IMS: Demand for mass notification systems expected to soar

LONDON—In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing and the ensuing manhunt, as well as the Sandy Hook massacre, governments, schools and other organizations are turning to mass notification systems to protect public safety, which is expected to fuel a 30 percent spike in demand for the North American market, according to IMS Research, now part of IHS.

The research firm expects spending on MNS in North America to rise to $2.1 billion in 2017, up from $1.6 billion in 2013, according to a new report entitled “The North American and European Markets for Mass Notification Systems.”

The anticipated spending surge includes sales for hardware, software and service, maintenance and installation.

“From Amber Alerts on television, to school warnings over the telephone on sexual predators, MNS mechanisms have become a fact of life for most Americans,” stated Paul Everett, senior manager, security and fire, for IHS. “The need for such systems has come to the forefront because of recent high-profile crimes and terrorist acts that have affected thousands of citizens. Because of this, organizations including commercial enterprises, educational establishments, governmental bodies and military operations all are expected to adopt various types of MNS in the coming years.”

History has borne out that infamous terrorism or criminal events can drive the growth of the North American MNS market. After the 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood, a military base in Texas, the U.S. Secretary of Defense found that the majority of Department of Defense sites lacked the infrastructure to deliver messages through multiple communications channels during a crisis. The review recommended that all DoD sites implement MNS, the IMS release noted.

Major North American verticals for MNS include assembly, commercial, education, government, healthcare, industrial, military, transportation and utilities, the statement said.