Although Brazil is the largest and fastest growing market for access control equipment in Latin America, growth could be much higher if not for some barriers to entry impacting the migration of international security suppliers. According to a recent study by a market research company, the Latin American market for access control was estimated to be worth more than $116 million in 2011.
Brazil remains a largely untapped market because of subsidies and local regulations that make it difficult for multinational suppliers to compete on a level playing field, particularly within small-to-medium sized projects. According to IMS Research, international suppliers looking to enter this segment of the market need to consider the following:
Brazil has the largest number of local suppliers compared with any other country in Latin America, making for a very competitive and price sensitive market at the low and mid-end.
Local projects in Brazil typically incorporate time and attendance and turnstile equipment with securing the entrance being a number one priority. Suppliers looking to enter this market will be required to have knowledge of both equipment types as well as the legal regulations governing this technology.
The product portfolio of local suppliers in Brazil is more geared towards edge devices versus traditional access control equipment such as readers, control panels, cards and software. Many of the edge devices are incorporated into the turnstile and time and attendance equipment.
Despite the barriers to entry in Brazil, the sheer size of the country suggests several opportunities remain compared to other parts of the region. While local suppliers of access control equipment have a greater understanding of Brazils unique complexities, opportunities still exist for multinational suppliers who continue to gain traction in large turn-key and enterprise level projects.
Report author and senior analyst Blake Kozak says: “Outside of large infrastructure projects such as airports, much of the growth that will occur in the region will take place in end-user industries such as hotels, manufacturing and commercial. For electronic access control, stadia remains a relatively small market and will remain so despite renovations and new construction projects in preparation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Brazil.
“As the world’s fifth largest country, both by geography and population, the sheer size of Brazil suggests success in the country could underpin future growth opportunities elsewhere in the region. Suppliers who can establish a local presence, competitive pricing and a detailed explanation of the benefits and services that come with access control equipment will be best positioned to take advantage of these growth opportunities.”
