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Smart Home Security – A growing market
» » ONE OF THE UK’S OLDEST
trade associations, dhf (Door &
Hardware Federation) explores
the growing popularity of
‘smart locks’ and asks: ‘how do
tomorrow’s locksmiths adapt to
a rapidly changing market’?
The word ‘disruption’ is a
media ‘buzzword’, used regularly
to describe how traditional
businesses can be transformed
by new technologies. Amazon,
for example, disrupted the book
store, Uber, the taxi business, Air
BnB is disrupting hotels and the
iPod has transformed the music
industry.
With an increasing interest
in the ‘smart home’ market,
where all elements of a home
can be remotely controlled
through a mobile App (heating,
water, security, lighting, blinds,
entertainment and even
health and activity can now
be monitored and controlled
intelligently), there is a
growing need for locksmiths,
or those working primarily
in the residential market, to
adapt to change. And as it
grows, smart home security
will become increasingly
important. Research
undertaken by Yale in 2016,
demonstrated that security was
the number two priority for
homeowners adopting smart
home technology, after energy
efficiency, and with industry
giants such as Apple, Google
and Amazon getting in on the
act, there is little doubt the
smart home market will grow.
The past eighteen months
have witnessed an emergence
of a new generation of smart
door locks for residential
homes, capable of integrating
with full smart home security
systems including CCTV,
alarms and security lighting.
For locksmiths involved in
commercial security, change is
nothing new; advanced access
and door control technologies
used in the most modern
hotels and office complexes
are far more sophisticated than
most current smart residential
applications, but for locksmiths
who rely on the domestic
repair and replacement market
or key cutting for any part of
their revenue stream, there are
challenges ahead, particularly
with some new smart locks
completely abandoning the
traditional key locking option.
“The smart home revolution is
coming and shrewd locksmiths
will need to prepare themselves
for the onset of a new age,
rather than wait to be faced
with inevitable change,” says
dhf Marketing Manager, Patricia
Sowsbery-Stevens. “Once the
homeowner has sampled the
functionality and convenience
of a smart lock it is likely they
will prefer this option to a
traditional mechanical lock.”
Door manufacturers are
aware that the market is
changing and a small but
rapidly growing percentage
of new residential doors are
now supplied with smart
locking technology. Even the
notoriously cost-driven new
housebuilding sector is looking
to offer smart locks on a front
door as an optional upgrade for
home buyers.
So, with the market clearly
heading in the smart lock
direction, how do locksmiths
prepare?
“It’s time for locksmiths to
embrace the change,” says
Patricia. “Even if you have never
been asked for a smart lock and
your mechanical sales are doing
fine, it really is just a matter of
time before smart locks have
an increasing impact on the
market.”
“Remember that most
homeowners struggle to
programme a traditional central
heating timer, so will need
guidance and advice when
installing and configuring a
smart lock. There is real value
in spending (and charging for)
an extra 15 minutes on-site
explaining and helping the
homeowner understand how to
use the system,” she continues.
“Finally, ensure you know
(and the homeowner knows)
what you are responsible for
within the installation. The
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biggest frustration for many
locksmiths involved in fitting
smart locks is when they get a
distress call that the lock doesn’t
work, only to spend half an
hour traveling to the house to
discover that the problem is
that the homeowner’s internet
router isn’t working! Compiling
a pre-call-out trouble shooting
checklist can save valuable time
and money.”
It is imperative locksmiths
recognise that many smart
technology buyers want the
product professionally installed,
so asking for support from
lock manufacturers and, if
you fit new doors too, from
door manufacturers and
their hardware suppliers, is
important. It’s in their interest
to provide the homeowner with
a positive experience. Leading
companies, like ASSA ABLOY,
have dedicated training centres
and courses to help locksmiths
keep their skills up to date and
of course, dhf, is on hand to
advise on best practice, training
and industry standards.
For further information and to
access DHF TS 621 Technical
Specification on Thief
Resistant Electromechanically
Operated Lock Assemblies
as well as information on dhf
training and all best practice
guides, visit www.dhfonline.
org.uk