Parks Associates research finds security dealers are branching out into new areas to bolster revenues and add applications that require or enrich professional installation and monitoring. The firm’s 11th annual Security Dealer Perspectives: Views from the Front Line presents and analyzes the results of a nationwide survey of installers/dealers who install security systems, including both owners and those employed by security firms.

The survey reveals that 30% of dealers sold DIY systems in 2023, and nearly all retained their core business of selling professionally installed systems as well. The research quantifies the dealers’ view of the security market, with data compared across multiple surveys, and analyzes competitive pressures, industry conditions, and new trends, including the addition of smart home and interactive technologies.

“In 2023, dealers faced many challenges,” said Jason Paris, VP, business development, Parks Associates. “High interest rates and low home sales meant fewer consumers were moving into resales, a critical time for acquiring a new security system and monitoring services. Inflation continues to temper consumer spending while DIY products competed with security systems for consumers’ wallets.”

“More intuitive assistants will smooth the friction users encounter in having to specify which smart home device an app or assistant should control in a complex installation,” Paris said. “It also stands to raise the perceived benefits of creating a smart home.”

From the article, "Parks Associates Study Finds 30% of Security Dealers Sold DIY Systems in 2023" by Jeremy Glowacki