G-ready cellular technology Solutions designed for new installs, upgrades and takeovers Service tools for dealers and end-users [H4] Alula Security App Mobile control of the entire smart home – security, automation and cameras. [IMG: Alula app] [H4] AlulaConnect Dealer Portal The central place for managing, updating and viewing account usage of Alula systems and devices. [H4] Security Panel Connect+ is the most versatile and fastest wireless security system to install in the industry. [H4] Communicators Our multi-path communicators leverage IP and 5G cellular technology to help you steer clear of the next cellular sunset. [H4] System Controls With both touch screens and keypads, we have the right control solution for any installation. [H4] Video Cameras Our wireless cameras give home and small business owners an inside and outside view of their property. [IMG: Alula Outdoor cameras] [H4] Sensors Intrusion, life safety and environmental sensors with industry-leading range. [H4] Translators Hardwired and wireless options for any job. [H4] Resources Quickly find product manuals, install guides and many other useful resources. [H4] TESTIMONIAL [H2] ATLANTIC SECURITY Connect+ is an intuitive platform that anyone can use, enabling small business owners to feel like they’re at their business even when they are miles away.View the TESTIMONIAL [H2] Why Alula Here are a few of the top reasons why security dealers and integrators trust us as their manufacturing and technology partner. [H3] Complete Solution We built both the hardware and software, so it all works seamlessly together, and it’s delivered with white glove partner support. [H3] Fastest Install We engineer our products to be easy to learn and fast to install so you can complete more jobs in a day and avoid costly return trips using remote servicing. [H3] Best Experience A beautifully unified app and touchscreen experience will delight your customers, help sell them the system, and boost customer retention. [H3] Flexible System New installs, upgrades, or takeovers, you can offer affordable starter packages and premium installs with additional services like video and automation. [H3] Cost Advantage Our innovative technology and 5G-ready cellular radio will save you time and money and help drive new RMR for the 3G/CDMA sunset upgrades. [H2] About Alula Who we areOur History [H2] Ready to talk? Contact Us
SUB-PAGE (https://alula.com/about/) About Us – Alula
[H2] Who We Are Founded in 2017, Alula was formed when two leading technology providers – IPDatatel and Resolution Products – joined forces. Alula’s award-winning products and services are uniquely designed to be easy to learn, fast to install and simple to operate. From our wireless security and automation system to our universal alarm panel communicator; and from our interactive mobile app to our robust dealer portal, complete with remote system diagnostics, dynamic app configuration and system usage reports, Alula’s solutions cover a broad range of applications and deliver a consistent system management experience. Our technology-rich solutions enable dealers and integrators to cover a broad range of applications, from basic security packages to premium installations equipped with video and automation. We take pride in helping our dealer-partners look good with services and materials that put their brand front and center. [H2] What We Do [H4] Fastest Install We engineer products that are easy to learn and fast to install so you can complete more jobs in a day and avoid costly return trips using our remote servicing tools. [H4] Complete Solution We build the products and services, so they all work together seamlessly, and are delivered with white glove partner support. [H4] Cost Advantage We save you money with reliable IP communications, 5G ready cellular solutions and flexible products and services that deliver the core capabilities consumers want. [H4] Flexible Platform Our solutions enable you to cover a broad range of applications, from basic security packages to premium installations equipped with video and automation. [H2] OUR MISSION To provide differentiated security, automation and smart property solutions that help professional alarm dealers and integrators grow their business more profitably. [H4] Award Winning With over 325 years of in-house engineering experience, we’re great at building awesome products and services that help keep your company ahead of the fast moving technology wave. [H4] Best Experience Our mobile app and Slimline Touchpad deliver an intuitive and consistent user experience, resulting in high customer satisfaction and increased retention. [H4] Committed Partner We help you look good with services and materials that put your brand front and center, and a loyalty program that features tools and resources that help you market your business. [H4] Reduced Attrition Helping to keep your customers actively engaged with on-the-go system management and notifications, live video look-in and smart device automation. [H2] Our History [H2] Leadership Team The Alula executive team brings deep experience in the security, technology and telecom industries. [H2] [H3] Leader