Smart Security for the Whole Home

This article by Ryan Bromley, Co-Founder of Kubu Smart Security 🔒 was first published in Total Installer Magazine November/December 2023 Edition.

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Picture this: With your mum now living alone, you decided to install a state-of-the-art Smart lock and a video doorbell on her front door, in the belief it would enhance her security, and give you the peace-of-mind you’ve been looking for. However, one chilly winter night, a side window, well out of view from the street, is silently pried open by an intruder (Mum forgot to secure it after ventilating her house earlier that day), completely circumventing the ‘Smart’ security system you’ve just put your faith (and a considerable amount of cash) into. 

OK, it’s just a thought experiment, but it’s not out of the realms of possibility, and it certainly highlights the critical loophole in many current ‘Smart’ security solutions. 

Their predominant focus on doors – while wholly neglecting other potential entry points around the home – is a real headache.

The recent surge in interest from fabricators towards smart tech is not merely a fleeting trend but a response to a tangible, evolving demand for comprehensive home security solutions. It marks a shift from viewing Smart tech as a gadget to recognising it as an integral component of a robust home security system.

From Gimmick to Guardian

To overcome the gap, the integration of smart technology into fenestration products has had to transcended beyond doors to encompass all entry points. The incorporation of window sensors, coupled with the seamless integration with broader smart home ecosystems has metamorphosed fenestration smart tech from a mere gimmick to a genuine home security solution.

While smart locks and access control systems have faced scepticism due to concerns like hacking, malfunction, aesthetics and battery drain, home monitoring systems – such as the Ring doorbell – have found favour among homeowners and been picked up en masse. 

Nearly half of all homeowners in the UK regularly use a home monitoring system of one kind or another, highlighting a discernible preference for technologies that offer monitoring and alert mechanisms over the perceived risks of other devices.

Whole House Solutions: The Future of Smart Home Security

The virtues of whole-home solutions are numerous. Firstly, they offer a 360-degree security solution, ensuring that all potential entry points, not just the front door, are secured and monitored. This integrated approach helps to avoid the risks associated with isolated smart tech solutions that leave other entry points vulnerable.

Secondly, the integration of smart sensing technologies across various entry points into a unified smart home ecosystem enhances the user experience. Homeowners can monitor and control the security of doors, windows, and other entry points through a single interface, ensuring ease of use and enhanced control.

Then there’s the advancements in the technologies that have addressed concerns related to reliability and vulnerability. The new-age smart sensing technologies are reliable, and do not pose the same performance issues, as there are less moving parts to go wrong. With the UK Government’s new IoT legislation, newer products also come with enhanced encryption and security features that safeguard against hacking and other online security breaches.

Striking the Right Balance: Affordability Meets Technology

Smart sensing technologies are not just riding on enhanced security features but are also making strides by hitting the right chords with affordability and aesthetic appeal too. 

More modern smart sensors and devices are not only sleek and unobtrusive but also blend almost invisibly into the customers’ home. This ensures that homeowners no longer have to compromise the aesthetic appeal of their homes – with the likes of surface mounted sensors or huge plastic motor housings – for the sake of security.

The right level of smart tech, coupled with an attractive price point, and an appealing form factor is not only making it a more enticing prospect for homeowners, but is also alleviating fabricators and installers from the hassles of service calls.

In addition, it furnishes them with a distinctive selling point – enabling industry professionals to stand out in this ever more competitive market, where every player is vying for the consumer’s attention.

The ability to offer a security solution that is comprehensive, affordable, and aesthetically pleasing, while also minimising potential service call headaches, is a compelling proposition that is resulting in a surge of Installation companies styling themselves as Smart Installers, in an attempt to get an edge over their competition and win more business as a result.

Choosing the Right Journey

The fenestration industry stands at a crossroads, where the adoption and integration of smart tech will very quickly move from being a differentiator to a necessity. 

The evolution from door-centric smart solutions to whole-house smart security systems marks a significant stride in the industry’s Smart journey. 

It’s no longer merely about securing a home; it’s about offering peace of mind, convenience, and a seamless user experience to homeowners while providing a robust, reliable, and comprehensive security solution.

As smart technology transitions from a novelty to a household essential, Kubu leads the way. Our cutting-edge smart sensors provide comprehensive protection for the whole home without compromising aesthetics or breaking the bank. 

So what are you waiting for? Secure your peace of mind, embrace the future of home safety, and remember: 

Be Smart, Work with Kubu.