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IHS Markit estimates that 68 million intruder alarm sensors were sold globally in
2016; of which, 41 percent were wireless, according to the latest intruder alarm and
monitoring database. However, just 4 percent of those wireless sensors were destined
for the large commercial sector. Residential and small-medium business sectors
jointly accounted for the remaining 96 percent of the wireless sensor market.
Although the use of wireless sensors remains limited in the commercial sector, the
popularity of these products is on the rise for several reasons.

* Wireless sensors carry significantly lower installation costs as the
installation process is much simpler and quicker. The lower install cost that
comes with wireless sensors allows companies’ to allocate a greater portion of
their security budget to hardware, enabling them to invest in additional or
higher-quality sensors, or upgrades for the system, such as integration with video
surveillance.

* Wireless solutions are also more practical in unique installations like remote
areas without easy access to the power mains. To overcome range issues, mesh
networks, which act as signal repeaters, are used for larger installations.
Moreover, as the use of wireless sensors proliferates across commercial
applications, consumers may choose to adopt wireless control panels, to allow for
easier future addition of extra sensors, as they won’t require on-site IT
configuration to add to the system.

* Prices of wireless sensors have also fallen fast, decreasing by 16 percent
since 2012.Battery lifespan of wireless sensors has also improved in recent years,
now lasting between one and five years depending on circumstances. Although
enhancements have been made, limited lifespan of sensor batteries will put
pressure on the security systems manager, necessitating the procurement of
software that will allow to easily manage battery statuses.

* More wireless sensors are available with UL certification, a prerequisite for
many professional monitoring and insurance providers.

Although wireless sensor technology is making inroads into commercial projects,
concerns remain such as encryption, sensor price and ongoing maintenance costs.

* Despite improvements to encryption for wireless systems, the risk of being
hacked is still a common concern amongst large commercial end users. For example,
wireless sensors are susceptible to jamming and signal interference, and if the
system’s control panel is compromised the entire network of wireless sensors can
be rendered useless by disabling the wireless module.

* Wireless sensors are also more expensive than their wired counterparts. For
example IHS Markit found that globally a wireless PIR sensor costs 30 percent more
than a wired variant on average.

* The maintenance costs of wireless sensors are also higher, with the requirement
to buy and maintain a set of spare batteries for replacement or re-charging.

Despite the challenges facing wireless security sensors in large-commercial
applications today, manufacturers and installers that promote and install wireless
sensors will likely reap the long-term benefits of the devices:

* Vendors with strong aftersales service, such as customer service and
maintenance, would be able to improve efficiency and speed of service by
capitalising on the greater ease with which wireless sensors can be added to the
system. This will lead to shorter installation times allowing them to serve more
customers in a set period of time.

* As wireless sensors are adopted on a wider scale the significance of battery
management system solutions will become apparent. Suppliers with the best battery
management software, that is easy to use with interactive interface, are likely to
seize the best of this opportunity.

* Manufacturers of wireless sensors could further improve their products’
market opportunities by working closely with insurance providers and educating
them about the benefits of wireless systems in commercial applications as well as
their technological features. Entering into partnership with insurance providers
may provide avenues for long-term impact.