Georgios Anagnostou, Director of Products for France, UK and Ireland – lifts the lid on modern home security – from AI-triaged alarms to smoke deterrents straight out of a Bond movie – and why the front door is still a burglars favourite entry point.
Tell us about your product and why it resonates with consumers.
Verisure’s alarm system is designed to offer something homeowners increasingly value: a genuine feeling of safety in their own homes… and that doesn’t just mean a notification when something goes wrong! Most home alarms only do one thing, they alert you something has gone awry, usually after it has already happened.
Our alarm system is built differently. We offer advanced detection, deterrence, verification and intervention – for true home protection – and our newest product LockGuard is helping to complete that security solution. LockGuard utilises advanced break‑in detection algorithms, which can identify door‑based intrusion and even manipulation attempts as well as being able to withstand various burglary techniques, including bumping, drilling and extraction. Connected to our Alarm Receiving Centre, when intrusion attempts are detected, our trained experts can decide what happens next: whether it’s to call the homeowner, dispatch guards, contact the police, or trigger the ZeroVision smoke barrier, which floods the space with dense smoke and makes it nearly impossible for someone to stay inside.
This reassurance that someone will act quickly in an emergency to help prevent something before it happens is what really resonates with our customers.
How did it feel to win Product of the Year and what impact do you hope it will have?
Winning Product of the Year has been hugely positive for us. We’ve been using the logo across our comms, and it’s been lovely to see how positively it’s been received. It’s also been a real source of pride for the team internally. As a company, we’ve always heavily focused on building excellent products and delivering great service and this award feels like the culmination of that time and investment. The recognition that comes with this achievement, reinforces our hard work and gives us even more confidence to talk about what we do and the value we provide to customers. We’re thrilled!
Where did the idea for the product come from and how does that process work at Verisure?
We know that the front door has long been targeted by burglars with ONS data showing that around 70% of burglars gained entry to a home through a door, and our own data confirms that it is the most vulnerable access point.
This insight drove us to develop a product that directly addresses our customers’ most significant vulnerability. At the same time, the widespread adoption of smart doorbells across the UK signalled that there’s a desire to control who is at the front door. People want to manage who enters their home without the hassle and security risk of handing out keys.
LockGuard was built to answer to both of those needs. It’s like a pocket concierge and security guard in one. From the outset, we were confident that combining genuine security with that level of convenience at the main point of entry would create something customers would truly love.
What trends will you be tapping into this year?
We work against longer term behavioural and customer insights as opposed to trends. One of our greatest objectives is striving to strike the right balance between advanced technology and giving people reassurance. There’s no denying the world is becoming increasingly digital, but when it comes to security, people still value being able to talk to someone and the expertise that comes with that. That’s why Verisure focuses on combining AI with human monitoring. Even when an alert turns out to be a false alarm – which is common with home security tech – our team will still contact the customer to help resolve the issue. Whether it’s a sensor triggered by a loose window or even a tree branch knocking against the glass, our operators can help adjust the system in real time. It’s part of our philosophy of “people protecting people” – technology enabling faster response, but always with someone in the loop.
Do you have any new products you can tell us about?
Our LockGuard technology is the big one for us right now. We are always investing in new technologies to improve our customer experience, but you’ll have to wait and see what we enter in next year’s awards!
Describe your winning product in three words.
Smart, Secure, Strong.
Product of the Year isn’t just for FMCG, products from financial services, software apps to gardening gear and even beds/mattresses have won in the past. Get in touch to find out if your product could qualify for the awards which have just opened for registration.
Source: Product of the Year
Product of the Year Spotlight on… Verisure LockGuard added by newsroom on
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