in the wireless device networking market for over two decades Held leadership positions in engineering management, product management, business development, and as the general manager of the interactive services division of GE Security [H4] Dave Mayne PRESIDENT [IMG: gregg waldon] [H2] [H3] CFO at Kareo, a leader in cloud-based medical practice management software CFO at Redbrick, a healthcare technology company CFO at Stellent, a content management software company acquired by Oracle [H4] Gregg Waldon CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER [H2] [H3] Andrew Ralson has 20+ years of experience as a successful software engineer and technology leader. He has led teams of engineers to develop software for startups and fortune 500 companies. [H4] Andrew Ralson CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER [IMG: brian seeman] [H2] [H3] One of three founding principals of Resolution Products President, US Operations at communications IC maker DSP Group President at IC startup Rocket Chips and its acquirer, Xilinx. VP, Engineering at security industry pioneer ITI and through merger with what is today GE/Interlogix [H4] Brian Seemann EVP – OPERATIONS DEVELOPMENT [IMG: karen ojeda] [H2] [H3] Played a key role in high-growth, high-change organizations such as Lawson Software, GMAC ResCap, and Healthland (CPSI) [H4] Karen Ojeda VP OF HUMAN RESOURCES [IMG: paul saldin] [H2] [H3] Held key engineering positions at ITI (later Interlogix and GE Security) Co-founded Resolution Engineering in 2005 and Resolution Products in 2009 [H4] Paul Saldin TECHNOLOGY ADVISOR [IMG: Matt Gehr] [H2] [H3] 15 years in industry with experience in technical support and training, inside and outside sales With Alarm.com for 6 years in technical applications and sales With Resolution Products/Alula since 2015 with various sales roles: Regional Sales Manager, Strategic Account Manager, Director of Sales [H4] Matt Gehr VP – SALES [IMG: Corey Plendor] [H2] [H3] 20+ years experience in connected-device service platforms including utility metering, internet of things, home automation and security solutions. Business and technical leader with a focus on recurring revenue solutions for both internal and external stakeholders. Past responsibilities as CTO, Chief Engineer/Acquisition Integration, Solutions Architect, Service Product Owner, and Software Engineering/Manager at Bosch Software Innovations, Cooper Power Systems, and Digi International. [H4] Corey Plender VP – PRODUCT MANAGEMENT & CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
SUB-PAGE (https://alula.com/contact/) Contact – Alula
[H1] Contact Us Have a question or need support? We’re here to help! [H4] Customer Support Monday – Friday7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. CST1-888-882-5852 [H4] Connect with us Whether you have a support need or just a quick question, our team is always ready to help. St Paul Office428 Minnesota StreetSuite 300St. Paul, MN 55101 Have an Alula system in your home or office, need help connecting with your local dealer or want to purchase an Alula system? Find your Alula Dealer here [H4] Not sure who your sales representative is? Find them here Use the form below to request support from our best-in-class support team or get in-touch with us. "*" indicates required fields
SUB-PAGE (https://alula.com/find-a-dealer/) Find a Dealer – Alula
[H2] Find an Alula Dealer Use your current location or zip code to start your search for your nearest dealer or distributor. If you cannot find a dealer in your area and would still like to get an Alula system from a regional dealer please contact us below. Search Location Dealer Type Distance Range Radius: KM Status Loading... Alula Dealers: 0 PRINT [H4] Get Your Directions × From: To: KM Mile GET DIRECTIONS [H5] Use my location to find the closest Service Provider near me × USE LOCATION [H4] × [H3] Didn't find what you need? [H5] Visit our FAQ section below or complete the form below to be contacted by someone from our team within 2 business days. [H2] Contact Us [H1] FAQs Alula products are only available through professional security dealers. Contact your local Alula dealer to learn more about our products and services. Use this form to find one in your area. Unlike the competition, Alula’s cameras can be used by themselves. Whether you’re ready to setup your complete smart security system now or you’d like to start with the basics and add more in the future, Alula products will be ready. Since Alula products are only available through professional security dealers you should contact your local Alula dealer to ensure your questions are answered. If you’re not sure who your dealer is, please use our find an Alula Dealer tool here or contact form above. Your family and your safety are the most important thing and we believe that should only be left to professionals. That’s why our products are professionally built, professionally installed and professionally monitored. All Alula Dealer request for updating your company information should visit this page
🛡️ Trust Signals — reviews, proof links, trust-theatre flag (Trust & Proof)
| Page | Reviews | Proof links |
|---|---|---|
