INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL
The Changing Marketplace
- By Kelly Atkinson
- Aug 02, 2021
As the Internet of Things (IoT) has continued to
evolve, so, too, have the options for pairing smart
home integration with both professionally monitored
and self-monitored home security solutions. As an
industry, we have come a long way from the push-button keypads
hardwired to units in closets that had dial-up connections
to a central station. Advances in technology, including LTE and
5G networks, Bluetooth and Z-Wave, have allowed home security
providers to make our systems a seamless part of everyday life for
millions of Americans who own or rent a home.
We have moved beyond providing professional monitoring
for deterrence and intrusion only—life safety monitoring is now
possible because of products such as connected smoke and CO
detectors, flood sensors, temperature sensors and more. Coupled
with other home automation products (smart locks, smart
lightbulbs, smart thermostats, etc.). A smart security system can
streamline the home experience for customers and provide them
with security, and peace of mind, for life. While self-monitored
systems are popular with entry-level consumers of smart security,
a professionally monitored system still offers the most value for
money, as customers know that a central station is there in any
emergency, 24/7/365—whether they are home or away.
The smart home market is booming, with newcomers to the
industry offering budget-friendly options that are tempting more
Americans to try adding automation or video cameras to their
homes. In fact, research shows that 30 percent of U.S. broadband
households now own at least one smart home device. Security is
understandably a concern as customers add devices to their home
Wi-Fi networks—it’s important to encourage customers to check
their network security, install firmware and antivirus protection
updates regularly, and keep technology current to avoid threats.
While some manufacturers offer devices that can integrate with
other smart home products, many of them run on separate
proprietary apps, which can make the customer experience a
frustrating one. Imagine having to open separate apps to disarm
your alarm, open your garage, and unlock the back door—it is
not the simple … streamlined life that smart home commercials
promise or that customers are telling us they want.
This is where security providers have an advantage over smart
home only companies— by being able to integrate many common
smart products into a home’s security system, providing a way
for one app to control everything from locks and lights to the
alarm itself, at the push of a button. And, because of professional
monitoring, the customer is in complete control with 24/7
(emergency) coverage should it be needed. This is particularly
useful if a connected smoke detector or CO alarm should trip
while a homeowner is away—with monitored security, their app
will notify them, and their provider will automatically dispatch
emergency personnel—potentially saving property and lives.
Another advantage to professionally monitored security is
the discount offered by many homeowner’s insurance policies for
having a system in place. Self-monitored systems often do not
qualify, and most police departments will not dispatch units to a
self-monitored home when the owner is not present.
Video is another area where a security provider’s app
integration makes a world of difference. Customers who choose
to add indoor or outdoor video cameras can now see those feeds
in real-time and even reply to video doorbells from within their
home security app—whether they are on the couch or away
from home. Video analytics and customized notifications allow
customers to truly choose the experience that works best for their
lifestyle.
It is not just self-monitored systems that are tempting to
customers, we know from data shared by Parks & Associates
that self-installed systems are on the rise—last year 55 percent
of new security systems were DIY installations. About onethird
of those customers chose this route due to COVID-19
concerns, which means that as the world starts to emerge from
the pandemic norms, professional installation will continue to
grow. DIY systems do offer self-service but we continue to see
the interest of customers who want a professionally installed
and monitored system where a trained technician ensures that
everything is connected and set up properly. Customers know that
their system is communicating properly to the central station, and
all of their smart devices have been properly integrated into their
system correctly. The technician will also show them how to use
the system in the way that works best for their lifestyle and how
to make changes as their needs change.
For Brinks Home, it is an exciting time to be part of the smart
security industry, as more and more customers are looking for
the peace of mind that a smart home + security system offers.
This article originally appeared in the July / August 2021 issue of Security Today.