Covid-19 and Security: What will the Security System Industry look like in 2021?

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected all industries all over the world. With the slowdown of global economic growth, the security system industry has also suffered an extreme impact. Security system business owners are finding ways to maintain a convincing market growth by bringing modern technologies that can promote security without compromising Covid-19 safety. In 2021, it is expected to revive from the effects of Covid-19 by making some changes in security technologies.

In this article, we will examine the impact of Covid-19 on the home security system market and what the revival of the home security market will look like in 2021. We will take you through emerging technologies such as connected home security systems, touchless biometric systems, finger scans, hybrid face systems, and integrating biometrics with access control systems.

We will also discuss how residential security will change with access control systems, CCTV and video surveillance systems, IoT security and wireless technologies, artificial intelligence-based deep learning in security systems, and do-it-yourself (DIY) security systems.

In March 2020, when the United States and Canada officially declared the coronavirus as a public health emergency, businesses and corporations’ sudden closures instantly affected the economy.

By April 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic had badly impacted most sectors, including the global security industry. With the impact of Covid-19 on the global security industry, several disruptions to the supply chain processes have resulted in a decreased demand for home security systems globally. The main reason for this decrease is due to several collective factors that include: massive job losses caused by unexpected lay-offs, decreased income for individuals’ families, and shutdowns in the real estate and construction sectors that rely on alarm and security systems.

Due to national lockdowns, the demand for home security systems decreased because with more people staying at home, they could no longer travel or be at work for long periods. The main purpose of home security systems is to protect properties and homes from unwanted burglaries and theft while people are not present at home. Covid-19 had the opposite effect and forced people to stay indoors, making home security systems less of a priority.

If the virus continues to spread into 2021 at the alarming rate that it currently is, global sales in the home security systems industry will continue to decline or remain low due to the global economic recession.

• Consumers who were suddenly laid-off or experienced unemployment were forced to budget their finances and only purchase essential products. Additional services and products, such as home security, were deemed non-essential.
• With the sudden stall of sales in real estate and the housing market, pro-install product and home security sales decreased as the production of new homes and buildings were suddenly halted.
• With social distancing put in place, many in-person services such as pro-installation of home security systems were suddenly stopped to prevent the spread of the virus.
• More people working remotely reduces the need for home security systems.

Now that we have discussed the main outcomes of how Covid-19 impacted the global security industry in 2020, we will discuss the revival of technological adaptations in 2021 to revive the home security market.

When it comes to moving forward into 2021, more people are working remotely. Children and students opt for online learning, and online shopping is the primary way people are purchasing goods. That means the reliance on technology and online services is a necessity for living.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, companies are advised to conduct end-to-end supply chain risk assessments and focus on critical areas. The goal for companies is to implement digital and automated manufacturing capabilities to ensure supply chains are uninterrupted.

Like how people are transitioning to online shopping, companies should move to cloud-based technologies to allow all people to gain access to all businesses. Offering pay-as-you-go services and cloud business applications will keep businesses in operation without disrupting the market.

For home security systems to stay afloat in 2021 and onwards, a seamless and easy-to-use security system should be the main selling point to future customers. Along with seamless integration services, a guarantee should be given to customers to get around the clock security protection.

Regardless of the Covid-19 pandemic, people purchasing global smart home security devices are expected to increase in 2020 and into 2021.

Artificial intelligence (AI) with visual recognition will be a primary Integrated technology implemented in security devices.

With people working remotely, the Covid-19 pandemic has given hackers more to work with. Ransomware attacks will become more frequent. The global security sector will have to stay two steps ahead by developing innovative technologies to prevent future hacks into company and business accounts.

As more personal information is being stored in cloud solutions, security validation will constantly be evolving to ensure that no data breaches are leaked to hackers. This allows the global home security industry to develop security validation solutions to keep data private.

• Global smart home security devices market size is expected to increase in 2020.
• In 2020, the decrease in sales in home security systems from 52% to 44% was mainly caused by the global economic recession. With companies and businesses forced to shut down to contain the virus, it was a normal reaction for many sectors to lose sales.
• The economic predictions in the global smart home security sector are expected to recover from its 2020 losses and increase from 2021 to 2025.

As we move into 2021, the Covid-19 pandemic should get under control by administering a vaccine. Once people have received the vaccine, major sectors and the travel industry will start reopening with the hopes that people will feel safe to work in offices and travel again.

When the reopening of sectors occurs, people will be spending less time at home, and the demand for the installation of residential alarm systems at home will increase.

