The Locksmith Journal 102 November 2024 | Page 37

HARDWARE & SECURITY

DoorBird - Flying High Since 2014

» BERLIN , 2014 , JOACHIMSTHALER Straße . Not far from Kurfürstendamm , Berlin ’ s number 1 shopping boulevard , a handful of people are working high up on the 13th floor to conquer the global market for smart door intercom systems with a compact and ultra-modern and above all high-quality and affordable product : DoorBird . The goal was to make it possible for residents all over the world to speak to their visitors at the door and even open the door for them , no matter where they may be at that moment .
In autumn , 2014 the time had come : The very first models had an HD camera with a 180 ° ultra-wide angle and night vision mode , a motion sensor , Wi-Fi , and various connections . The comprehensive range of equipment was a decisive competitive advantage , and this was also immediately recognized : On December 23 , 2014 , a customer from Orlando , Florida , placed the very first DoorBird order at www . doorbird . com . The first sale in Germany followed just two days later to a customer near Cologne .
Smart Door Communication Taken to the Next Level
While the so-called D10x series was still maturing into its final version in the company ’ s early days , another product range was already in the works : This range satisfied the high demand for models made of high-quality material ( stainless steel ) for flush or surface mounting , with the same technical functionality . Accessories such as the BirdGuard additional camera or an alarm siren were also taken into account .
The small company then became an integral party of the door intercom market . Over the next few years , new or expanded door intercom models , indoor stations , upgrade and access control systems as well as accessory products were consistently introduced . By 2024 , just ten years after the company ’ s foundation , the total number of products would be 2,300 if you were to factor in the different color options available .
Almost every one of these many products have been met with widespread approval from customers in 161 countries . Large-scale projects such as hotels , commercial facilities , and entire residential complexes in particular are becoming increasingly important and offer enormous potential for DoorBird ’ s future .
Go West Meets Made in Germany
Whether it was more products or more employees , The DoorBird family around the founders Bernd Müller and Sascha Keller continued to grow in order to create the best possible product experience . All products are developed internally , all design phases undergo strict controls , and each finished product is extensively tested in specially developed test environments . This in-house approach ensures the highest level of quality and reliability — the high degree of compatibility of the DoorBirds further enhances userfriendliness .
Although the know-how and production were located in Berlin , right from the outset the two founders saw the USA as one of the most important markets . The decision to present the DoorBird directly at a US trade fair was part of this thinking .
In the summer of 2015 , the company moved into its first premises on American soil , in San Francisco — with its proximity to Silicon Valley , one of the most important locations for the IT and high-tech industry worldwide , San Francisco was the ideal starting point for conquering the US market . By quickly specialising in the upscale residential segment and the B2B business with electricians , DoorBird chose a path that turned out to be extremely successful . In 2021 , the second location was opened in Jacksonville , Florida , with the aim of being even closer to partners and customers on the American East Coast .
Part of a Big Family
Since 2022 , Bird Home Automation GmbH has therefore been part of the ASSA ABLOY Group . ASSA ABLOY is the world ’ s leading manufacturer and supplier of locking and security systems for everything to do with doors . Following the acquisition of DoorBird , ASSA ABLOY now has products that can be used worldwide in the area of door communication . After all , there will be other innovative products in the future , of course always geared towards the needs of the customers . Because meeting these needs with topquality products , no matter what the application and no matter where in the world , is what the company wants to do — always made with love in Berlin . Made in Germany .
www . doorbird . com
NOVEMBER 2024
37
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