Ep. 37 - Old Mindset, New Market: Innovation in the Security Industry
- Chad Lingafelt
- Jul 3
- 2 min read
The security industry, steeped in tradition, often grapples with the adoption of new technologies. In a recent "Unlocked" podcast episode, Lars from Calgary Lock & Safe in Alberta, Tony from Assured Security in Minnesota, and Chad from Loc-Doc Security in Charlotte, NC, tackled this "old mindset" head-on, particularly in the context of mobile credentials. Their insights offer valuable lessons for any business looking to innovate and overcome resistance to change.
The Mobile Credential Conundrum Mobile credentials, which allow users to access secure areas using their smartphones instead of physical fobs or cards, seem like a no-brainer for convenience and efficiency. Programming them is often easier than traditional methods. Yet, despite the clear advantages, adoption has been slow. The hosts pinpointed several reasons for this inertia:
Insufficient Pain Points:Â For many customers, the existing system of fobs and cards isn't "painful enough" to warrant a switch. The perceived cost or hassle of managing physical credentials isn't high enough to drive a significant change in behavior.
Fear of the Unknown:Â Older, more experienced property and facility managers, who often make these decisions, may have a "bigger gap of fear of unknowing" when it comes to new technologies. This fear needs to be addressed through clear communication of benefits.
Focus on Security vs. Convenience:Â While security companies pride themselves on security, the market often prioritizes convenience. Manufacturers and providers need to shift their narrative to highlight how new solutions offer unparalleled convenience, rather than just incremental security improvements.
Overcoming the "Hoarding" Mentality A significant challenge in the locksmith and security industry is a tendency to "hoard" old technology. Lars shared an anecdote about his company's inventory of 1,100 key blanks that hadn't been sold in a decade, highlighting the industry's reluctance to let go of outdated products. This mindset, where companies feel compelled to support decades-old solutions, stifles innovation and consumes valuable resources. The hosts argued that manufacturers need to "make the right thing easy to do and the hard thing hard to do" by making it uncomfortable to stick with outdated methods.
Streamlining for Scalability Lars provided a compelling example of innovation with his new company, SmartMFF, which focuses exclusively on smart multifamily solutions using only Breville products and Eagle Eye cameras. This focused approach simplifies administration and dramatically enhances scalability, demonstrating the power of saying "no" to opportunities that don't align with a narrow, high-value product set. By doing thorough research and "going all in" with select technologies, businesses can become leaders in specific areas, rather than generalists supporting a chaotic array of outdated systems.
The episode underscores that for the security industry to truly innovate, it must overcome its old mindset, emphasize convenience in its messaging, and be willing to strategically discontinue support for outdated technologies.
Links:
🔗 : https://unlockedpodcast.com