The security industry is evolving rapidly as technological advancements such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data are helping to create innovative solutions that can keep up with demand from all the verticals.
The security industry is evolving rapidly as technological advancements such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data are helping to create innovative solutions that can keep up with demand from all the verticals. Simply selling products do not work anymore — customers want solutions that can solve all their problems, which means systems integrators (SIs) need to stay up to date with the latest technologies and trends to avoid dropping out of the integration game.
According to a report from ReportsnReports.com, the physical security market is estimated to grow from US$69.7 billion in 2016 to $112.4 billion by 2021, at the CAGR of 10.1 percent. Sensing this merging trend, Secutech International this year placed great emphasis on bringing together intelligent solutions from various trending vertical markets to drive cross-industry innovation. During the exhibition, a total of 71 SIs participated in a survey to determine sourcing behavior.
a&s Asian SI Survey at Secutech 2017
The items of the survey are listed below. (Participants can select more than one answer for each question)
- What’s your main purpose in attending Secutech?
- What kind of security products would you like to source?
- What kind of security solution would you like to source?
- What kind of information do you want to know more about?
- Are you interested in providing more connected solutions for non-security applications, such as automation and business efficiency in the future?
Attending security shows in search of solutions
From simple box moving to providing solutions, the security landscape around the world has evolved to providing services that save time and emphasize convenience for customers. Of the 71 SIs who filled in the survey, a significant proportion (52 percent) attended Secutech in search of solutions, while 33 percent attended for new products, and 12 percent were in search of new suppliers (see Figure 1).
Sourcing behavior
Surveillance cameras still in high demand
Despite the shift to solutions, surveillance cameras remain the most essential and the core component for most security systems. According to MarketsandMarkets, the video surveillance market was valued at US$30.4 billion in 2016 and is expected to reach $75.6 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 15.4 percent between 2017 and 2022. From the survey, interest in sourcing for surveillance cameras was the majority, with 24 percent looking to source for IP cameras and 13 percent CCTV cameras. Other items in the survey still saw a high demand, with access control at 15 percent, intrusion detection systems at 11 percent.
Distribution of interest in verticals among SIs
With over half of the SIs looking for solutions at the show, the interest for security solutions for particular verticals were high as seen in Figure 3. Out of 175 votes, transportation and safe cities take the lead with 34 votes. Industrial and manufacturing solutions (31 votes) and security monitoring services (30 votes) followed close behind.
SIs branch out with IoT trend
Being buzz words for the last few years, the high demand to learn more about IoT and smart solutions did not come as a surprise. In line with constant IoT developments, a majority of 35 percent people were interested in obtaining more information on IoT-related subjects, such as smart solutions for specific verticals, followed by security systems integration (29 percent). Additionally, three quarters of participants were interested in providing more connected solutions for non-security applications. The main benefactor of the rise of IoT are safe city projects, allowing authorities and governments to have a better grasp of all the connected systems located around the city. The results may indicate a large majority of SIs are seeing opportunities to branch out of the security industry, all thanks to the growing popularity of IoT.
Times are changing with technology being the main driver that is pushing the security industry to more multifunctional systems. As a core component for almost every security system, surveillance cameras remain the main product to source for Asian S I s. The definition of end-to-end solutions may soon include non-security solutions. Security systems are no longer used for pure monitoring and protecting functions. For example, video analytics can track loiterers and trespassers, but can also collect valuable information for retailers to help optimize marketing and product placement.