Consolidation is the Key to Smart Locks?
Assa Abloy has signed an agreement to acquire the Hardware and Home Improvement division of Spectrum Brands, which would add the Kwikset and Baldwin brands to their Yale and
August lines. The company says that the acquisition will “further accelerate the transformation from mechanical to digital solutions.”
The NPD Take:
- This acquisition would make Schlage the odd lock company out, as the top smart lock brand. The other three of the four largest smart lock brands selling in the CE retailer landscape – August, Kwikset, and Yale – would be under the Assa Abloy umbrella. While smart locks are experiencing strong growth this year, they still remain one of the most under-penetrated smart home segments.
Smart Garage Door Openers Are Getting Smarter
LiftMaster’s new (not so creatively named) Secure View 87504 features a built-in camera for a bird’s eye view of what might be happening in the garage, with real-time streaming and 2-way audio through the MyQ app. Seven- and 30-day video storage options are available with a monthly subscription. Like other MyQ models, the Secure View 87504 works with Amazon Key for in-garage delivery and with select vehicles for native in-dash garage door control. The opener is available now from licensed dealers for $468, not including optional professional installation.
The NPD Take:
- Adding a camera to garage door openers is a natural progression – though, of course, for consumers who do want surveillance in their garage, it is just as easy (if not easier) to install separate cameras that could already tie in with other cameras placed around the home. While we do believe that smart garage solutions are a growth area – most of that growth will come from much less expensive controllers like the $30 (not on sale) Chamberlain MyQ hub.