Covid-19 Forecast for the Security Industry
I’m not a fortune teller and I make no promises but I have a few thoughts about the impact of Covid-19 on the security industry.
Thermal Cameras: I need to address this first. Every manufacturer is going to try and sell a fever detection system. Companies have already been caught faking the technology and accuracy of these products. There are going to be a lot of snake oil salesmen looking to make money off of this. Quality thermal camera systems with fever detection will exist. At the moment there are a lot of claims and marketing hype. Is something better than nothing? Maybe. But only if purchasers fully understand the limitations of the product.
Touchless Buttons: We’re going to see a lot exit buttons on doors, ADA openers, light switches, and other controls. The technology available right now is good and most products still have the ability to manually press the button. I believe this is a sensible, cost-effective, high ROI thing for bushiness to do.
Anti-Microbial Finishes: Anti-microbial finishes for locks have been available for a while. Aside from medical buildings, prior to Corona virus an anti-microbial finish was an after thought and if brought up during a sale, would sound like someone is trying to oversell. An anti-microbial finish now sounds very appealing. I don’t foresee many businesses switching out all of their hardware. I would imagine the installation of hand sanitizer stations would be more attractive. However, I think these products will play a larger role in new construction. There has been some controversy about their effectiveness with Covid-19. One major manufacturer has explicitly stated that their anti-microbial does not work against the Corona virus.
The Time in House Factor: The more people are inside and have time to think I believe they’ll make a mental list of things they’d like to have fixed. I think this goes well beyond locksmithing – I believe the entire home renovation industry will see a boom. New carpet, new floors, new cabinets, new counter tops. People are going to be tired of things and want upgrades.
Undoing Lack of Socialization: People are by nature social creatures. We crave interactions with other humans. As much as people joke about enjoying staying inside and watching TV most people do enjoy going outside and at least being around other people. When the quarantine and stay at home orders are lifted I believe there will be a huge swing in people wanting to be part of social gatherings and where people congregate. How we still need to protect ourselves from the virus will likely influence if people choose to be a part of large crowds.
Home Security Systems & Security Cameras: Uncertain times always make people more interested in security. Home alarm system sales are already up. People will naturally feel strange living their homes after being home so long. Many people will want to be able to monitor their homes when they’re away. Smart home integration with alarm systems continues to become more robust and people will enjoy the interconnectivity that systems offer.
Firearms & Safes: Firearm purchases always go up during difficult times. Gun owners are interested in securely storing their firearms to prevent unauthorized access and to prevent them from being stolen. Gun safes and bedside gun storage unit sales will increase.
