security technology industry outlook Commoditisation leads Lilin to home automation Merit Lilin has turned to new markets and particularly to the smart home automation market as a response to the commoditisation of the market. ”we have achieved a presence in this sector within 4 years that we never would have in security”, says Jason Hill, Vice President of Merit Lilin. By Henrik Söderlund Jason Hill, Vice President of Merit Lilin. Founded in 1980, Lilin has a long history in the video surveillance market. However, in recent years the company has taken a new path after anticipating the consolidation of the market, with more standardisation and lower prices. Lilin’s main focus has shifted from security installations to home automation in many markets. Only two SdKs “Four years ago, we started to work with some American home automation manufacturers and we discovered that we were very suitable for this market”, says Jason Hill. The major reason for that is that Lilin only has two SDKs in all their products – one for all the cameras and encoders, and another for the recording systems (i.e. NVRs) and decoders – which means only two drivers have to be written in order to make all products compatible with the automation system. “Our competitors have many different SDKs and when they release a new product, they will write a new SDK for it. Therefore it will not work with the driver that was written two years ago, whereas we are consistent in the fact that when we release a new product, it is compatible with our current SDK”, he says. Lilin started doing deep integration of cameras and its video recording system with home automation systems in order to let the end user control the CCTV system from his or her automation platform. wider adoption “The US is leading in the world of adoption of smart homes. Europe and the US are growing at the same rate, but the American market is more advanced and potentially bigger”, says Jason Hill. “Europe is also growing and if you look at the graphs of growth of smart homes in Europe and America you will see a very sharp increase for the European market”. He claims that more awareness of smart home technology and the fact that the cost of the technology is coming down and making it more accessible, contributes to wider adoption. “In 3–5 years time, the average British home will have a camera in it, and another two or three smart devices. Once you get to 3-4 smart devices that act independently, homeowners are going to ask how the devices can work together and that is where automation will become interesting. Sometimes our cameras will go in before the automation system, but usually they are going in as part of automation system,” says Jason Hill. Security is the main driver According to Lilin, the user’s key driver for purchasing a home automation system is security, not lighting, or any other clever gadgets. The reason for this is psychological and Jason Hill argues that it follows Maslow’s hierarchy of needs where the basic needs for human beings are food and shelter and then security. “There are so many things that are high up in that hierarchy: luxury goods like being able to listen to music in the whole house, etc., but further down is safety and security and that is why you as they have in their house. These people are not so concerned about which is the cheapest, they want the best”, says Jason Hill. All about integration Today, more and more of Lilin’s product development is focused on the home automation and inte- In 3–5 years time, the average British home will have a camera in it, and another two or three smart devices. can get an alert from the home automation system and be able to look at the cameras from your phone, it improves people’s sense of security”, he says. More cameras than expected Jason Hill also stresses that many of the projects are bigger and contain more cameras than many people and other IP camera manufacturers think. Some are using server based VMS platforms, which Lilin also integrate into home automation and Lilin also target the highend residential market. “Some people own more than one property or one business. When they see our products in their homes, they want those products in their businesses and in their other properties too and it leads on and on. They might have a yacht and then they want the same automation system there gration market, and the company has also gone into the IP video door phone and marine camera markets. Jason Hill says: “We are all about integration now. Home automation will certainly be a cornerstone for our business for the next five years. In nearly every single case, when a home automation system is installed in the house, cameras will go into that system.” He argues that Lilin has achieved a presence in the home automation sector within 4 years that they never would have done in the traditional security industry and they will move on to more sectors ahead. “It is very refreshing. I have been in the security industry for 30 years, and I am so passionate and excited about what we are doing now in automation. It has completely reinvigorated me as a manager in this business.” Security News Every Day – www. securityworldhotel.com dete kto r in te r n at i on al • 1 9