50 • NATIONAL HOME SECURITY MONTH
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TODAY , THE ‘ SMART , CONNECTED home ’ is the exception . In a decade it will be the norm and locksmiths need to adapt to the changing environment to ensure their businesses don ’ t get left behind in the ‘ Smart Tech Revolution ’. Already there are smart meters to track energy usage , smart thermostats to control heating systems , smart doorbells and cameras for home security as well as smart home assistance devices such as Amazon ’ s Alexa and Google ’ s Home Mini . This is what the smart tech revolution is all about . The current crop of technologies is merely the starting point . They will improve . And they will never stop developing .
The game changer for the locksmith market will be the mass adaptation of smart locks into the home residential market . Contactless smart locks that are wire free , wireless , cloud or mobile based are already in widespread use in commercial markets such as hotels , universities , airports , offices etc . The Government has already announced its intention that every new home built will have to be equipped with a smart meter and electric car charging points . In addition to this , major house builders are already starting to look at fitting smart locks as standard and as this begins to happen locksmiths need to be ready to service this huge market .
- The smart products coming on to the home security market are interesting not just for what they can do , but as precursors of a whole revolution in the way people will live -
One of the world leaders in smart wire free , wireless , cloud and mobile based access control solutions is SALTO Systems . Every day in over 90 countries , over 15 million people use SALTO contactless products to provide total control over who is able to access what , where and when . We asked Jack Cowburn , SALTO ’ s UK Residential Solutions Manager to give us his take on the rise of the smart tech sector , how companies such as his are adapting to the changing security landscape , what products are coming and how locksmiths need to stay informed so they don ’ t get left behind in the ‘ Smart Tech Revolution ’.
THE LOCKSMITH : WHAT IS RESIDENTIAL SMART TECH AND WHAT IS DRIVING ITS ADOPTION ?
Residential smart lock technology allows the end user to go above and beyond what a standard door lock can offer . The smart lock allows multiple features to be accessed through an app on a smart phone giving the end user a greater picture of their home security . There ’ s a lot going on in today ’ s households : children coming in from school , dog walkers , housekeepers , babysitters . Even grocery store delivery services are now offering the option to enter your home to put groceries away . This has driven a need to not only secure your house but also give people access when needed , residential smart locks provide simple management that can be adjusted quickly and easily . I think another drive for this new technology stems from the rise of the smart phone , people now want everything to be accessed through their personal device . The residential smart lock allows for home security to be part of a person ’ s smart phone . As well as accessing heating , CCTV and other smart home devices the security of your home can now sit alongside this .
HOW WILL SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY AFFECT LOCKSMITHS ?
I think the biggest effect on locksmiths will be having to eventually change their product range to accommodate for the smart home lock , although I believe this will happen gradually over the next few years . Locksmiths will also have to immerse themselves into the move to smart locks so they can carry out routine servicing on end user properties as they would with a standard lock and key . In the case of SALTO I don ’ t think locksmiths will be affected as much by Danalock as it retains a key and cylinder . This allows the locksmith to easily upsell the product without having to make any changes to the door structure . Overall I don ’ t think the smart lock will affect business for locksmiths it will just change what type of lock they are installing . I think the locksmith will always be the prominent installer in residential security .
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF THIS TECHNOLOGY OVER A TRADITIONAL KEY AND LOCK ARRANGEMENT ?
There are many advantages over the traditional key and lock , a smart home lock will allow the end user to gain a bigger picture of their home security and monitor it remotely . Audit trails will let you know who has entered the house and who has left the house . Remote keys will
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LOCKSMITHJOURNAL . CO . UK | SEP / OCT 2018