New research center underscores growing importance of benchmarking

DALLAS—The security industry has evolved rapidly over the past 15 years, but the data needed to understand that shift has lagged - a gap the Electronic Security Association (ESA) aims to address through its newly launched Industry Research Center (IRC), says Taylor Criddle, VP of advocacy and public affairs. 

“The products are different,” he said. “The business models are different. The workforce requirements are different.” 

A sharper foundation for decision-making 

Only recently, Criddle says, has sector-specific data begun to emerge that can help integrators and dealers better understand market direction, competitive positioning and long-term risk. 

“Understanding where you sit relative to the broader industry is becoming just as important as understanding your own balance sheet,” he said. “Industry-level intelligence gives integrators and dealers a sharper foundation for the decisions that matter most: pricing, hiring, technology investment and growth planning.” 

From hardware to integrated ecosystems 

Today’s commercial security deployments function more like operating environments, requiring ongoing configuration, firmware management, cybersecurity oversight and platform integration over the life of the system. As a result, integrators increasingly provide managed IT-style services rather than traditional low-voltage contracting. 

That shift has also reshaped business models: Recurring monthly revenue (RMR) now anchors many dealer and integrator operations through service agreements, monitoring contracts and cloud licenses. 

“That changes how businesses are valued, how cash flow is forecast and how growth is structured,” Criddle said. 

Workforce pressure is structural, not cyclical 

Without sector-specific benchmarks, Criddle added, companies are often forced to rely on intuition rather than evidence when evaluating hiring timelines, compensation structures and turnover rates. 

Criddle pointed to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing sustained demand for security-related installation roles, even as technical specialization increases. 

“The friction between available labor and the skills those roles actually require is not a temporary market condition,” he said. 

Technology convergence reshapes client expectations 

As security technologies converge, client expectations have risen accordingly. Artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted video analytics, cloud-managed access control and smart building integration have moved rapidly from niche applications to baseline commercial requirements. 

Technology adoption remains uneven across markets and customer segments, making comparative industry data increasingly valuable for planning. 

“Knowing whether you are ahead of the curve or trailing competitors has direct strategic value,” he said.