• Smart home automation will contain features that will reduce the need for manual management. This will be helpful during the Covid-19 pandemic as the selling point will be contactless management.
• As the economy starts up again, cost savings will be highlighted to entice buyers to purchase home security systems for effective monitoring technology to enhance people’s peace of mind while they are away at work or travel.
• “Do it Together” (DIT) solution. This will be a win-win situation for the customer and security system company. As your sales team will provide remote consultation while providing the same services.

As remote working, online conferencing, and contactless ways of doing business increases during the Covid-19 pandemic, security system customer are paying special attention to what is being done to prevent the transmission of the virus through touch points in public spaces, such as ATM”s, debit machines, and security touchpads.

• Reduction of the transmission of the coronavirus and other viruses.
• People can avoid using keypads with PIN-based security systems, as no physical touching will be required.
• Self-serve technology will be more convenient for people as they will be able to by-pass waiting times.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic has made people increase their hygiene practices, such as washing hands with soap and water several times a day, people no longer want to touch any surfaces when they are in public. That’s why biometrics is here to stay. Now that the Covid-19 pandemic has increased the demand for touchless security systems.

• As companies, retailers, airports, and public areas shift to touchless biometric systems, people will have a renewed confidence in using public touch points such as ATMs, elevators, security pin pads, and self-service machines.
• Biometrics will depend on the user providing their unique fingerprints or facial structure to obtain access. Individual fingerprints and facial structure provides more validation than an individual entering a simple password for authentication.
• Regardless of whether they involve touch sensing, biometric solutions are being developed at rapid speed and introduced in public spaces almost immediately.
• The development of various biometric systems includes thermal sensors to measure body temperature to detect if individuals have a fever, which is one of the coronavirus symptoms.
• Because biometric technology is convenient, people will be able to adapt quickly to biometric solutions. They will be more likely to adapt to using touchless technology, such as implementing facial authentication measures.

As the Covid-19 pandemic presses on well into 2021, people will take comfort in touchless biometric systems. This is a good direction for the global security system industry as demand increases in 2021 and onwards, the opportunities to develop more sophisticated biometric systems that people will have access to on a more frequent basis.

• The 2D and 3D systems let people verify their identity through their finger scans and hybrid face/iris systems to access specific control points. This eliminates physically touching keypads and pressing buttons as an identity will be confirmed through the person’s fingerprints and facial/iris recognition.
• The 2D eye system is a hybrid face recognition system that depends on the person’s face and iris recognition to verify identity. The 2D eye system eliminates the need to sanitize the area as this process is contactless and hygienic.
• The 3D Touchless Finger-scan system’s purpose is for people going through a queue. This system is appropriate for companies where sign-in and sign-out are required to establish someone has arrived for their shift at work. It captures the image of hands and fingerprints that are wet, cut, or oily. It can even recognize fingerprints when the user is wearing latex gloves. The 3D Touchless Finger Scan system promotes a hygienic and contactless.

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues well into 2021, people will take comfort in touchless biometric systems. This is a good direction for the global security system industry as demand increases in 2021 and onwards. The opportunities to develop more sophisticated biometric systems that people will have access to regularly.

• The touchless aspect is supported by a subsystem that is connected to a network. The benefit of a touchless system eliminates the need for swipe cards.
• Users are connected to the access control system and the subsystem. This promotes faster authentication and identification and eliminates identity theft because biometric passcodes cannot be forged.
• Currently, during the Covid-19 pandemic, facial and iris recognition is the most common biometrics being integrated into the security process. The benefit of facial and iris recognition grants access to people if an authorized entry needs verification.
• Scanning people for Covid-19 is easy and fast. For example, when a thermal camera is integrated as part of the biometric reader when an individual is scanned, a green light will appear on the access control system if a high temperature is detected. The individual will not be granted access and will be advised to get tested for Covid-19 and self-monitor for symptoms.

During the pandemic, one of the most important factors in integrating biometrics is how people will adapt to the changes in residential security.

• Domestic robots will continue to be in demand, as more people will be staying at home and remote working. With increased remote working, day-to-day chores will be challenging to complete, and people will opt for domestic robots as vacuum cleaners and lawnmowers.
• AI-driven technology, such as facial recognition, will become a regular feature of home security systems. The technology from facial recognition can determine if the person entering the home is one of the residents. It will also deter possible burglars from entering, as they will not pass the access control system.
• Home security upgrades in residential security cameras to include facial recognition software allows AI-driven technology to verify people who visit the property. One of the upgrades includes entering a log of individuals into the person’s home security system. The AI-driven technology will be able to identify repeat visitors and determine if someone is unrecognizable.

