Smart home gets a leg up

Home automation is a concept with more than 20 years of history but limited traction. Thanks to the rapid advances in security, broadband, wireless, mobile 3G/4G and display technologies, however, tides have changed as alarm-monitoring, telecommunication/Internet and cable/satellite TV services providers are chomping at the bit to render bundled security, monitoring and automation offerings on top of their regular products and services. A new industry it term — SMA — has thus arisen to cover the wide spectrum of capabilities afforded to everyday users and homeowners, and a&s and Secutech have caught on this trend as well, by covering related topics online, in print and at trade shows and themed events. Through this integrated media approach — uniquely named SMAhome — existing and new home solutions providers can benefit from maximum exposure to this thriving multibillion-dollar business.

According to sources at ABI Research, Berg Insight, BSRIA, IHS/IMS Research, Informa, In-Stat, Ovum & Broadband Forum, and Park Associates,

• By 2016, the worldwide market will exceed US$120B, including hardware, software and services for home security ($110B, 60M units, CAGR 8%), environmental monitoring ($9.5B, 50M systems, CAGR 65%), and automation ($2B, 12M systems, CAGR 33%).
• In 2012, the US home monitoring and control hardware market reached $2.4B, with 29M cellular home security devices projected by 2015. 
• By 2017, the home security and monitoring market in Western Europe will exceed $6.8B (around $2.3B by the end of 2013), showing a 32% CAGR; the five largest markets that make up 3/4 of the revenues are Germany, France, the UK, Switzerland and Spain. 
• In APAC, the home automation market surpassed $500M in 2011 and is growing at 30+% per year, with Japan and Korea being the largest adopters, ANZ closely behind, and China, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand with very high potential.

Messe Frankfurt New Era Business Media (MFNE), publisher of a&s magazines and organizer of Secutech series shows, has been working hard in communicating with and linking together component providers, hardware/software/standard developers and key decision markets in six different channels (alarm monitoring, telecommunication, cable/satellite TV, home automation brands, retail and ODM/OEM brands), to further drive the market and innovation with all relevant stakeholders. “Don't miss this amazing growth opportunity,” said Parson Lee, MD of MFNE. “We have created this brand new promotion platform — SMAhome — so that you only need to rely on us, no matter whether you are looking for technology or channel partners. Rather than divide and conquer, collaborate and conquer!”