The Electronic Security Association has launched the ESA Industry Research Center, a new initiative developed in partnership with Beacon Economics that will provide economic analysis, market insights and industry benchmarking data for the electronic security and life safety sector.
The Electronic Security Association (ESA) has launched the ESA Industry Research Center, a new initiative aimed at providing economic and industry intelligence to electronic security and life safety professionals.
Announced June 2, the Research Center is designed to help security integrators and dealers better understand market conditions and make informed business decisions as the industry continues to evolve.
The initiative is backed by Beacon Economics, a macroeconomic forecasting firm, and will be led by ESA Chief Economist Christopher Thornberg, Ph.D., a founding partner of Beacon Economics. According to ESA, the Research Center will deliver economic analysis and industry insights focused specifically on the electronic security and life safety sector.
At the center of the initiative is the ESA Industry Performance Index (IPI), a composite score ranging from 0 to 100 that is intended to measure the health, capacity and future direction of the industry.
Unlike broader economic indicators, ESA said the Index is built around factors specific to the electronic security and life safety market. The IPI will evaluate four key areas: business activity and market growth, workforce capacity and pressure, revenue and business model health, and technology and AI adoption.
The business activity and market growth category will track indicators such as revenue trends, project backlogs, segment growth, mergers and acquisitions activity and sales velocity. Workforce capacity and pressure will examine hiring timelines, vacancy rates, wage pressures and workforce skill gaps.
Revenue and business model health will assess factors including profit margins, recurring revenue trends and contract quality. The technology and AI adoption component will measure the industry's progress in areas such as proactive monitoring, connected systems integration, customer-facing technologies and cybersecurity readiness.
ESA said the Industry Performance Index is scheduled to launch in July 2026.
"The ESA Industry Research Center represents a pivotal moment for our industry. For the first time, integrators and dealers will have access to the kind of rigorous, purpose-built economic intelligence that supports smarter decisions, stronger businesses, and a more resilient industry overall," said Kevin Stone, ESA chairman and chief operating officer of Doyle Security Systems. "This is exactly the type of forward-looking investment ESA exists to make on behalf of its members and the industry."
ESA said Beacon Economics will contribute forecasting expertise and quantitative research methodologies to support both the Industry Performance Index and the Research Center's broader initiatives.
"ESA has always been committed to equipping the industry with the knowledge and resources it needs to grow," Thornberg said. "The ESA Industry Research Center takes that commitment further, adding a new layer of economic intelligence that gives integrators and dealers a sharper, more data-driven view of where the industry stands and where it is headed."
According to ESA, the partnership with Beacon Economics is intended to establish a new source of industry intelligence that helps professionals better understand the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the electronic security and life safety market.