It was just a few years ago when I first heard the word “proptech,” and for a while it looked like it would become a common buzzword in the industry. In January 2023, the Security Industry Association released a report on Proptech Opportunities that examined the trends, market size and the opportunities in this space. SIA also created a Proptech Advisory Board to grow engagement between the proptech community and the global security industry.

So it was with some surprise that when I first started speaking with people in the security industry — manufacturers and integrators alike — about this upcoming editorial cover story I got the same question over and over again: “What is proptech?”

Perhaps this confusion stems in part because the security industry itself has been a little unsure of where it fits into this trend that initially was all about the real estate industry and only touched in part on security.

The more you delve into it, the more you realize proptech IS what security does in many different applications, from the smart home elements of multi-family, to the smart building trend in enterprise environments and beyond. It isn’t about what you call it. It is about the security, intelligence and convenience you can help create for your customers.

But the more you delve into it, the more you realize proptech IS what security does in many different applications, from the smart home elements of multi-family, to the smart building trend in enterprise environments and beyond. It isn’t about what you call it. It is about the security, intelligence and convenience you can help create for your customers.

SIA understood that when it chose to rebrand it’s Proptech Advisory Board to the “Built Environment Advisory Board,” now chaired by Dan Cremins.

“The board’s overall mission is to take a broader view of the market in which security is one part of and understand how to lead change vs. follow it, Cremins tells SDM Senior Editor Rodney Bosch in a Q&A for this month’s cover story, Proptech Unveiled: Navigating the Future of Real Estate Innovation & Security. “We started as the Proptech Advisory Board because of the growth in that sector but quickly realized that when it comes to tech used in buildings, proptech is only one other part of a much bigger picture. Today, we are looking at how security can play a key role in proptech and smart buildings and sharing this market intelligence with others. This includes both SIA members and others in adjacent industries to learn the value that security data can bring.”

What does this mean for security integrators? Bosch’s article goes in-depth on the definitions, opportunities, challenges and concrete advice from those already working in this space.

Bosch writes, “As the proptech market evolves, it presents a wealth of opportunities for security integrators willing to adapt and innovate. The sector requires integrators to rethink traditional approaches and embrace new roles within smart building ecosystems. To thrive… security integrators must focus on areas where their expertise can make a significant impact, such as leveraging data-driven security solutions, enhancing building automation, and integrating physical security with broader proptech innovations.”