If you didn’t already know, the number of connected IoT devices is expected to reach 30.7 billion units by the end of 2020. Within five years of then, the number is expected to more than double reaching 75.4 billion units. It is impossible not to see how rapidly devices are changing along with the way consumers expect their products to operate. Because of the unprecedented growth rates, business leaders should feel compelled to innovate their products and services to meet the needs of today’s connected consumers.
Going Beyond Audible Alerts
There are a number of ways in which fire safety devices are evolving to become more effective and integrated in the fire management world. As more commercial devices go wireless or both wired and wireless, they become more capable of providing invaluable alerts and insights in the event of a fire. Industry-leading devices can tell firefighters where the fire is, provide digital building models and help them strategize the best way to fight the fire. It won’t be surprising if devices with such capabilities become mandatory to meet NFPA 72 standards in the future.
Smart, Integrated Devices
Google spent $3.2 billion USD to acquire Nest, a company that makes smart home devices such as thermostats, cameras, and doorbells to smoke detectors and smartphones. It is very likely that such a global company paid an astronomical price to acquire the company because it is expected to perform extremely well and provide high returns for a long time. Fire dealers should pay close attention to the advanced devices being sold and the features they include because they will become commonplace very quickly, and if they are not provided, consumers will go somewhere else to fulfill their needs.
Improved Communication
The final feature consumers want in fire safety devices is access to more convenient methods of communication. They want to be able to receive alerts, manage events and work with authorities, especially when they can’t speak on a phone or they need to collaborate with other contacts on an account. Soon, AvantGuard will provide AG Chat to fire accounts, delivering an effective communication platform for subscribers and streamlining the monitoring process. It will get authorities on site up to 90% quicker and be significantly more accurate due having more people involved in a more cohesive, efficient manner.
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