From the Top Systems Integrators Report, to technology trends in video surveillance/access control integration, PERS, power supplies, video compression – the feature articles in this issue demonstrate the high value proposition our industry offers.
The articles in this issue demonstrate that not only does the electronic security industry offer a high value proposition, but that new and improved technologies alone are never enough to strike success. They must fit into the overall picture of market need/acceptance the competitive environment, and — crucially — the business requirements of dealers and integrators.
Which suppliers do the largest security dealers use? This SDM 100 brand-usage report lists the top 14 manufacturers and top 9 distributors that earn the business of the largest security companies in the installation and monitoring channel.
With a respectable 3.3 percent gain in RMR, the industry’s largest security dealers continue to find opportunities, while keeping an eye on new competition.
World Wide Security & GC Alarm Inc., ranked No. 73, concurs there was “greater demand for security services and an increase in budgets to accomplish security goals.” The company, which logged a 3.2 percent increase in RMR, notes the best growth areas were video and managed services.
SDM 100 dealers as well as throughout the industry, routine security installations as well as more complex projects like these are signs of success for the industry and progress towards a more secure America.
Kudos to Kevin Lehan of the Illinois Electronic Security Association for being featured on WGN-TV Chicago on May 9, on one of its Midday News Segments.
If I were a security technician, salesperson or project manager — or an executive responsible for the training of these individuals — I would be energized about the opportunities for industry education taking place this spring and summer.
As our industry is poised on the brink of change and growth in so many different ways, analyzing this change and scrutinizing the new competition is a topic that comes up regularly, as it did during several industry events that took place during the first quarter of this year.
With new players such as AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, Cox and, potentially, Google, as well as a do-it-yourself market, which some think is growing three times as fast as the professionally installed market, who wouldn’t consider security an attractive market and wonder, Who are the winners going to be?
The AiN Group announced at its 2014 Live & Learn Conference that it is rolling out a new national program that gives its dealers the opportunity to install security and consumer electronic systems in homes built by some of the largest home builders in the country.
Results of SDM’s Forecast Study coupled with an outlook from leading dealers and integrators, offers a very positive promise for the security industry’s 2014 performance: 12 percent growth.
Sometimes it’s good to be wrong. In late 2012, security systems integrators and dealers forecasted that their total annual revenue would improve only slightly — 1 percent, on average — during 2013.