The mass notification systems (MNS) market has historically been segmented between indoor, wide-area, and distributed recipient notification hardware and software, writes Jared Bickenbach, analyst for Security and Building Technologies at IHS Inc.
In its most recent report on the MNS market IHS found that some end users are beginning to install integrated MNS solutions that use a combination of indoor, wide-area, and distributed recipient notification technologies to ensure notifications reach the largest number of people. IHS expects integrations of multiple notification modalities to be a key driver of growth in the Americas market over the next five years. IHS found the fastest growth within the Americas industrial market. IHS expects a large percentage of this growth to be the result of increased uptake in integrated MNS solutions. IHS expects the industrial market to increase by more than 7pc over the next five years to more than $320 million as a result of the uptake in integrated MNS solutions.
What is driving uptake?
A major factor contributing to the uptake of integrated MNS solutions is the introduction of IP notification appliances. The use of IP notification appliances such as speakers, sounders, strobes, and digital signage has enabled MNS vendors to connect these appliances to building management systems and life safety control panels which can also send messages via indoor, wide-area, and distributed recipient notification systems. This allows end users to send notifications across multiple notification devices to ensure notifications are received.
Enterprise MNS solutions are also driving investment into integrated MNS solutions. IHS found that large industrial end users have a need to integrate their notification systems across multiple facilities and regions. This enables the corporate office to monitor and notify employees throughout an organization of an emergency and allows local offices to notify the corporate office in the event of an emergency. The ability of an organization to use their MNS solution for purposes other than emergency communications was found to be a major factor when deciding to install an integrated MNS solution. IHS found that organizations are installing integrated solutions for business processes, business continuity, and information technology uses.
What does this mean for the MNS market?
As end users look for more integrated MNS solutions, IHS expects systems integrators and physical security information management (PSIM) vendors to take a more prominent role in the MNS market. Increased demand for integrated MNS solutions is also expected to drive more open protocols within the MNS software market. As end users demand seamless integration with existing notification appliances IHS expects MNS vendors to adopt more open software protocols to enable multiple systems from different manufacturers to work together.
The need to notify personnel in the event of an emergency is expected to remain a key driver of growth in the MNS market; however, as integrated solutions gain more traction in the MNS market IHS expects systems integration companies to have a larger role in the market. This is expected to result in more cooperation between MNS suppliers as end users drive demand for seamless integration of notification solutions.