| / (home) | 14 | 1 |
| /about/ | 5 | 1 |
| /contact/ | 5 | 1 |
| /find-a-dealer/ | 5 | 1 |
🔗 Identity & Technical Layer — schema JSON-LD: identity chains, entity gaps (Identity & Authority)
Homepage schema
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@graph": [
{
"@type": "WebPage",
"@id": "https://alula.com/",
"url": "https://alula.com/",
"name": "Professional Smart Security System | Home Security Dealer Program | Alula",
"isPartOf": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/#website"
},
"about": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/#organization"
},
"primaryImageOfPage": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/#primaryimage"
},
"image": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/#primaryimage"
},
"thumbnailUrl": "https://alula.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/M2M-gray-logo-1024x576.png",
"datePublished": "2022-08-08T21:02:39+00:00",
"dateModified": "2025-06-25T10:28:26+00:00",
"description": "Alula provides innovative technology covering both professional security systems and services for security dealers and system integrators. Our award-winning products and services are uniquely designed to be easy to learn, fast to install and simple to operate",
"breadcrumb": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/#breadcrumb"
},
"inLanguage": "en-US",
"potentialAction": [
{
"@type": "ReadAction",
"target": [
"https://alula.com/"
]
}
]
},
{
"@type": "ImageObject",
"inLanguage": "en-US",
"@id": "https://alula.com/#primaryimage",
"url": "https://alula.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/M2M-gray-logo.png",
"contentUrl": "https://alula.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/M2M-gray-logo.png",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080
},
{
"@type": "BreadcrumbList",
"@id": "https://alula.com/#breadcrumb",
"itemListElement": [
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 1,
"name": "Home"
}
]
},
{
"@type": "WebSite",
"@id": "https://alula.com/#website",
"url": "https://alula.com/",
"name": "Alula",
"description": "Professional Smart Security",
"publisher": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/#organization"
},
"potentialAction": [
{
"@type": "SearchAction",
"target": {
"@type": "EntryPoint",
"urlTemplate": "https://alula.com/?s={search_term_string}"
},
"query-input": {
"@type": "PropertyValueSpecification",
"valueRequired": true,
"valueName": "search_term_string"
}
}
],
"inLanguage": "en-US"
},
{
"@type": "Organization",
"@id": "https://alula.com/#organization",
"name": "Alula",
"url": "https://alula.com/",
"logo": {
"@type": "ImageObject",
"inLanguage": "en-US",
"@id": "https://alula.com/#/schema/logo/image/",
"url": "https://alula.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Alula.png",
"contentUrl": "https://alula.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Alula.png",
"width": 180,
"height": 85,
"caption": "Alula"
},
"image": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/#/schema/logo/image/"
}
}
]
}
/about/
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@graph": [
{
"@type": "WebPage",
"@id": "https://alula.com/about/",
"url": "https://alula.com/about/",
"name": "About Us - Alula",
"isPartOf": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/#website"
},
"primaryImageOfPage": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/about/#primaryimage"
},
"image": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/about/#primaryimage"
},
"thumbnailUrl": "https://alula.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/alula-building-hero-banner-1200x500.jpg",
"datePublished": "2022-03-09T22:39:52+00:00",
"dateModified": "2025-05-28T01:48:19+00:00",
"breadcrumb": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/about/#breadcrumb"
},
"inLanguage": "en-US",
"potentialAction": [
{
"@type": "ReadAction",
"target": [
"https://alula.com/about/"
]
}
]
},
{
"@type": "ImageObject",
"inLanguage": "en-US",
"@id": "https://alula.com/about/#primaryimage",
"url": "https://alula.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/alula-building-hero-banner.jpg",
"contentUrl": "https://alula.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/alula-building-hero-banner.jpg",
"width": 1440,
"height": 600
},
{
"@type": "BreadcrumbList",
"@id": "https://alula.com/about/#breadcrumb",
"itemListElement": [
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 1,
"name": "Home",
"item": "https://alula.com/"
},
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 2,
"name": "About Us"
}
]
},
{
"@type": "WebSite",
"@id": "https://alula.com/#website",
"url": "https://alula.com/",
"name": "Alula",
"description": "Professional Smart Security",
"publisher": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/#organization"
},
"potentialAction": [
{
"@type": "SearchAction",
"target": {
"@type": "EntryPoint",
"urlTemplate": "https://alula.com/?s={search_term_string}"
},
"query-input": {
"@type": "PropertyValueSpecification",
"valueRequired": true,
"valueName": "search_term_string"
}
}
],
"inLanguage": "en-US"
},
{
"@type": "Organization",
"@id": "https://alula.com/#organization",
"name": "Alula",
"url": "https://alula.com/",