• As per data from a recent report, between 2017 and 2019, 64 countries have adopted artificial intelligence (AI) surveillance using facial recognition systems worldwide, whilst 56 countries have adopted smart city or safe city platforms.
• The use of AI-driven technology in security systems is expected to increase in the coming years.
• The Artificial Intelligence in the Security market was valued at USD 5.08 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach USD 14.18 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 18.64% over the forecast period 2020 – 2025.

While we move towards a hands-free society to prevent the spread of Covid-19, another way biometrics integration is pushing the envelope is by having a contactless access control system inserted, literally, under your skin.

• A controversial touchless access control system is becoming popular, and it’s called human microchip.
• Integrating human microchip into a person’s body is done by inserting microchips underneath the skin of the person’s hand, specifically, between the thumb and forefinger.
• Human microchip is one step above facial and iris recognition because a person does not have to scan their face or eyes to open a door. With human microchip, a door will open with the wave of your hand.
• The microchip inserted into the person’s hand will be electronically programmed into the door’s control system. Once the person approaches the door, the wave of the hand will act as a swipe card; however, the microchip in the person’s hand will trigger the door to open.
• The thought of inserting a microchip the size of a grain of rice into a person’s hand might make many people uncomfortable. But there have been many volunteers who have received human microchipping and report a positive experience.

Global sales in CCTV and video surveillance systems are predicted to grow after 2020, as more businesses and public spaces will need to upgrade their technology to accommodate AI surveillance.

• To ensure the safety of people and keep up with contract tracing during the Covid-19 pandemic, CCTV and video monitoring are being upgraded to smart camera systems with artificial intelligence, people counting, intelligent tracking, and facial recognition.
• CCTV and video monitoring with artificial intelligence will be implemented to identify suspicious activity.
• Video monitoring systems will be able to instantly alert security teams.
• Suspicious activity will be instantaneous and set off alarms and will automatically activate locks to keep intruders out.
• AI video monitoring will include facial recognition and be able to identify suspicious or unknown individuals and reject them from entering the premises.
• If individuals experience their identity card stolen, if the stealer tries to use the card to gain access to the building, the video monitoring system with facial recognition can verify if the person is the actual card holder. If not, the person with the stolen identity card is denied access.

• In 2019, the video surveillance camera market stood at 23.6 billion U.S. dollars, with forecasts predicting that it will grow to 44 billion U.S. dollars by 2025. As suggested by the source, the market will benefit from the increased adoption of smart camera systems.

As the global sales for home and business security systems continue to grow in the future and well after the Covid-19 pandemic is over. The Internet of Things (IoT) and wireless technologies will play an intricate role.

• As more people and companies depend on video surveillance, home security, and smartphones, additional IoT services will be needed to rely on around the clock coverage.
• People will rely more on virtual assistants powered by Alexa or Siri to turn lights off and on, secure door locks, adjust air conditioning and heating settings, and more. Therefore, the demand for IoT and wireless technologies will steadily increase.
• Wireless security for homes and companies will become a more suitable form of alarm systems as the reliance on touchless systems will eventually become the norm.

As the global home security system market recovers in 2021 and onwards, part of the ongoing initiatives to keep people safe will be implementing artificial intelligence-based deep learning in home security systems.

• The main trend AI-based deep learning and computer vision will focus on is crime prevention by establishing any movement on the premises from an identified individual. Once the individual has been verified as a trespasser, the control access system can alert the home security emergency response team.
• Facial recognition will be an important source of deep machine learning, whereby a set of photographs will be entered into the home security system and recorded as residents. It will distinguish when a possible intruder or unidentified visitor tries to enter the premises because the person’s face will not match the photos uploaded on their home security system.

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to place restrictions on in-person contact, there will be enormous growth in 2021 and onwards of people purchasing do-it-yourself security systems.

• Customers can choose which DIY security system is most appropriate for their property based on their needs. This will give them more purchasing power when they can fulfill their security features.
• One of the main factors that will drive more people to DIY security systems is cost savings. They will have to install it themselves, but they will save money on pro-installation.
• If customers need technical support while going through the DIY security installation process, they can call a professional and get step-by-step assistance. Therefore, the DIT (Do-it-Together) model will become part of the home security company’s service.
• With the DIT model, traditional pro-installer customers will feel satisfied with their DIY security systems because they can access reliable support.
• Once the Covid-19 pandemic clears, global security home system companies need to evaluate how residential services will proceed with pricing DIT security systems, as pro-installation will become available again.

As Covid-19 continues to hit globally, the security market adopts new strategic changes that may increase industrial growth. The security businesses have started adopting contactless security systems integrated with the latest security technologies. This helps to take the Covid-19 rules seriously and improve the safety and security of the customers. By adopting new ways, it is expected to bring a positive change in the security market, both in terms of improving sales and security.