Security Sales & Integration January 2022 - 16

MARKETS
▶ LOS ANGELES - The leading barrier
to smart home product adoption has long
been perceived as a lack of affordability;
however, manufacturers are
penetrating lower-income households with
more affordable models of connected devices,
according to new research by Interpret.
Interpret's " Shifting Smart Home Buyer
Personas " study suggests far more middle
and lower-income consumers have entered
the home automation market than previously
understood: 59% of 2021 buyers earn
less than $75,000.
The study is said to look beyond the " average
smart home buyer " to explore meaningful
changes to important segments. The
report includes a deep dive into some of the
50 buyer attributes tracked quarterly to proNearly
60% of smart home gear buyers
in 2021 earned less than $75,000,
according to interpret.
vide more depth to persona development.
It includes channel trends with implications
across the home automation ecosystem,
according to the company.
RSPNDR Alarm Response Tech
Integrates With MAS
▶ TORONTO - RSPNDR, a provider of automated on-demand
mobile guard response to unverified alarms, has integrated with
MAS Monitoring's MASterMind central station software.
" The opportunity to integrate with MAS will accelerate adoption
so more monitoring stations, dealers, guard companies and
end-users can start to see the benefits of having a faster, more
transparent response to unverified alarms in less steps, " says
Mark Zimmerman, CEO of RSPNDR.
RSPNDR connects monitoring stations that have active
unverified alarms to a network of licensed on-demand mobile
guards that respond based on proximity. When alarms are
triggered, end users expect a fast response. Local law enforcement,
in some places, have deprioritized response to unverified
alarms and this has led to longer response times or in
some cases, no response. Without employing guards, RSPNDR
partners with local licensed guard companies to deliver alarm
response demand.
The platform algorithmically pings the mobile unit able
to respond first. Monitoring companies get full operational
progression in real-time along with documentation for full
accountability, according to the announcement. Based in Costa
Mesa, Calif., MAS is part of Carrier Global Corp. The MASterMind
suite provides a fully integrated, enterprise solution for
monitored, security service providers and central stations.
16
Security Sales & Integration JANUARY 2022
VERTICALS
MONITORING DISTRIBUTION
Lower-Income Households Are
Embracing Smart Home Products
Interpret's companion report, " Evolution
and Expansion of Smart Home Channels, "
finds that two-thirds of connected device
successfully
buyers are multichannel buyers or switchers
from one purchase channel to another, thus
open to persuasive new offers.
After more than a decade of experimentation
and expansion, some consumer
channels for connected devices products
and services are fine-tuning their focus.
Others are still trying to get the business
model right or get up to speed on engaging
and supporting consumers. The report explores
the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities
of the leading channels, including
direct-to-consumer, retail, home security,
internet service providers, custom integrators,
proptech and insurance.
Exertis to Acquire A/V Sector's Almo Corp.
▶ BUFFALO - Technology distribution giant Exertis is acquiring
Almo Corp. in North America, the biggest such deal in the history
of Extertis' parent company DCC Technology, one that purportedly
makes it the largest pro A/V specialist business in North America.
According to Exertis, this deal builds on other acquisitions
the company made in North America, including Stampede, Jam
Industries, The Music People and JB&A.
The transaction was based on an initial enterprise value of
about $610 million on a cash-free, debt-free basis, and was
conducted in a bilateral transaction with the Chaiken family, the
owners and managers of Almo since its founding 75 years ago,
according to DCC's regulatory filings.
John Dunne, a longtime senior executive currently leading the
Exertis Pro A/V team in North America will join the Alamo executive
team and help lead the merger. Almo's premium appliances
and mainstream appliances divisions will continue to be led by
Steve Terry and Jack Halperin, respectively.
For DCC, the move comes just three years after the company
entered the North American market in 2018, and immediately
makes the company a major player in the pro A/V supply chain.
" The North American market is the largest B2B and consumer
technology market in the world and the acquisition will enhance
DCC Technology's presence and capability in the consumer
channel where Almo is also the largest national distributor of
consumer appliance and lifestyle products, " DCC says in filings.
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Security Sales & Integration January 2022

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