For a couple of years, the electronic security industry has been shaking off from time to time with the announcements of one or another mega acquisition; in other cases there is talk of mergers between large and recognized players in our sector. Many think that these movements are only practices that monopolize a market. Others, like me, think it's a great opportunity to consolidate brands and offer more complete solutions to users.
I am neither against nor in favor of these movements, but I think that if they have already occurred we must look at them on the positive side and not begin to destroy or speculate as many usually do.
I believe that these movements, in a market like Latin America, can be positive, because they will somehow allow their purification and will build the bridges for a better understanding, since there will be fewer players, but increasingly defined.
I see several benefits. Initially I think we will be able to get closer to knowing more faithfully the size of the Latin market and its constitution. This is professionalizing the niche. On the other hand, users will have access to more complete and robust solutions, because in these processes each party absorbs the good and discards the bad from its counterpart.
The above, without a doubt, will close the fence for the participation of players of dubious prestige, or sellers of toys (camaritas) as some know them. The fact that a large manufacturer gives its backing to a certain brand makes, I hope, its products better. With this panorama, the user will have a more solid bidding process.
There would be many good things but I would like to end with a very important issue: the control that mergers and acquisitions impose on the distribution channel. In Latin America it is very common for garage security distributors to be created (companies that claim to distribute or install solutions but do not have a fixed address and whose phone does not work very well) and I believe that this will end when these large corporations implement more demanding practices to give the distribution of a line to a new company.
I want to end by saying that I am not against freedom of employment or the creation of free enterprise. If we are going to do it, let's do it but well, as the law mandates, so that we all help the development of the market.
With all of the above, mergers and purchases are welcome.
