Surveillance video is no longer just for commercial security accounts. The usage of residential clients' Internet connections has opened up a brand new sales opportunity for security dealers. Consider what consumers are seeing on TV and other media. The major players in the electronic security business are playing up remote video viewing in their TV commercials, showing parents checking on their children and people viewing their home from their office during the work day. Average consumers are being educated that surveillance video can be viewed on their smartphone, tablet, office or home PC.
New entrants to the electronic security business, such as cable providers, are also highlighting home video, with ads showing how a homeowner can answer a knock on their front door, view the visitor, and allow them entry if they want. Mid-level to high-end residential clients are buying these systems, and should be buying them from you. As an example, after suffering vandalism damage to his house while he was away on a trip, my neighbor had IP network cameras installed on all four outside corners of his home.
Every security dealer can take advantage of the media barrage of residential video and remote control services by offering similar or better remote video services to every residential account. Just remember that what's shown on TV is not necessarily how the cameras will look when your client communicates to an IP camera over the Internet. What is a key factor in the successful sales of residential remote video is the management of your clients' expectations. In future features, ADI will discuss the steps security dealers need to take to ensure customer satisfaction with their IP video surveillance services.