Experts predict more money will be spent in the alarm market this year — the question is how to get it. Start by blend- ing the right technology choices, service, and sales approaches.
When Google purchased Nest Labs Inc. for $3.2 billion late last year, some security dealers groaned while others, such as John Loud, president, LOUD Security, Atlanta, positively accepted the news. It sounds strange to embrace it at first. After all, it is one more mega company pushing towards the alarm industry. “We’re turning our attention to something that’s also important: keeping families safe in their homes,” Tony Fadell, Nest founder and chief executive officer, has been quoted as saying. The increased focus on the security industry by non-traditional companies with unique, forward-looking products and services, and the amount of capital feeding both new and existing players reflects the strong predictions for more money and fast growth for the alarm market as a whole. Research (including SDM’s exclusive 2014 Subscriber Market Forecast Study) reveals dealers’ plans to compete — and win business — based on providing the right technologies, the best service, and a fresh sales and marketing approach in the 2014 market.
Loud, a Honeywell First Alert dealer since 2005, is reacting positively to the new competition because he is ready and waiting to capitalize on the awareness Google, and companies like it, would push into the space.