Is the market for smart window and door products all hype or does it genuinely offer new opportunities for installers?

According to the latest figures around 5.3 million UK households, or approximately 20 per cent, have adopted some form of smart home technology. According to market forecasts, this figure is expected to rise sharply, with over half of homes expected to be equipped with smart technologies by 2027.

That equates to a market value at between £3.6 billion and £6.7 billion. Looking ahead, projections suggest this could increase to more than £20 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) ranging from 16.8 to 24.6 per cent.

No wonder then, the flurry of new smart home improvement products onto the market from doorbells, to lights, alarms – and of course – window and door smart locking sensors.

Yet, despite the launch to much fanfare of a series of smart door and window options, uptake of smart technologies in the window and door industry remains in its infancy. So why?

“It’s a combination of factors”, says Richard Hamond, Sales Director, Universal Trade Frames. “Some installers remain reticent about selling a smart product, because they lack confidence or believe that doing so requires specialist skills, so there’s an educational piece.

“Ultimately, however, it’s about consumer confidence and trust in smart products. That’s where a trusted brand comes into its own.”

This analysis has informed Universal’s decision to move forward with SensCheck from Yale, a smart window and door sensor that integrates with Yale’s wider Smart Living ecosystem. This includes its application for the launch of its new open-in Residence Timber-Alternative Door.

As Residence launch partner, it was unveiled at the FIT Show at the end of April and has been designed to integrate with R9, R7 and R2. It features a large mid-rail, deep bottom rail, patented panel trim, and the option for a fully flush finish when paired with R7.

“The combination of the Yale SensCheck to the new Residence Collection Timber Alternative Door, was an absolute first for the industry”, Richard continues.

“Also available across our flush window offer, unlike standalone systems, SensCheck is part of a full ecosystem – that’s important because of what it offers to end-users.”

Yale SensCheck works using discreet magnetic sensors, to detect and relay real-time information about the status of a window or door – whether it’s open, closed, locked, or unlocked – via the Yale Home App.

More than just a notification tool, the system integrates with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Yale CCTV, video doorbells, and home alarm systems, creating a fully connected security solution managed through a single platform.

Richard continues: “You don’t have to bounce between different apps to check your alarm, camera feed, or door lock. It’s all there, all in one place. That’s a level of convenience and peace of mind that most alternatives just can’t compete with.

“Plus, you’re getting the brand. In this context where lack of trust is a barrier to end-user adoption, and trust an enabler to it, it’s a hugely powerful proposition.”

SensCheck is not the only door sensor system in an increasingly competitive space with offers from  the big hardware companies, including Avantis Kubu. Richard argues that Yale is the only one, however, with consumer recognition and which is in a position to draw down, on a heritage in home security.

“Yale is a name people trust”, he says. “If I go out and ask 100 homeowners what Yale is, 99 of them will say ‘security.’ If I ask about Kubu, I might get one or two who know.

“That matters when you’re trying to convince people to invest in smart technology – familiarity breeds confidence.

“Kubu is a good standalone product, but Yale has decades of expertise in home alarms and security systems. They know what works and what doesn’t.

“For example, they’ve chosen not to pursue things like vibration detection in windows—which might sound clever but doesn’t make sense in the real world.”

The offer is also underpinned by the latest Yale multi-point locks and the ALPS TS007 three-star cylinder, providing not just intelligence but also robust physical security. The ALPS cylinder includes anti-snap, anti-bump, and anti-pick features, and is resistant to thermal attacks—a growing issue in high-end installations.

Universal’s new Residence Collection Timber-Alternative and SensCheck enabled door is also available in Universal’s exclusive HeritageWeld finish with a traditional 90° butt joint. According to Richard another differentiator, precision manufacturing, including a 0.2mm back chamfer, is delivered through six-figure investment in CNC technology.

“This is the first time a door like this has come to market smart-enabled as standard,” he says. “We’ve taken something that’s already pushing the boundaries in terms of aesthetics and manufacturing precision and added a layer of digital intelligence that makes it genuinely unique.

“It’s about much more than doors and windows. It’s about how people live. Security, style, convenience – they’re not separate anymore.

“With Yale SensCheck and the new Residence Collection open-in door, we’re offering an integrated lifestyle solution, and we’re proud to be the first to do it”, Richard concludes.