The monitoring industry has been undergoing some positive changes over the past few years, broadening the scope and role central stations play within overall security, specifically within alarm and video verification and response. A good example of this transformation is the recent renaming of the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) to The Monitoring Association (TMA).

Some of the Latest Security Monitoring Trends

TMA Executive Director Jay Hauhn summed up the reason for the name change, saying in the announcement: “Monitoring life safety events in the traditional central station model remains our core business. That will not change. However, our demographics’ surveys show that members increasingly monitor more than traditional fire and burglar alarms—they monitor medical devices, access control, and other non-emergency but meaningful events. Our new name allows room for the association to encompass all the areas our members are beginning to monitor and any into which they may move in the future.”

DIY Security Trends

No one can deny the impact of DIY on security, and many of these security systems are professionally monitored or will need monitoring services, whether on-demand (more on this next) or turned on later when there is a need. As a person’s or family’s needs increase and change, and new smart home and security technology have already become widely available, such as Amazon’s Echo with Alexa, and similar offerings now from Google and Apple; security dealers need to try to understand the DIY mindset.

Many in the industry feel that DIY is an opportunity for security dealers, as traditionally only 20 percent of homeowners have a security system, a number that has not changed much for decades but has begun to with emergence of smart home technology and DIY.

The same customers—led by the Millennial and Gen X generations—that are attracted to all of the smart home technology out there today are many times the ones looking into DIY options and offerings, so don’t forget about this emerging sector of the security industry, whether you like it or not.

On-Demand Security Monitoring

Similar to DIY, offering on-demand monitoring represents a great opportunity for dealers to tap into a new customer base that may not be comfortable, at first, with a monthly fee for monitoring but is willing to dip their toe if there is an on-demand monitoring option offered to them.

For example, a person who is renting may start by using the on-demand monitoring option a few times in the first year and increase from there, eventually becoming a full-time customer when they move to their first home. Likewise, someone who is just starting out in their first home may want to start with on-demand for those times when they are away for extended periods of time on business, as that is added peace of mind without having another recurring monthly fee to pay.

Video Verification

The Partnership for Priority Verified Alarm Response (PPVAR) was established to educate all electronic security stakeholders on the value of video to verify alarm activity during the dispatch process and ultimately reduce false alarms and increase apprehension rates for burglar alarm customers.

“Advancements in Cloud technology, cost reductions in operating data centers, affordable access to broadband services, and adoption of smartphones all contributed to creating an opportunity for the industry to take alarm verification to the next logical level, and at an attractive price point,” Larry Folsom, I-View Now president said in his article on the evolution and merits of video verification. “Use of audio and/or video to verify an alarm is real and worthy of dispatching law enforcement to an active crime scene is critical for all public and private stakeholders. Continuing to dispatch alarms without a viable verification process diminishes the value of the alarm system in the eyes of the consumer and police.”

In addition to the cost savings and valuable time and effort saved from eliminating false alarms, not to mention gaining the trust of your local law enforcement and fire department, Folsom also looks at the many RMR opportunities available for security dealers in the area of video surveillance.

PERS and mPERS

As more and more families look to take better care of family members in the home, Personal Emergency Response Systems, or PERS, are continuing to grow in popularity. Plus, with the growth of mobile PERS, or mPERS, Baby Boomers, for example, who make up one of the largest and most powerful spending generations, can continue to lead active lifestyles late in life.

According to a recent study by ABI Research, the market for monitored mHealth devices is on the rise globally, and by 2021 North America will be the largest market in the forecast period, with shipments rising from around 3.5 million in 2016 to nearly 12 million in 2021.

The report looks at the rise in popularity of PERS and mPERS products, as well as activity tracking, fall detection and additional home sensors such as medication reminders, most of which are professionally monitored. According to the study, the shipment of PERS devices will more than double by 2021, growing from around 2.7 million in 2016 to around 6.3 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 45 percent.

ASAP to PSAP

What exactly is the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP) you ask? According to The Monitoring Association, the ASAP service, launched in 2011 as a public-private partnership, “is designed to increase the efficiency and reliability of emergency electronic signals from monitoring companies to public safety answering points (PSAPs). ASAP utilizes ANSI standard protocols developed cooperatively by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and The Monitoring Association. With ASAP, critical life safety signals and accurate information are processed in seconds, not minutes, through the Nlets system of state-to-state PSAP communication, ensuring that complete and accurate information is transmitted to the PSAP every time.”

Last year, Newport News, Va., went live with its ASAP program, joining other municipalities in the state of Virginia using ASAP, including as the City of Richmond, James City County, York County, and Henrico County. Newport News went live with eight alarm companies on Aug. 1, 2017. Virginia has 5 of the 27 nationwide.

The state of Virginia has an ASAP grant program as well.

Work with the Best Local Monitoring Company in Virginia

Be sure to contact your local monitoring company to look at the expanding monitoring services available for dealers today. If you have a security business in Virginia or any surrounding states, feel free to give us a call.