ESA launches Industry Research Center, unveils Performance Index

IRVING, Texas—The Electronic Security Association (ESA) announced the launch of its ESA Industry Research Center at the Electronic Security Expo (ESX), marking it as a new initiative aimed at delivering economic and industry intelligence to the electronic security and life safety market.

Research center targets industry visibility

The Research Center, developed in partnership with macroeconomic forecasting firm Beacon Economics, is designed to provide integrators and dealers with data to better understand industry performance, growth trends and forward trajectory, according to the association.

At the center of the initiative is the forthcoming ESA Industry Performance Index (IPI), a composite score ranging from 0 to 100 that measures the health and trajectory of the industry. ESA said the index is based specifically on factors that influence the security and life safety sector, rather than broader economic indicators.

Index framework focuses on four key areas

The IPI measures industry health across four dimensions. Business Activity and Market Growth tracks current demand and future trajectory, including revenue trends, project backlogs, segment growth, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity and sales velocity.

Workforce Capacity and Pressure assesses whether the industry can meet that demand, monitoring hiring timelines, vacancy rates, wage pressures and the widening skills gap between traditional field roles and AI-enabled technical positions.

Revenue and Business Model Health looks beyond topline growth to evaluate earnings durability, analyzing profit margins, the shift toward recurring revenue and contract quality.

Rounding out the index, Technology and AI Adoption tracks the pace of modernization, from proactive monitoring and connected systems integration to customer-facing technology and cybersecurity readiness.

ESA said the index is scheduled to launch in July 2026.

Leadership frames initiative as industry milestone

Kevin Stone, ESA chairman and COO of Doyle Security Systems, said in a statement that the Research Center marks a significant step forward for the industry.

“For the first time, integrators and dealers will have access to the kind of rigorous, purpose-built economic intelligence that supports smarter decisions, stronger businesses, and a more resilient industry overall,” he said.