Leverage Home Automation

Learn more about the connected home market

The connected home is emerging as an exploding market sector for security dealers and integrators. In simple terms, a connected home connects smart devices, lights, thermostats and appliances, links them together, and controls them with centralized interfaces. These devices can be connected via a LAN, Wireless Home Network (WLAN) or the Internet.

Many homeowners also are looking to link or connect devices such as a Media Center—television, receiver, DVD recorder, media player or gaming consoles—wireless IP cameras, Skype and/or VoIP phones, print servers, music bridges, wireless broadband routers and even their cars if they’re equipped with Wi-Fi and/or other compatible hardware. And, they love the convenience and flexibility of being able to access these devices while they’re away from home using their mobile phones.

Many recent market research studies, including those conducted by MarketsandMarkets, a full service market research and consulting firm, and GMI, a division of Lightspeed Research, a provider of technology-enabled solutions and online responses for global market research, indicate that the connected homes sector is growing exponentially. According to the recent Marketsand- Markets report, “Connected Living Room Market by Products (Smart/3D, LED/LCD/OLED TV, set top box, home theater projector, audio equipment, Blu-ray player, gaming console), Technology (Processor, Memory, Sensor, Connectivity) & Geography - Global Trend & Forecast 2013 to 2020, the global market is expected to cross $957.65 billion by 2020, at a CAGR of 6.8 percent rate from 2014 to 2020.”

And, GMI’s Internet of Things (IoT) study showed that winners in the connected home markets will be those manufacturers who can deliver a strong balance of security and privacy with respect to pricing and functionality.

So, what does all this mean for today’s dealers and integrators? There is money to be made, market share to gain, and customers to attract. Although the fully-connected home remains a bit too pricey for some homeowners, many are buying into some of the options. Among the most popular are lighting control, including lights that are timed and triggered by an intrusion/thermostat remote control and other remote services.

Dealers and integrators can transition into this growing market by educating themselves on these opportunities and product applications. Each and every TRI-ED branch hosts ongoing trainings and Counter Days, and our staff and systems specialists stand ready to support customers and expand their scope of services.

TRI-ED’s Technology Roadshows feature training spanning all product categories. Two of the shows take place in Texas. One was at the Holiday Inn Austin Midtown in September and another was at the Hilton North Houston which took place in October.

The Customer Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) is a fabulous resource for advancing in the Home Automation sector. CEDIA’s 2014 EXPO was held from Sept. 10 to 13 in Denver and helped attendees get up close and personal with the products and trends driving the residential technology market.

As referenced on CEDIA’s website, “At CEDIA EXPO you will find the right type of advanced and fundamental training on home tech to help you conquer and profit from changes in the industry. CEDIA EXPO covers audio, video, control, security, automation, networking, energy management and more. From certification opportunities to a wealth of new ideas and products, CEDIA EXPO is where every technology professional should be, no matter their service focus.”

If you’re not already working in and leveraging the home automation market, now is the perfect time to start. Many dealers who are staying competitive and profitable are capitalizing on something we’ve known all along—there’s no place like home.

This article originally appeared in the November 2014 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Pat Comunale is the president and CEO of Tri-Ed.

Featured

  • Live From ISC West 2023: Day 1

    ISC West 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada, has officially begun! Make sure to keep an eye on Security Today’s ISCW Live 2023 page, as well as our associated Twitter accounts—@SecurToday and @CampusSecur—for the latest updates from the show floor at the Venetian Expo. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • It Happened Again

    Just yesterday (as of this writing), it happened again. A 28-year-old woman shot her way into a Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday and killed three children and three adults, according to national news. AP News reports that the victims were three 9-year-old children, a top school administrator, a substitute teacher, and a school custodian Read Now

  • Let's Get to Work

    You are standing at the conference center doors just waiting to get into the exhibit hall. I know you are because I’m standing next to you. This week at ISC West has been three years in the making. Last year was encouraging, and here we are waiting for the Big Show. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • Using Modern Technology

    Using Modern Technology

    Workplace violence is a serious and growing challenge for many organizations — including those in the healthcare industry. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

New Products

  • PACE® Long Range Ethernet Solutions

    PACE® Long Range Ethernet Solutions

    Altronix introduces the newest addition to its portfolio of PACE® Long Range Ethernet Solutions. 3

  • ComNet CNGE6FX2TX4PoE

    The ComNet cost-efficient CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is a six-port switch that offers four Gbps TX ports that support the IEEE802.3at standard and provide up to 30 watts of PoE to PDs. It also has a dedicated FX/TX combination port as well as a single FX SFP to act as an additional port or an uplink port, giving the user additional options in managing network traffic. The CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is designed for use in unconditioned environments and typically used in perimeter surveillance. 3

  • Paxton10 CORE Cameras

    Paxton10 CORE Cameras

    The new CORE Series cameras feature edge processing for ultimate scalability, built-in edge storage, and plug-and-play installation. The addition of the CORE Series gives installers new hardware, better choice, and more value than ever before. 3