INTRODUCTION
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
BCC's goal in conducting this study was to explore the different factors affecting the industries directly related to emergency response technologies. BCC used real revenue numbers to measure the global market value of the different emergency response technology related products that we present in this report.
Our key objective was to present a comprehensive analysis of the current emergency response related technology and market growth, market drivers and inhibitors, and the size and growth of emergency response applications and products as they apply to different emergency response technology categories and emergency responder categories.
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY
Emergency response technology is a rapidly expanding and innovating field, but invention development as it progresses from concept to lab to field has many different standards, regulations, and performance consistency expectations to meet before any new technology is adopted for use by emergency responders. Decision makers in the heterogeneous field of emergency response need to have the best possible information in order to ensure that their teams have the highest performance equipment that their other departmental constraints allow. Although there is a significant enough burden of performance proof, prior to product implementation, to produce a tendency for emergency response technology companies to adopt only technologies that other organizations have adopted previously without problem, it is imperative that the product information is sufficient to ensure the adoption of the best technologies for the situation, and not merely the easiest or most convenient.
While market information in this report does not focus on company-specific product offerings or relative strengths or weaknesses, it does present the broad spectrum of emergency response technologies in context so that implementing or stakeholder companies can gain a better understanding of how their technology needs or technology offerings fit into the overall market landscape. Additionally, truly leading edge emergency response technologies like the emerging use of robotics for various incident control functions are complex and may not present comprehensive information at the time that decision makers need non-product-specific information to make their technology implementation decisions.
Companies producing emergency response products must ensure that their client companies have all of the necessary information while not side-stepping or avoiding the rigorous regulatory factors that permeate all aspects of emergency response. In this industry, experience in the field is a positive attribute for a technology provider if simply for the perception conveyed that the company is already well-versed in the complex imperatives juggled by emergency response companies on a daily basis. While there is not a direct connection between efficacy of a technology and emergency response field experience, many provider companies spend equally as much effort in establishing and maintaining client confidence in their companies as they do in providing detailed information about their technologies.
For emergency response technology companies and for adopter companies it is important to get beyond company positioning in order to understand the broader panoply of emergency response technologies and their relative market strengths. There is an increasing trend toward technology improvements for situational information sharing at a broad level of inter-departmental emergency response efforts. Even smaller departments must begin to consider how their technology solutions will fit into the broader picture of emergency response solutions, making it even more critical that decision-makers on both sides of the emergency response technology supply chain understand the broader market and regulatory forces as a whole.
INTENDED AUDIENCE
We have compiled a study of emergency response technology organized by functional categories, technology categories, market segmentation, growth drivers, and technology innovations. Emergency response technology markets are largely needs-driven, and although research initiatives play an important part, they are generally organized to seek or refine solutions for a known problem or challenge.
This study will be of particular interest to professionals involved in product innovations designed for emergency response needs and in particular, for the needs of first responders. Some technologies, for instance lab-based chemical analysis techniques, have been adapted for field use with rapid-reading capabilities to better inform first responders when they are entering a particularly hazardous environment. Companies with technologies such as this will benefit by getting a “big picture” look at the overall emergency response market, which will enable them to tailor and position their products better for their intended end user group or function.
Additionally, first responders that are in decision-making positions for any of the functional emergency response categories will benefit from getting a broader perspective of the possible technology solutions that may be available to their organizations. If first responder units are only exposed to product information specifically detailing product and market information provided by individual product innovators or vendors, it is much more challenging to separate out real performance metrics from marketing hype. This paper is not directed toward any particular company, product or technology but rather will highlight several dozen companies that have significant market shares in their respective categories. Market share is by no means the only indication of a particular company’s technology strength, but it can provide potential client companies with better base knowledge of the major players in any particular market category.
This report will also assist professionals who are financially or in other business functions engaged in any aspect related to emergency response technology from venture capital funding to merger or acquisition consideration or any number of other business intersections. Such professions would be well served to be informed at least as to the complexities and multiple different considerations that must be considered by either emergency response technology provider companies or consumer companies. For instance, a town or district board member may be involved in making critical budgetary decisions for their local fire and rescue department. While their fire and rescue experts will no doubt provide them with ample information concerning any pending issue, it is impossible to expect a business professional for whom this is not a full-time vocation to gain an immediate understanding of the way in which the complexities of emergency response technologies are implemented. Better informed professionals make better business decisions. It is difficult to justify significant changes of any kind unless it is possible to understand even the most basic benefits that would justify the costs for the change.
SCOPE OF REPORT
The scope of this study encompasses the functional categories for emergency response in respect to the first responder categories for which they are originally designed, with the understanding that many instruments, systems and devices might serve dual or multiple purposes spanning several different areas with a single product or product line. The basic categories of first responder functional technologies are police technology, fire and rescue technology, hazmat (hazardous materials) technologies, emergency medical response technologies, military-specific emergency response technologies, and emergency response robotics.
Technology categories for emergency response include communication and interoperability components for heterogeneous teams, command and control and decision support, detection and monitoring of hazardous conditions and facilities, decontamination and containment and incident response and remediation.
BCC analyzes the industry on a worldwide basis, both from a market and application perspective and a technology perspective. Emergency response departments are required to adhere to many different local, national and international regulations and standards, which we will explore with particular attention to regulations, standards or prohibitions affecting the use of technology for emergency response.
METHODOLOGY
BCC presents an analysis across the entire emergency response technology market based on reported revenue dollars and units shipped as reported to the SEC and/or other governmental agencies. We also analyze data gathered from various research sources via the Internet including large databases such as the United States Patent Office (USPTO) databases of U.S. Patents and Patent Applications, Micropatent’s searchable databases for U.S. and international patents and other IP issues, and the searchable database available on the Internet from the European Patent Office for World and U.S. patents and patent applications.
INFORMATION SOURCES
BCC analyzed public documents, SEC filings, corporate white papers and other technical documentation for several dozen U.S. and International companies directly involved in manufacturing, distributing or directly utilizing emergency response technology or applications.
Additionally, BCC analyzed more than 800 utility patents filed in the U.S. and throughout the world on emergency response related technology inventions. Finally, many different standards and regulatory agencies were queried and standards, mandates, and laws were analyzed and presented as they impact emergency response technology requirements and expectations for the emergency response industry.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jordan Sheridan is a technology analyst and writer with more than 20 years of experience who specializes in technology and intellectual property strategies, and develops IP documentation and analysis studies for Fortune 100 companies, with particular emphasis on IT technology and algorithmically-based inventions. Sheridan’s publications for BCC Research include RFID: Technology, Applications, and Market Potential (IAS020A); The Global Market for Energy Management Information Systems (EGY052A); Technologies for Air Pollution Monitoring, Prevention, & Control (IAS001G); Artificial Sensing: Technologies and Emerging Markets (IAS021A); Advanced Materials for Sensors (AVM058A); and Active, Controlled and Intelligence Packaging for Foods and Beverages (FOD038B).
Report Code: SAS014A, Published: April 2008, Analyst: Jordan Sheridan
