Securing the physical security industry’s future with innovation: The STANLEY Security ethos

Everyone was once wowed by the introduction of the TV remote control – no more arguments over who’s going to get up and change the channel! – and the only thing that reacted to voice command was Aladdin’s Genie!

These days there are numerous devices and technologies that provide instant information and control at the touch of our fingers or even with our dulcet tones. Products like Alexa and Nest, have  incorporate sophisticated technologies that have now become the norm in our lives.

There’s no doubt about it, consumer electronics have changed and enriched our lives in so many ways (think sat nav vs. road maps if you’re in any doubt!). They have also changed our expectations in general as people don’t live in isolated bubbles anymore.

If they can control their heating at home from their smartphone 50 miles away, they expect to be able to perform other tasks remotely, instantly and easily whether it’s home or work related.  When this doesn’t happen, there’s a genuine sense of frustration.

When you compare these consumer electronics to the type of technology you see in the security sector, our industry looks very behind the times. Every manufacturer likes to think their new product is innovative and unique – how many times have we heard that? – but the reality is, it’s usually more of the same.

Security is often considered a ‘grudge purchase’: a necessary evil

It’s made worse by the fact that security is often considered a ‘grudge purchase’: a necessary evil.

I don’t mean to sound disparaging, but I do think the time is ripe for us to shake up the security industry and burst out of our bubble, before other parties burst it for us.

We have to look to the future and become innovators. We need to collaborate with organisations outside of our own industry in order to add value to security systems and engage a wider audience.

Shaking things up

STANLEY Security has been just as culpable of playing it safe as other security companies. We have been innovative but mainly with core products such as CCTV cameras and access control equipment.

There has, however, been a sea of change in the company, with a focus on innovation and more of a desire to consider at how we can do things differently. This has been noticeable right across the business, from our internal processes to innovative product thinking.  We want to shake things up!

As part of this process of change we are embracing ‘exponential thinking’, which is something that could benefit many organisations and staff. This means looking at the balance between the linear and the exponential path.

The linear path is important to the basics of a business but the exponential path is fundamental in taking us to the next level by broadening our horizons and our way of thinking.

STANLEY Security conducts Innovation Days to showcase new technologies at quite an early stage to get  customer input on product design

We’re will continue to manage our core products (the linear path), but are looking intensively at new product development and partnering with technology start ups outside of the security industry too.

By getting in at an early stage we can partner with innovative organisations to help them develop commercially viable products. We benefit from their innovation and they benefit from STANLEY’s extensive customer knowledge.

As part of this process, it’s essential to engage potential customers.  If it’s essentially an upgrade to an existing product you’re unlikely to pique their interest but if it’s something truly radical – you have them hooked!

STANLEY Security conducts Technology Workshops and Innovation Days with customers where we showcase new technologies at quite an early stage to get invaluable customer input on product design. For a recent Innovation Day aimed at the banking sector we had eight partners presenting and 20 customers present, all of whom were fully engaged with the process.  It means taking more of a partnership approach which also enables us to separate true innovation from hype.

What does the future hold?

We see new product development falling into two categories: those that disrupt today’s market or those that create a new one.

If we’re looking at disruption then I consider the development of advanced analytics on CCTV cameras to be up there.  It’s certainly been one of the major changes in recent years. We now have the ability determine between a pet and a person, for example, because facial recognition technology is moving fast.

I can see a time when facial recognition will be the main method of gaining access to a building, removing the need for proximity tags or electronic devices.

In the same vein, we are looking to develop one of our existing technologies, Connected Assets, to take not only security equipment feeds but feeds from other equipment and systems in a building. We hope to then turn it into an analytics platform, looking for example, at the overall health and safety of a building and the people who work in it, especially lone workers.

With this technology, we go beyond the disruptive model into creating a new market. It’s a very exciting area as there’s so much potential.

What if you could then link it to a building’s BMS and look at cost-efficiencies – like turning air conditioning on/off automatically when people enter/leave a room or area. It’s non invasive and can be utilised by multiple people within the same organisation, so it becomes a positive asset.

I’m not saying we are anywhere near this yet, but the point is that we need to think further into the future than we currently are.

We are currently testing 3D internal building mapping within STANLEY’s own premises

Another area we are looking at that has many possibilities is 3D internal building mapping. We are currently using it within STANLEY’s own premises to test and explore opportunities.

It’s already obvious to us that it could benefit large sites that have many visitors such as hotels and airports where this technology could be used to direct people to their room or gate.

But it’s not just about product. We need to be open to ideas across all areas of our business. For example, could there be a time when all service engineers carry a 3D printer in their vans to make the parts they need.  How much more efficient would that be than having to order a part, wait for it, and return to site to fit it?!

Innovation is exciting and infectious! We must embrace it if we want to hold our own and not be sidelined or even swallowed up by other more forward thinking sectors.  The biggest danger is if, as an industry, we stick to that tried, tested and worn linear path because that path leads to nowhere.

A division of Stanley Black & Decker (SWK), STANLEY Security is one of the leading security providers in the UK and around the world.  It designs, installs and monitors services security systems for industrial, government, commercial and national account customers. STANLEY Security provides the best of both worlds, a local company with global resources and one of the most trusted names in security.

Pacom Systems/STANLEY Security is exhibiting at IFSEC International, 19-21 June 2018, ExCeL London. You can find them on stand F222. Register now.