Abstract
Critical Security Requirements Act as Catalyst for Revenue Growth
Heightened safety concerns following the 9/11 terrorist attacks have
compelled government agencies and commercial establishments in the United States
to employ sophisticated security services. Alarmed by the vulnerability of their
legacy systems, many companies are upgrading to state-of-the-art security
systems, which include monitoring surveillance services. The residential market
is also booming due to an increase in security consciousness. These new
installations and technology upgrades are spurring the demand for various types
of security services, and thereby, paving the way for higher revenues. This
trend is likely to continue as various establishments seek greater security due
to growing workplace violence, corporate espionage, and employee thefts.
This Frost & Sullivan research examines the U.S. security services market
based on end-user segments (residential and non-residential) and product
categories (burglar alarm, fire and life safety, video surveillance, and other
products and services). The report provides revenue forecasts based on market
insights, trend analysis, and key data points.
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"The security services industry is highly fragmented with many small
companies that cater only to local demand. This intensifies competition and
forces market participants to subsidize installation costs and design attractive
price schemes for obtaining security monitoring contracts," say the
analysts. The emergence of mass-market programs has further increased the
deployment of aggressive pricing strategies. This has invariably undercut the
profits of companies despite the substantial increase in demand.
"Market participants are widening their product portfolio by integrating
non-traditional offerings such as home automation equipment, telecommunication
services, structured cabling, Internet, and broadband services to expand their
target markets and prevent customer attrition," the analysts state. Burglar
alarms continue to be the largest revenue generator across different product
categories even as video surveillance and access control systems are rapidly
gaining popularity.
Huge Revenue Potential Riding on the Inevitable Need for Security
Growing awareness about security and the corresponding hike in spending by
the government as well as commercial and residential customers are boosting the
demand for various security services. Equipment price reductions along with
technological advancements such as biometric software, digital video recording
and intelligent back-end systems are stepping up the pace of market acceptance.
Market consolidation, increase in construction projects, strict enforcement of
fire codes and regulations, the introduction of bundled systems and services,
and the push for a secured work environment by insurance companies are expected
to sustain industry growth in the coming years.