Access Control Executive Brief V5

Let’s kick of 2023 with some quick updates.

Welcome back, and Happy New Year! Here is to a great 2023 for all of us!

I am looking forward to 2023. For me, it will be a year of focus and execution. I have a bunch of plans, wishes, and desires with what feels like a clear lane of opportunity, so I am going to attack it. And I am excited to do it with you.

Below is a list of updates and things to come. The big one is the Global Access Control Market Maps. I have already started the next round of breaking this resource into alternative views. As members, you get access to all of it. If there is a view you’d like to see, please let me know.

I am also working on the next Brief called “I Cloud Now. Want to Brand it?” which explains whether a manufacturer, integrator or distributor should get into the branded access control business. It was sparked by a question Chris Wilson asked on LinkedIn and triggered me to go down a deep rabbit hole, as the answer is very nuanced and needs more thought than a quick answer. More to come on that in the next week or two. I have also listed some additional topics I plan to cover. Please let me know which you like and if I am missing any burning in your belly.

As always, please reach out if you need anything, and thank you for all the support!

PS: I am sure some of you may forward this on but please do so sparingly and encourage others to sign up here. Thank you!

Access Control Topo Maps

After a bunch of "Google, type, save as, insert, and editing," I am excited to launch the first Access Control Topo Map. The first one is a global view broken out by product category. I enforced a rule that a brand can only be in one category (call it "the primary"), but I plan to break it down further. Just needed to go. I plan on working on "by region" and "by vertical" next.

As members, you have access to the source file and can access the map in three ways:

On the website at https://www.leeodess.com/maps. You'll see the ability to download it as a PDF.
Your member section on the website. When you log in, go to "Topo Maps," and you'll find a link to download the PDF and access the Google Sheet.
On Slack in the #topo-maps channel, so please join that if you are interested.

Please let me know what you think and if I need to include anyone. I will be updating the doc weekly.

Exclusive Slack Launched

As I mentioned above, I launched a Slack group for members only. The purpose of the Slack group is to foster more of a community to network, share ideas, and engage. I also wanted a place to share information more frequently in between the longer form Briefs. So please join here if you still need to do so.

Job Board and Intros

There isn’t a week that goes by where I don’t get a request: “I am looking for a job, know of any?” or “I have a position open. Can you send me candidates?” So, I decided to do something about it. As part of being a member, a new service I will offer members is a Job Board and Intros. I am no longer going to help companies or individuals who are not members and will focus solely on members. So, if you are a company looking to hire, please let me know and post in the Slack channel #job-board. If you are looking for a new opportunity, you can also make that known or send me a message directly, and I will help make introductions.

On the pic above: I generated this using deepai.org and typing in “open to work and hiring.” Not sure what to make of it…

Writing Topics

Here are some ideas of topics I am writing about. Which is your favorite?

Access Control needs to make an asserted change. The value of our system peaks at configuration but goes down after that. The ecosystem and video companies are starting to take over from there. It is the "passing of the baton."
I think fast and good images matter more than text info. More images are better. Access doesn't have it. Video does. What happens next?
Most Honeywell and LenelS2 companies that are not Honeywell or LenelS2? And it's not Gallagher or Genetec. Who is it, and why?
The most valuable company no one talks about: [I have one].
2023 is the year of the platform for Access Control.
The (need) move on to training and certification.
Where are the PHDs in access control writing papers? Then the hackers experiment. What big companies allow experiments? Like the original iPhone vision of the AppStore to create fun, good things. Not platforms. Like Lensa. Where is that in our industry?
AI use cases in access control.
2023 trends in access control and trends impacting access control.
How do you derive value, as our industry is a commodity? It comes down to Branding. Trust. Insight. Surprising ideas.

Attending Conferences

Here is a list of shows/conferences I plan on attending in 2023. Where are you going and am I missing any?

MPIM Cannes: 3/14-3/17 in Cannes
ASIS Europe: 3/21-3/23 in Rotterdam, NL
ISC west: 3/28-3/31 in Las Vegas
PSA TEC Dallas 5/1-5/4 in Dallas (PTAB)
CREtech London 10th-11th May 2023 in London
IFSEC Europe 5/16-5/18 London
GSX: September 11-13 in Dallas (PTAB Mtg)
Blueprint: September 12-14 in Las Vegas (PTAB Mtg)
Cretech NY: 9/19-9/21 in NY (PTAB Mtg)
Securing New Ground: October 18-19 in NY (PTAB Mtg)
SIC: December in NYC

And one last… I am working on an Access Control conference. My goal is to have two a year - one in Europe and one in North America. More to come but I wanted to let you know that I am working on it.

Access Control Swag: Why?

As some of you may have seen, I launched some Access Control merch. Why? Because, as an industry, we need to celebrate what we do and the industry we are in more. I, along with Bert Hart, purposely kept it brand-agnostic and focused on the industry. We will continue to roll more of them out as the year continues.

Nexus Labs partnership and discount

As mentioned in V4 Brief, I partnered with James Dice of Nexus Labs on a blog series discussing the intersection of access control and smart buildings. Please check out the article by clicking here or on the fantastic image Bert Hart created showing the difference between our $10B, $70B, and possible $100B+ opportunity as an industry. As part of the partnership with Nexus Labs, they offer Access Control Executive Brief subscribers a 10% discount on their membership. I am part of this amazing community and highly recommend you join. Use this link to sign up https://www.nexuslabs.online/odess.