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.
About the Author
Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher of Security Today magazine.