For many businesspeople, 2012 was a wait-and-see year. Playing everything close to the vest, extreme caution was exercised making decisions in lieu of tangible evidence of economic recovery and the presidential election outcome. With the jury still out on the economy and the business community leery of Obama administration policies, the waiting game may continue to be played out in 2013. However, security is still about as good as it gets out there.
That’s all the sunshine I am going to shower you with as you soak up our annual Industry Forecast Issue. Best to be realistic, anticipate worst-case scenarios, perform at your highest level, let the right reasons dictate actions and you’ll likely be just fine. Now go out there, proud of being part of this great industry, and kick some butt! But before you do, here are nine key trends supported by news headlines ripped from SSI during the past 12 months:
1. Investors See Value in Security
Blackstone Acquires Vivint for $2B … Monitronics Refinances for $1B … Wireless Security Provider Alarm.com Receives $136M Investment … Ackerman Security Systems Closes $75M Credit Facility … Tri-Ed Northern Video Attracts Second Private Equity Buyer in as Many Years … SAFE Security Acquired by Investment Firm … ASG Security Increases Loan Facility to $250M … Convergint Technologies Teams Up With KRG Capital Partners
2. Commercial Providers Power Up
Kratos Acquires Ingersoll Rand’s Systems Integration Business … Protection 1 Builds National Accounts Business With Camtronic (one of several P1 buys) … Tyco Integrated Security Purchases Carter Brothers Fire & Life Safety … Industry Vets Snyder, Seavers Spearhead Deal for Red Hawk … Diebold Appoints Byerly as Executive V.P. of Electronic Security … SW24 Launches Enterprise Level Systems Division
3. Regionals Grow Geographies, RMR
Hackett Security Buys Brinkmann Security, Expands Commercial Base … ASG Enters La. Market, Adds $248K in RMR … World Wide Security Expands N.Y. Footprint With 3 Acquisitions … SecurTek Purchases 1,400 Accounts From Priority Alarms (one of multiple buys) … Safeguard Security Adds 900+ Accounts … Vector Security Acquires, Builds Presence in Ohio … F. E. Moran’s Latest Acquisitions Add $275K in RMR … Alarm Detection Systems Adds $80K in RMR … Per Mar Builds Iowa Footprint With Purchase … ADS Enters Mississippi Market With Purchase
4. Suppliers Spend to Expand
HID Global Beefs Up Visitor Management by Acquiring EasyLobby … Tri-Ed/Northern Video Purchases SGI, Expands in Southwest (one of multiple buys) … Leviton Bolsters Home Automation Offering With HAI Acquisition … Eaton to Purchase Cooper Industries for $11.8B … FLIR Acquires Retail Camera Provider … Rutherford Controls Sells to DORMA
5. Telco, Cable & DIY Firms Invade
iControl, Time Warner Cable Join to Offer Home Automation … AT&T Unveils Global Plans for Home Automation, Security Business … SafeMart Expands Wireless Home Security Service
s With Verizon … Lowe’s to Offer DIY Security, Home Automation Platform
6. New Products & Services Emerge
Vector Security Partners to Offer Managed Network Services to National Accounts … Vivint, Kwikset Combine Home Automation With Remote Access … ADT’s New App Lets Users Monitor Homes Via Personalized Floor Plan … JCI Expands Monitoring Services With IP Alarm Transmissions … P1 Develops App to Enhance Customer Experience for National Accounts … Monitronics Embraces Wi-Fi for IP Alarm Communications … New Service by ADS Merges Security, Home Automation
7. Physical-Logical Convergence Forges Ahead
Ingram Micro Launches Convergence Pavilion at ISC West … Report: VSaaS Market Set to Surpass $1B by 2014 … Interface Security Systems Acquires Westec Intelligent Surveillance … Cisco to Buy Cloud Networking Firm for $1.2B … P1 Offers Cloud-Based Video Verification Services
8. Video Verification Gains Traction
Alarm Industry Partners With Texas-Based PD on Video Response Program … Public/Private Partnership Formed to Promote Video Intrusion Alarms … SecurTek Uses Video Verification to Build Dealer Program
9. Tactics & Practices Come Under Fire
Utah Alarm Companies Atop BBB’s Most Complained About Businesses … Pinnacle to Pay $1M for Allegedly Hiring Convicted Felons (one of many similar stories)… Indicted Alarm Brokers’ Contracts Up for Sale … ADT to Pay $950K to Calif. Residential Clients in Settlement … CPI Cautions Customers to Beware of Fraudulent Sales Reps … Spokane Police Warn Homeowners of Security Scam … Portland Police Seek Door-to-Door Security Scammers
Editor-in-Chief Scott Goldfine has spent more than 14 years with SECURITY SALES & INTEGRATION. He can be reached at (704) 663-7125.
