Affordable home control capabilities have brought big changes to the security industry by making systems easier to sell and boosting upfront and recurring revenue. Dealers are earning about $14 per month in smart home revenues according to January 2016 research from Parks Associates. Seven in 10 dealers surveyed said they currently offer some type of smart home device or system or intend to do so within the next 12 months.
Enabling the burgeoning home control market are a range of wireless communications standards that give security systems the ability to control thermostats, video cameras, door locks and other devices. Today these standards include Z-Wave, ZigBee, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Manufacturers build communications capability into their products based on which option they believe is best suited to the task at hand.