"logo": {
"@type": "ImageObject",
"inLanguage": "en-US",
"@id": "https://alula.com/#/schema/logo/image/",
"url": "https://alula.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Alula.png",
"contentUrl": "https://alula.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Alula.png",
"width": 180,
"height": 85,
"caption": "Alula"
},
"image": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/#/schema/logo/image/"
}
}
]
}
/contact/
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@graph": [
{
"@type": "WebPage",
"@id": "https://alula.com/contact/",
"url": "https://alula.com/contact/",
"name": "Contact - Alula",
"isPartOf": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/#website"
},
"primaryImageOfPage": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/contact/#primaryimage"
},
"image": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/contact/#primaryimage"
},
"thumbnailUrl": "https://alula.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/customer_support_icons.png",
"datePublished": "2022-09-07T21:18:52+00:00",
"dateModified": "2023-06-30T16:31:13+00:00",
"breadcrumb": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/contact/#breadcrumb"
},
"inLanguage": "en-US",
"potentialAction": [
{
"@type": "ReadAction",
"target": [
"https://alula.com/contact/"
]
}
]
},
{
"@type": "ImageObject",
"inLanguage": "en-US",
"@id": "https://alula.com/contact/#primaryimage",
"url": "https://alula.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/customer_support_icons.png",
"contentUrl": "https://alula.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/customer_support_icons.png",
"width": 371,
"height": 200
},
{
"@type": "BreadcrumbList",
"@id": "https://alula.com/contact/#breadcrumb",
"itemListElement": [
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 1,
"name": "Home",
"item": "https://alula.com/"
},
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 2,
"name": "Contact"
}
]
},
{
"@type": "WebSite",
"@id": "https://alula.com/#website",
"url": "https://alula.com/",
"name": "Alula",
"description": "Professional Smart Security",
"publisher": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/#organization"
},
"potentialAction": [
{
"@type": "SearchAction",
"target": {
"@type": "EntryPoint",
"urlTemplate": "https://alula.com/?s={search_term_string}"
},
"query-input": {
"@type": "PropertyValueSpecification",
"valueRequired": true,
"valueName": "search_term_string"
}
}
],
"inLanguage": "en-US"
},
{
"@type": "Organization",
"@id": "https://alula.com/#organization",
"name": "Alula",
"url": "https://alula.com/",
"logo": {
"@type": "ImageObject",
"inLanguage": "en-US",
"@id": "https://alula.com/#/schema/logo/image/",
"url": "https://alula.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Alula.png",
"contentUrl": "https://alula.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Alula.png",
"width": 180,
"height": 85,
"caption": "Alula"
},
"image": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/#/schema/logo/image/"
}
}
]
}
/find-a-dealer/
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@graph": [
{
"@type": "WebPage",
"@id": "https://alula.com/find-a-dealer/",
"url": "https://alula.com/find-a-dealer/",
"name": "Find a Dealer - Alula",
"isPartOf": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/#website"
},
"datePublished": "2022-10-26T20:35:33+00:00",
"dateModified": "2023-08-02T19:52:42+00:00",
"breadcrumb": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/find-a-dealer/#breadcrumb"
},
"inLanguage": "en-US",
"potentialAction": [
{
"@type": "ReadAction",
"target": [
"https://alula.com/find-a-dealer/"
]
}
]
},
{
"@type": "BreadcrumbList",
"@id": "https://alula.com/find-a-dealer/#breadcrumb",
"itemListElement": [
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 1,
"name": "Home",
"item": "https://alula.com/"
},
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 2,
"name": "Find a Dealer"
}
]
},
{
"@type": "WebSite",
"@id": "https://alula.com/#website",
"url": "https://alula.com/",
"name": "Alula",
"description": "Professional Smart Security",
"publisher": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/#organization"
},
"potentialAction": [
{
"@type": "SearchAction",
"target": {
"@type": "EntryPoint",
"urlTemplate": "https://alula.com/?s={search_term_string}"
},
"query-input": {
"@type": "PropertyValueSpecification",
"valueRequired": true,
"valueName": "search_term_string"
}
}
],
"inLanguage": "en-US"
},
{
"@type": "Organization",
"@id": "https://alula.com/#organization",
"name": "Alula",
"url": "https://alula.com/",
"logo": {
"@type": "ImageObject",
"inLanguage": "en-US",
"@id": "https://alula.com/#/schema/logo/image/",
"url": "https://alula.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Alula.png",
"contentUrl": "https://alula.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Alula.png",
"width": 180,
"height": 85,
"caption": "Alula"
},
"image": {
"@id": "https://alula.com/#/schema/logo/image/"
}
}
]
}
Your Diagnosis
Before revealing the machine’s verdict, predict the BS score for each signal. Higher = more BS (more fluff, less verifiable substance). Drag each slider, then submit to compare your judgment against the engine.
