SSI ‘Tech Talk’ Columnist Bob Dolph Shares 2012 Industry Predictions
What does 2012 hold in store for your business and the industry? Find out with the many insights offered in SSI‘s annual Industry Forecast, which is featured in our January issue. This year, more than 25 of the industry’s most prominent research firms, trade associations, business and finance specialists, systems integrators, manufacturers, consultants, and alarm companies rendered a deep and sweeping portrait of the impending security landscape. The participants addressed the most significant changes, challenges and opportunities they anticipate taking place during the next 12 months in seven critical areas. They are: security technology; security markets; security industry; business and operations; politics and legislation; risks and threats; and ongoing challenges. With the boundaries of print being too constrained to present all of the fascinating and valuable assessments, each of the respondents’ complete, edited interviews are being offered exclusively online. Happy New Year!
Bob Dolph
”Tech Talk” Columnist
SECURITY SALES & INTEGRATION
Security Technology
Bob Dolph: The changes will be for dealers to keep up with the rapid change in new technology applications such as mobile wireless and upgrading to VoIP and IP. The challenge is to properly install these applications and make systems perform reliably. Another challenge is getting staff comfortable with new technology applications and having them properly trained. The opportunities can be the ease of installation of many wireless mobile technologies. Also significant is the field use of new mobile technologies, such as smartphones and tablets, and software, for managers and techs to make operations run more efficiently.
Security Markets
Dolph: The changes will be again dealing with the new mobile and video analytic technologies.
The challenges will be in handling and delivering on the expectations of mobile and video technologies. In some areas this will also include the demand of video verification by the AHJ.
The opportunities will be dealers that can seamlessly adapt to the rapid demand for mobile communications and video analytic technologies.
Security Business and Operations
Dolph: Challenges as always will be training resellers, techs, and end users on new and existing technology; also, educating all on these technologies. To this extent nothing has changed much. There is a lot of new technology but how does it get properly sold, installed and used? Opportunities are increased sales when changes and challenges are reliably met.
Security Industry
Dolph: Keeping control over starving government entities taking over existing RMR markets such as alarm monitoring.
Politics and Legislation
Dolph: Legislation being supported at the federal level by DHS legislation on direct-to-911 center monitoring. Cities wanting to monitor directly is an issue. The FCC is also looking at taking over operational radio spectrums that are presently used for alarm communications.
Ongoing Challenges
Dolph: Training of dealers, support staff, techs and end users for the proper design, installation, and use of security systems in general. This will always be in demand.
Projecting 2012
Dolph: This is hard to predict with such a volatile government and worldwide political and financial situation. However, security will do well in both good and bad times. The more terrorists act up the more security gets addressed.
Final Thoughts
Dolph: The year will be good in that all the new technologies will not be as new and all should find a better home for these new technologies. Even a year or two of product and application maturity can be beneficial to all.
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About the Author
Scott Goldfine
Scott Goldfine is the marketing director for Elite Interactive Solutions. He is the former editor-in-chief and associate publisher of Security Sales & Integration. He can be reached at [email protected].
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