IT research firm Gartner reports the smartphone market has reached 90 percent penetration in the mature markets of North America, Western Europe, Japan and Mature Asia/Pacific. With nine of every 10 Americans now in possession of their own smartphone, the concept of mobility has simply become ingrained in our society.
This technology trend has obviously impacted the security industry. Any security dealer or integrator has a great deal of customers who are demanding on-the-go access to their systems, for arming, disarming, self-monitoring, smart home management and more – and their vendors have stepped up to the plate, with apps for all of it.
Throughout the past few years, we have certainly detected an increase in interest and demand for solutions with a mobile component or interface,” says Scott Grainger, Vice President of Physical Security at S.C.-based integrator A3 Communications. “In our experience, physical security systems are increasingly monitored and managed by system operators and administrators via mobile-based applications. Mobile technologies and products represent a critical part of an end-to-end solution that enhance the user experience and break down connectivity barriers; and the ability to seamlessly incorporate remote, portable and mobile elements into security management systems is now a requirement for many of our clients.”
The Residential Market
The smart home has obviously had a major impact on the demand for mobility in a residential security solution, but the sheer fact that residential security dealers must deal with the very consumers who all have a smartphone in their pocket is enough to require an app for just about everything. “Mobile is a core driver behind our strategy for expanding our product portfolio,” explains Inder Reddy, General Manager of Intrusion and Residential Solutions for Honeywell Security & Fire. “Smartphones and tablets and touchscreens are a big part of our daily lives to the point where we, as consumers, expect nearly every kind of technology to be controlled using an app.”
At its recent CONNECT conference, Honeywell introduced the Lyric Gateway, which the company says is specifically designed for the mobile lifestyle. This focus has turned into a requirement for any residential alarm-focused security vendor – from ADT to Alarm.com, Nortek, UTC and beyond.
Honeywell is hoping that mobility will help actually open the market to customers that have not been in the traditional wheelhouse of residential security dealers. He says the Lyric Gateway opens a path for dealers to sell to renters, condo owners, college students and frequent movers. “Even people who don’t own homes still want connected-home functionality and the mobile control they have come to expect,” he says.
The Commercial Market
Mobile adoption rates in the commercial sector may be nowhere near that of the consumer/residential market; however, it continues to grow, and security vendors are focused on delivering to business customers in the same fashion.
“Apps are becoming a central part of our solutions,” reports Bob Germain, Hikvision’s director of product management. “Customers expect more features that are easier to use...Hikvision’s mobile app will integrate management and control of multiple systems, such as video and intercom, and any new product families in the future. We expect customers to want other interactive services, such as tech support, to be provided through the app as well.”
Just perusing our 2017 Guide to Security Apps (www.securityinfowatch.com/12296207), it is easy to see that the video surveillance industry has gained a foothold in mobile app development; in fact, it would be a challenge to find a VMS or camera family that doesn’t include one.
Mobility has long been maturing in the access control sector as well. Early versions of mobile credentials that relied solely on Apple’s Near Field Communications (NFC) have given way to solutions that embrace both NFC and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to vastly open the opportunities for related apps on any mobile device.
The major challenge in the development of mobile credentials will be getting the compatible hardware installed, as end-users can be reluctant to upgrade a reader part way through its lifecycle,” says Alexander Derricott, IHS market analyst for digital security and access control.
“I believe we have moved past many of the questions surrounding mobile security that slowed initial adoption,” adds Perter Boriskin, ASSA ABLOY’s VP of product management . “There is now a broad level of familiarity with using our phones for more than just making calls and checking email.”
Of course, mobile app innovation is by no means limited to video and access control. There are communications apps that work with intercoms, panic button apps for personal safety, apps for building automation and control and many more.
"Within the systems integration industry, the availability of quality mobile applications and products enrich our ability to sell on system usability and flexibility,” Grainger says. “We take great pride providing our clients with true end-to-end solutions that encompass the various technologies and disciplines required to design and implement modern physical security and intelligent building systems. Mobile technologies and products represent a critical part of an end-to-end solution that enhance the user experience and break down connectivity barriers.”
That said, it remains incumbent on integrators to guide their customers through potential challenges and pitfalls of extensive app usage when it comes to technology. “I really preach to our team about discussing the end-user experience on mobile devices,” says Andrew Lanning, Co-Founder of Integrated Security Technologies (IST) of Honolulu. “Invariably as the client moves around – mobility being the point – they will experience variable bandwidth. We have all dropped a phone call right? How that varying bandwidth will impact their experience of the application is far more significant than they know. It is one thing to have your game crash or your discussion interrupted – it’s another thing entirely to be reliant on a mobile security application that performs poorly or fails due to limited bandwidth in a given area. Creating a realistic expectation is the critical role of the integrator, along with making sure that life safety is not placed in jeopardy because of connectivity loss or mobile application failure.”
Mobility for You
Your clients and customers are reaping the rewards of mobility, but what about the security business owners? Not to worry, there are a ton of apps for you too! One of the hottest trends are apps designed by manufacturers to help field workers – from system design, to product specification, to client interaction.
There aren’t many field salespeople, technicians or customers left who want to deal with duplicate and triplicate forms in 2017, so why not move to apps and tablets? Don’t forget that the cost of those forms averages around a dollar apiece – money going right back to the bottom line after initial expenses.
More cutting-edge apps to help your field technicians are on the horizon, as smartphones are further leveraged in the consumer space for Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR and AR). “Better display technology, improvements in sensing and tracking hardware and software for things such as motion, gesture, head and eye tracking, and real-time graphics will increase interest and adoption,” Gartner says.
This can translate into applications that enable technicians to virtually pull up schematics and other instructions while they are literally standing on a ladder making an installation.
Paul Rothman is editor-in-chief of Security Dealer & Integrator (SD&I) magazine. Access the current issue, full archives and subscribe at www.secdealer.com.
