Paul Fitzgerald, Managing Director at HKC Security – UK & Ireland, outlines the company’s roadmap for future growth.

For HKC Security, its customer-centric values are the foundations on which the company is built.

These principles can take years to implement into the everyday culture of the workforce and can be utilised to help standout in a competitive market.  

The company’s philosophy encourages innovation and reliability, giving employees a structure to build their own values around.

It provides a clear target to have everyone pulling in the same direction, aligning the goals of its clients with its own.  

James Humphreys, Assistant Editor for SJUK sat down with Fitzgerald to find out more about HKC’s core values, new products and how they plan to move forward with a strong independent brand identity.  

How does HKC Security plan to utilise its core values to achieve future goals?  

What HKC is all about is relatively straight forward: we make quality security systems with world-class connectivity for professional installers, delivering value through innovative, reliable solutions.   

We believe we can offer the installers a stand-out experience, supporting them with products that are robust and reliable, sharing our technical expertise and creating better tools to help them build and retain their business and deliver professional, connected security solutions.  

That customer-centricity is core to the business, the way we build our teams, the products we develop, the services we build for our installer, how we support installers in the field with technical advice and training, sales and marketing material and building the right sort of supporting technology and software.   

It’s all aligned towards achieving the goal of being the first and only choice for installers. 

We’re certainly on the right track, we’re building a great team, we have a clear plan and there are many exciting times ahead for HKC.  

In your Business Update piece in May, you mentioned a new external siren product and control panel hub, can you tell us more about them?  

At HKC Security, we’re thrilled to unveil a series of exciting developments that solidify our commitment to innovation and to empowering security professionals.

Our recent business update wasn’t just about new products; it was about a vision for the future of connected homes and security solutions.  

We’re breaking new ground with the introduction of our control panel hub. Our hub will be enabled with the ability to integrate with new technologies.

External cameras, gates and other connected devices can be controlled and monitored through a single, user-friendly app.

The launch of 4G communication capabilities alongside the hub further strengthens this vision, ensuring unparalleled robustness and reliability for a truly connected home environment.  

But our focus extends beyond functionality.

We understand the importance of installer experience. Our hub boasts a flexible design, allowing for discreet placement within the home.

Wireless keypads and sensors maintain a seamless connection, catering to the growing trend of aesthetically pleasing keypads placed throughout the house.  

Furthermore, the hub’s dual Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity provides peace of mind, knowing your clients will always have a reliable connection.

Perhaps most importantly, the hub is built with the future in mind.

Its scalable design lays the groundwork for a constantly evolving suite of compatible security products from HKC.  

We believe security shouldn’t compromise aesthetics. The new external siren (SABB) embodies this philosophy.

It’s a significant upgrade, it’s robust, secure and comes in wired, wireless and grade 3 options and also boasting a sleek and modern design.  

We empower installers to personalise security solutions by offering a variety of lid and lens colour combinations, allowing them to tailor the siren to their own preferences.  

Our commitment goes a step further with our free logo printing service, enabling installers to showcase their brand and professionalism.

This dedication to aesthetics reflects our commitment to providing installers with the tools they need to not only secure their clients’ homes but also elevate their overall service offering.  

The launch of the new hub and siren coincides perfectly with the introduction of our dedicated installer portal.

This comprehensive online platform streamlines communication and simplifies workflows, allowing installers to focus on what they do best – installing and maintaining top-notch security solutions.

The portal offers a wealth of resources, including product information, technical support and marketing materials.  

This centralised hub simplifies access to essential tools and empowers installers to stay informed and efficient.

Combined with the customisable SABB and flexible hub, the installer portal creates a comprehensive package that positions HKC Security as a true partner for security professionals.  

And it doesn’t stop there, one of the key parts of our offer to installers is the ability to generate ongoing recurring revenues through our app.   

Our installers tie customers in through the app and bundling in benefits such as long-term service contracts. 

We’re finding the revenues our installers are generating can form a significant part of their business and as the subscription model is stable with recurring revenue, it allows our installers to build a loyal customer base who tend to remain with them for the long term.  

In terms of products, what can we expect to see from HKC in 2025? 

Early 2025 will see the introduction of a range of exciting new products.  

This includes not only entirely new offerings such as our camera doorbell but also significant updates to existing products, ensuring they remain at the forefront of security technology.

Furthermore, we’re fostering strategic collaborations with industry leaders like Optex and UR FOG.   

This collaborative approach will result in the development of cutting-edge security solutions targeting specific needs, such as advanced perimeter security (Optex) and internal security with a focus on active protection.

It’s through these strategic partnerships, we can strengthen our portfolio and reach into new markets that HKC haven’t really focused on before.  

Could you tell me more about your relationship with ASSA ABLOY and how you plan to continue collaborating in the future?   

The amazing breadth that ASSA ABLOY provides will be key to us developing our business moving forward – the number of brands in the worldwide portfolio means that collaboration is part and parcel of what we do.   

We find that if there is a particular solution we are looking to develop there is expertise across the group that we can tap into – expediting that whole development process and allowing us to be more ambitious in our development roadmap.  

Beyond product innovation, we’re setting our sights on expanding our reach as well as our customer proposition.

The vast potential of vertical markets like education and retail and other sectors is undeniable.  

As well as a huge number of domestic installations we already protect businesses and with our RF Expander Architecture we believe it gives us unparalleled coverage over wider areas.

By leveraging our expertise, choosing the right partner and collaborating with our colleagues at ABLOY UK, we’re well-positioned to develop comprehensive intruder detection and digital access solutions tailored to the specific security requirements of these sectors.  

This strategic move signifies our ambition to become a leading security provider across various industries. 

We already operate in these commercial areas but by combining our offering with ABLOY UK’s extensive product portfolio we will have a broader offering that few others can match.  

Despite your close relationship with ABLOY, you recently removed them from your logo. How important is it for the company moving forward to have its own identity?  

Our recent rebranding, removing ASSA ABLOY from our logo, might raise questions about the future of our relationship.

However, the reality is quite the opposite – the change was positively endorsed by the ASSA ABLOY team, a very deliberate move to avoid diluting the HKC mark and reflecting the strength they saw in the HKC brand has in intruder security.  

This move demonstrates our commitment to building a strong HKC brand while maintaining a close and mutually beneficial partnership with ASSA ABLOY.

Their unwavering support has been instrumental in our growth and we are confident that our collaborative spirit will continue to drive innovation and success for both companies.  

We’re excited about the future at HKC Security.

We’re committed to pushing boundaries, empowering installers and delivering exceptional security solutions that keep homes and businesses safe.   

We recently hosted ASSA ABLOY’s senior European leaders and it’s very clear they stand four-square behind us in our mission to grow the business and that support itself will help us identify and realise the right opportunities for HKC going forward.  

This article was originally published in the August Edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.