Will the new decade represent a ‘Roaring Twenties’ for security?

Interestingly enough, there are indeed parallels between 2020 and the 1920s. The 1920s represented a large period of industrial growth; today’s version of that is the advancements in Artificial Intelligence and video analytics. AI is predicted to be particularly impactful in crucial areas such as medical research and is already being used on a more practical level in healthcare facilities, retail stores, in manufacturing and transportation sectors. Due to COVID-19, it is difficult to say what the next decade will entail. We are innovating the uses for physical security technology in many different ways and in doing so, greatly expanding the number of applications for use. At the very least, this year has given physical security the opportunity to evolve and expand beyond current limits – something that will hopefully present many opportunities in the decade to come.

The parallels to a century ago are intriguing, with the Spanish Flu pandemic mirroring that of COVID-19. The “roaring twenties” saw a period of increased social and leisure time spending following war and disease, which could possibly indicate what our society may do once social restrictions have been lifted. Should this happen, then there will undoubtedly be impacts in the leisure and hospitality sectors, travel, accommodation, retail (physical and online), which will have a knock-on effect in demand for security services in these sectors. However, with many other uncertainties in the mix (the post-pandemic economies and Brexit to name two), a “boom time” is by no means assured in my opinion. If history has taught us anything (and indeed the last 12 months specifically), it is that the future is never certain, and you need to be prepared for any eventuality.

Technological advancements and global events will always be a catalyst for innovation and change in the security industry. I also believe that recent events have encouraged businesses to prioritise physical security investments more than ever before. In the decade ahead, adequate security technology that was once considered a “nice to have” will be an imperative to ensure occupant and employee safety and security. However, it is important that integrators and customers continue to take a pragmatic approach to security technology and invest in long-term, sustainable technologies that fit their unique needs and concerns. Moreover, increased processing power will continue to create opportunities to thrive in the security market that do not exist today. For example, ten years ago, IP cameras were just starting to come into vogue. This decade, cameras will have increased capabilities at the edge that we never thought possible.

Yes, I most certainly think it will be a great decade for the industry at large. Due to the growing computing power of smart sensors, the industry will move from security and safety applications to IoT business intelligence and automation. Much like human visual capabilities, visual sensors are the most data-rich of all and can provide a great amount of information to source intelligence from, driving all kinds of optimisations for individuals and businesses. The availability of this data will drive the formation of many new business models, as well as the emergence of new champions in fields and industries we previously thought were not relevant to the security and safety industry. Solutions developed in these areas will increase the quality of life and work as well as the value creation potential of our industry. I think it is a very exciting time to be involved in our industry.

Without a doubt. 2020 started off strong with a rise in capital investments and a promising outlook for launching and releasing innovative security technologies. But, when COVID-19 hit, it drastically altered the market dynamics, especially those in sectors facing significant downturns, like transportation and retail. Fortunately, a healthy demand for physical security systems is resurging as customers seek to leverage the latest technologies, such as intelligent video security solutions, as part of business continuity plans to ensure a safe return to the workplace. Now, as we look at the technology trajectory for the 2020s, integrators are seeking products to help their customers run more open, efficient and effective security operations as well as deliver situational insights to optimise their businesses.

The short answer? Yes. The long answer? The physical security industry has entered a new era of technology innovation and manufacturing due to the impact of COVID-19. Look at the reemergence of large-scale video projects and the realisation by many organisations of the need to restructure security operations to meet health and safety requirements. This means that video surveillance solutions need to be first and foremost designed around a user’s safety, compliance and business operations, looking strategically at pain points to produce both hardware and software solutions that are truly pragmatic. With that said, the future looks promising as manufacturers enter the 20s knowing that simplifying, automating, and modernising from a product development standpoint must not only expand situational awareness and video data usage, but also meet unique customer needs as new opportunities emerge in a variety of markets.