Stuck? Reveal the heuristic lens — how the deterministic page-auditor reads each signal (no AI, pure pattern rules)
These are the structural rules a local, deterministic auditor applies — the same lens you can use to judge each signal. They describe what to look for, not this company’s result.
Classify each sentence as substantive or hollow. Grounding markers — numbers, currencies, dates, technical units, named entities — outweigh marketing adjectives. When fluff sits right next to hard evidence, the fluff is forgiven.
Pull the main entities out of the H1, then check whether they actually recur through the body. A page that announces one thing and then talks about another drifts. Headings with no real sentences underneath read as pseudo-substance.
Count trust words (review, testimonial, rating, verified) against real outbound proof links (Google, Trustpilot, Clutch, G2, Yelp). Lots of trust language with zero verification links is trust theatre. Unlinked logo galleries count against it.
Look at how much sentence length varies. Natural writing varies its rhythm; templated or mass-produced copy is statistically uniform. Very low variation reads as commodity content — unless unique named entities break the pattern.
Inspect the JSON-LD. Is there an Organization or Person schema, and does it carry sameAs links to real external profiles (LinkedIn, socials)? Missing schema or no identity declaration signals an anonymous entity.
Want to apply this lens yourself? The free BS Indicator Chrome extension runs these heuristic checks live on any page. Bear in mind it is a single-page, deterministic tool — it relies only on pattern rules for the page in front of it and does not perform the cross-page semantic correlation this audit uses, so its readout is a starting lens, not the full verdict.
Based on 370 businesses audited.
Alula has 2.5 points more BS than the average for Security, Surveillance & Cybersecurity.
Security, Surveillance & Cybersecurity BS: Alula (alula.com)
Alula is a legitimate hardware-software hybrid with a clear identity, but its marketing layer is currently suffocating its technical substance. While the leadership footprint is authentic, the site’s reliance on ‘award-winning’ as a hollow adjective and its stale 2023 technical metadata creates a credibility lag for a company claiming 5G-readiness in 2026.
Immediately replace the generic ‘Resources’ H1 on the homepage and about page with specific, descriptive H1s like ‘Professional Security Platform for Dealers’. Update all copyright and metadata timestamps to 2026 to eliminate the ‘stale content’ penalty. Transform the ‘Award-winning’ claims into substance by listing specific awards (e.g., ‘2024 ESX Innovation Award’) with links to the announcements. Provide a downloadable time-study or case study to quantify the ‘Fastest Install’ claim with actual minutes-on-site data.
The website perfectly aligns with the Security & Surveillance category, specifically focusing on the B2B dealer and integrator channel. The content moves beyond generic cybersecurity to address physical hardware, 5G cellular sunsets, and recurring monthly revenue (RMR) models typical of the alarm industry.
“The score of 39 is driven primarily by Information Density (repetitive marketing slogans) and Trust/Proof (stale 2023 dates and unlinked 'award-winning' claims). The site avoided a 'High BS' rating due to the high transparency and specific professional backgrounds provided for the executive team, which anchors the company in reality.”
This training module utilizes a snapshot of public data from Alula, captured on May 26, 2026, to demonstrate how machine logic evaluates different types of business narratives.
Purpose: This data is presented under “Fair Use” / “Educational Exception” for the purpose of forensic semantic analysis, allowing users to compare human intuition against machine-generated evaluations.
Notice to Alula: This analysis is part of a non-adversarial audit conducted by 1 Euro SEO. The results provided by 1EuroSEO are intended as professional feedback to help improve any website’s machine-readability and authority signals. The 1EuroSEO BS Detection Tool is a free tool, and anyone can test any company to see how their content is interpreted by AI models.
Any company can use the insights for free and improve its voice by comparing it to industry clichés or competitors. When a company has updated its content, it can always submit a new audit request, which will be reflected in a new current score.
To all users: You are encouraged to visit the live site at https://alula.com to view the most current version of its content and learn from the source what this company is about and what it offers.