ESA’s Groundbreaking Initiative Backed by Beacon Economics Delivers First-of-Its-Kind Economic Intelligence to the Electronic Security & Life Safety Industry
IRVING, TX, UNITED STATES, June 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Electronic Security Association (ESA), the nation’s largest trade organization representing the electronic life safety and security industry, today announced the launch of the ESA Industry Research Center, giving the security industry a new lens into performance, growth, and what’s ahead.
The security industry is evolving quickly, and understanding where the market is headed matters more than ever. The ESA Industry Research Center is designed to give integrators and dealers a deeper, more informed foundation for the decisions that drive their businesses forward.
Backed by the nationally recognized macroeconomic forecasting firm Beacon Economics and led by ESA Chief Economist Christopher Thornberg, PhD, a founding partner of Beacon Economics and one of the nation’s foremost economic forecasters, the Center will deliver meaningful economic and industry insight to help integrators and dealers make smarter business decisions.
Introducing the ESA Industry Performance Index
At the core of the Research Center is the ESA Industry Performance Index (IPI): a composite 0-100 score reflecting the health, capacity, and forward trajectory of the electronic security and life safety sector. Rather than broad economic proxies, the IPI is built entirely around the specific forces that drive performance in this industry.
The IPI measures industry health across four dimensions. The first, Business Activity and Market Growth, tracks current demand and future trajectory, capturing revenue trends, project backlogs, segment growth, M&A activity, and sales velocity. Workforce Capacity and Pressure examines whether the industry can meet that demand, monitoring hiring timelines, vacancy rates, wage pressures, and the growing skills gap between traditional field roles and today’s AI-enabled technical positions. Revenue and Business Model Health looks beyond topline growth to assess the durability of earnings, analyzing profit margins, the ongoing shift toward recurring revenue, and contract quality. Rounding out the Index, Technology and AI Adoption tracks the industry’s pace of modernization, from the transition to proactive monitoring and connected systems integration to customer-facing technology and cybersecurity readiness.
The IPI is slated to officially launch in July 2026.
“The ESA Industry Research Center represents a pivotal moment for our industry. For the first time, integrators and dealers will have access to the kind of rigorous, purpose-built economic intelligence that supports smarter decisions, stronger businesses, and a more resilient industry overall. This is exactly the type of forward-looking investment ESA exists to make on behalf of its members and the industry.” Kevin Stone, ESA Chairman and COO of Doyle Security Systems
Strategic Partnership with Beacon Economics
Beacon Economics brings nationally recognized forecasting expertise and rigorous quantitative methodology to the ESA Industry Research Center. Working alongside the Beacon Economics team, Dr. Thornberg will provide ongoing economic insights, analysis, and guidance in direct support of the IPI and the broader research initiatives behind the Center.
“ESA has always been committed to equipping the industry with the knowledge and resources it needs to grow. The ESA Industry Research Center takes that commitment further, adding a new layer of economic intelligence that gives integrators and dealers a sharper, more data-driven view of where the industry stands and where it is headed.” Christopher Thornberg, PhD, ESA Chief Economist and Founding Partner, Beacon Economics
Together, ESA and Beacon Economics are establishing a new benchmark for trusted industry intelligence, designed to give professionals at every level of the electronic security and life safety ecosystem a clearer, more confident view of the trends, pressures, and opportunities shaping the future of the industry.
For more information visit ESA Industry Research Center.
ABOUT ESA
Established in 1948, the Electronic Security Association (ESA) is the largest trade association in the United States representing the electronic life safety and security industry. ESA member companies collectively employ more than 500,000 industry professionals and serve more than 34 million residential and commercial clients. ESA provides advocacy, training, certification, resources, and research to advance the industry and support its members. Learn more: https://esaweb.org/
ABOUT BEACON ECONOMICS
Founded in 2006, Beacon Economics, an LLC and certified California Small Business Enterprise, is a leading independent research and consulting firm dedicated to delivering accurate, insightful, and objectively-based economic analysis. Leveraging unique proprietary models, vast databases, and sophisticated data processing, Beacon equips clients with the analysis needed to understand on-the-ground realities and make informed business and policy decisions. Learn more: https://beaconecon.com/
Taylor Criddle, Vice President, Advocacy & Public Affairs
Electronic Security Association
+1 972-807-6807
Taylor.Criddle@ESAweb.org
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