IMS: Integration market in Americas to top $30 billion in 2016

The security integration market in the Americas will grow at an average annual rate of 7 percent through 2016, when it will exceed $30 billion, according to a new report from IMS Research.

“Security Systems Integration—World—2012 Edition” found that the market in the Americas remains highly competitive, with the largest five integrators accounting for less than 20 percent of revenues. The competition will increase further as traditional IT integrators enter the security market, eroding market share for established companies, the report said.

Paul Bremer, an IMS analyst and author of the report, said the integration market hinges on security equipment spending, which in turn hinges on the economy. Customers who demand more from their equipment represent a growth opportunity—“this is where [video content analysis] for business applications can return that increased ROI”—as does the uptake of PSIM systems, he said.

“These are designed to integrate and analyze information from traditional security devices such as video surveillance and physical access control, and present the relevant data to automatically or manually resolve the situation in real time,” Bremer told Security Systems News. “There's a real opportunity there for an increase in the design-and-consultancy portion of a project.”

The main obstacle to growth for integrators and installers is that during lean economic times, security budgets may be cut. This can postpone system upgrades and “put customers off” from obtaining equipment they otherwise would have purchased, Bremer said.

“Another worry for many installers should be that IP systems are inherently easier, and quicker, to install,” he said. “This could lead to some end users choosing to buy their equipment [directly] and install it themselves, bypassing the installer altogether, or more likely leading to lower revenues for the installer as less time is spent on site.”

While the United States is forecast to remain the largest systems integration market in the Americas during the next five years, the IMS report predicts the fastest growth will be in Latin America.

“Their economies have not been as affected by the financial crisis as the North American market, and countries such as Brazil are prime targets for the large multinational integrators,” Bremer said. “In terms of differences between the two markets, ultimately their growth is dependent on the same drivers, but the markets are at different stages right now with the Latin America market less mature.”

Whether it's in North America or Latin America, the most important factor for integrators and installers to take advantage of growth in the sector is to provide quality service for their customers, Bremer said.

“There's been a lot of talk ... about RMR generators and growing service contracts to maintain their profitability, and I think that ultimately the service portion of a contract will become more important for the integrator,” he said.