INDUSTRY FOCUS

Security behind the Front Door

• By Ralph C. Jensen
• Aug 02, 2021

My nature is being skeptical about securing the home. Maybe because a home is a small target or I figure that deadbolt is enough. I have started taking home security and smart home technology more serious.

Data offered by Trading Platforms says Smart Home technology has become more accessible in recent years. Usage rates are rising significantly in the United States. Apparently, the number of Smart Home users in the United States will surpass 50 million this year. More than $28.9 billion will flow throughout the United States.

How did I miss this news?

The Smart Home market is loaded with incredible technology, and I had to learn this the hard way. While doing a little DIY work outside and around the house, I thought of a plan to change the doorbell. It did not work, and it stayed that way for quite a while. In trying to figure out how to run those nasty wires, the thought came to mind, “why not wireless?”

Almost as if it was supposed to be this way, I made the change, and my home was starting to get smarter. So, make that 50 million and one end users.

What else might I upgrade to make my home smarter? First, I had better connect with a security integrator associate, who knows a lot more than I could ever imagine.

My garage door has been giving me fits. Come to find out, my friend, Alexa knows a little something about smart garage door controllers, among other things. These devices are improving in both simplicity and capability. Maybe the garage door is not on your to do list right now or the foreseeable future, a smart garage door controller has some advantages. This advantage catches my eye. Not only can you open and shut the door from anywhere so that you can let guests, family or delivery people in, you will also know whether the door is open or closed in real time.

Smart Home revenues in the United States should increase at a steady pace over the same period, growing at a CAGR of 12.82% and reaching $46.8 billion by 2025. The smart appliance segment will generate the largest share of revenue in 2021 at $8 billion. Security follows close behind at $5 billion. By 2025, security is likely to account for more than $8 billion of all U.S. Smart Home revenues.

There is a lot to protect in a home, more than just the front door bell. The United States currently has the highest penetration rate, (40.1%) in smart home technology, followed the UK at 37.4%. By 2024, the penetration rate in the United States should surpass 50%. Maybe the front doorbell is a good place to start.

This article originally appeared in the July / August 2021 issue of Security Today.