Fit and forget

The Avia Secure range offers class leading, retrofittable smart security, without the burden of a complicated subscription model. We talk to Mighton Products’ chairman, Mike Derham, to find out more.

When Mike Derham, chairman of Mighton Products, decided to launch the Avia Secure suite of smart hardware products, he was adamant it should adhere to several fundamental principles; it should deliver the very best combination of smart and mechanical security, all products in the range should be easily retrofittable and homeowners should not be asked to sign up to a subscription model.

Numerous, high-profile Internet of Things (IoT) Breakthrough Awards and compatibility with Apple HomeKit and the Apple operating system, widely regarded as the most robust in terms of cyber security, have successfully demonstrated the first of those.

And all the devices in the Avia Secure range can be quickly and easily retrofitted – and set-up via any of Apple’s intuitive, user-friendly devices – offering a hassle free route to smart enabled security for homeowners and an attractive way to add value to a sale for installers.

Lastly, Avia Secure does not require homeowners to sign up for a subscription, a process that Mike believes, over complicates a market sector that is still establishing itself and puts an unnecessary further barrier to consumers properly adopting smart security products in their homes.

“Subscription based models do not have a particularly strong track record of retaining costumers in the long term,” Mike explains. “A study by research specialist, McKinsey Global Institute, found that one-third of consumers who signed up for a subscription service cancelled in less than three months, and over half cancelled within six.

“The change in lifestyle brought on by Covid resulted in a big uptick in subscription services during the pandemic but stubbornly high inflation and rising mortgage rates are putting pressures on homeowners to think twice about discretionary spending when budgets are tight.

“It could be argued that those that have the budget to invest in new windows and doors are more resilient to broader economic hardships, but very few households are immune to the increase in cost of living,” he continues.

“A subscription is an easy thing to ‘switch off’, to trim the fat off overall household expenses.

“And actually, many homeowners will have invested in new windows and doors to save money on heating bills in the first place. The temptation, therefore, to cancel a subscription attached to those products, to essentially maximise that ROI, could be hard to resist.”

The Avia Secure family of products include the Avia Secure smart lock, an IoT Breakthrough Award winner that offers a host of smart benefits backed up PAS 24:2016 accreditation. For ultimate peace of mind, homeowners can still operate it with a manual key.

That’s accompanied by the Secured by Design approved Avia Secure casement handle, which is available in a range of finishes, as well as options for a smart sash fastener and smart window & door sensors.

Battery operated and easily paired to any Apple device using Bluetooth LE technology, homeowners can check whether their windows or doors are secure, even if they are away from their property.

Avia Secure also features a BSI approved smart socket, which allows users to programme remote scheduling or keep tabs on energy usage, plus a state of the art PIR motion sensor that can detect – and deter – potential intruders from up to 10m away.

Like the other devices in the range it is battery operated, and can operate for over a year on battery power alone, but it also comes with the option for a mini solar panel, extending that range for up to five years.

Another important selling point is that installers can offer the complete Avia Secure range to homeowner customers, or give them the option to pick the devices they prefer, presenting the opportunity to add to them at a later date.

“The beauty of Avia Secure is that it’s an easy sell for installers,” says Mike. “All the products in the range are easy to retro fit, and the combination of high-tech, Apple HomeKit compatible smart and traditional security is class leading. Homeowners can enjoy all the benefits of that, without the hassle of further costs down the line.”