The past year has been a turning point for both The Connected Shop and the smart home industry. As smart locks move from simple hardware upgrades to essential parts of connected living, our Founder has been focused on understanding how people use their doors, what professionals need in the field, and how our products can shape a more seamless and secure home experience.
That perspective has grown through real conversations, at distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, locksmith shops, and on the road with partners across the country. From South Florida to Vancouver and back, our Smart Door Lock Roadshow offered a firsthand look at how smart security is being adopted, what installers are facing, and how homeowners are redefining their expectations around convenience and safety.
This editorial brings together those insights, the feedback from locksmith partners, and the growing momentum behind connected living. It’s a look at the milestones that shaped our direction, the relationships strengthening the industry, and the standards we’re working to raise as smart home technology becomes part of everyday life.
At its core, this piece is about where smart security is going, and how The Connected Shop is preparing for a future where smart door locks sit at the center of a smarter, safer, more connected home.
Why Smart Door Locks Are Becoming the Heart of the Smart Home
Access control used to be a simple, mechanical function, a lock, a key, and not much more. But as connected living grows, the front door has taken on a much bigger role. Smart door locks are no longer just hardware upgrades; they’re becoming the central hub of the smart home experience.
The door is the first interaction people have with their home and the place where convenience, security, and technology meet. It’s where users expect reliability, simplicity, and instant control. That shift in expectations is exactly why smart locks are moving to the center of the smart home ecosystem. They’re not just responding to commands, they’re integrating with apps, routines, and other devices to create a smoother, more connected way of living.
From remote access and activity logs to automation and personalized entry, smart door locks are now shaping how people move through their homes every day. They set the tone for what connected living should feel like: effortless, intuitive, and secure.
As adoption continues to rise, smart locks aren’t just another gadget, they’re becoming the anchor point for the entire smart home. And the industry is only just beginning to tap into what that means for the future of connected living.
On the Road: Real Conversations Shaping Smarter Security
One of the most valuable parts of this past year wasn’t just building new products, it was getting out in the field and meeting the people who work with doors every day. The Smart Door Lock Roadshow took The Connected Shop across the country, starting in South Florida and stretching all the way to Vancouver Canada, and back, and those stops turned into some of the most important moments of the year.
Early visits with teams at At Your Service Windows & Doors and Euro-Wall set the tone. These were hands-on conversations with people who think deeply about materials, hardware, and how homeowners actually use their doors. From there, we met with distributors like Tab Glass and Doors & Hardware of Tampa Bay, where the focus shifted to how smart security fits into local communities and everyday installations.
As the roadshow continued through Atlanta, Knoxville, Columbus, Lexington, Indianapolis, Chicago, and eventually out west, each stop added something new. Pella partners across multiple regions shared insights on multipoint systems, customer preferences, and what their installers look for in a modern lock. Other partners, Windsor, Weathershield, and more offered perspectives shaped by climate, architecture, and the kinds of doors their customers rely on most.
What stood out across all these visits wasn’t just interest in smart technology, it was the shared belief that connected security is becoming part of the standard toolkit in the smart home. The feedback gathered along the way directly influenced what we’re improving, what we’re prioritizing, and how we’re planning the next steps for connected living.
The roadshow wasn’t just a tour, it became a real-world classroom. And the insights gained from those conversations will continue to guide the work ahead.
Strengthening the Industry Through Locksmith Partnerships
As smart locks gain traction, one thing has become increasingly clear: the future of connected security doesn’t move forward without locksmiths. They’re the ones on the front lines, installing, troubleshooting, educating homeowners, and making sure every product works the way it’s meant to. Over the past year, partnerships with locksmiths have become one of the strongest pillars of The Connected Shop’s growth.
What started as a handful of early collaborations quickly expanded into a nationwide network of trusted professionals. Many locksmiths shared the same story: customers were asking about smart home options, and they wanted tools that were reliable, easy to install, and built to last. Those conversations helped shape everything from product refinements to installation guides to the ongoing support structure behind the scenes.
Locksmiths also played a major role in validating how well the Smart Door Lock Slim performs in real homes, on multipoint systems, on challenging doors, and in situations where precision matters. Their feedback became a direct channel to understanding what works, what could be improved, and what features would make their jobs easier in the field.
These partnerships go far beyond installs. They represent shared trust and a shared belief that connected living is becoming the new normal. As the industry shifts, locksmiths aren’t just keeping up, they’re helping lead the way. And The Connected Shop is committed to building the tools, training, and support they need to keep shaping that future with confidence.
Establishing a New Standard in Smart Security
As interest in smart door locks continues to grow, the expectations around smart security are growing with it. Homeowners aren’t just looking for convenience, they want reliability, thoughtful design, and technology that feels intuitive from day one. That shift has pushed the industry to raise its standards, and it’s one of the driving forces behind the work happening at The Connected Shop.
Smart locks used to be seen as add-ons or niche upgrades. Today, they’re becoming a core part of how people think about home security. To meet that shift, every detail, from hardware compatibility to app experience, has to deliver a sense of confidence. It’s not enough to simply “add smart features.” The technology needs to work consistently, feel natural in the home, and integrate with the daily routines that matter most.
Creating this new standard means looking at smart security as a full ecosystem rather than a single device. It means designing products that support real installation workflows, building software that communicates clearly, and forming partnerships that make the entire experience stronger. It also means listening closely to the professionals and homeowners who rely on these tools every day.
The goal isn’t just to innovate, it’s to build smart security people can genuinely trust. And as smart homes continue to evolve, that commitment will guide every step forward.
Final Thoughts
The past year has shown just how quickly the smart home is evolving and how central smart door locks have become in that shift. From conversations on the road to partnerships with locksmiths and manufacturers, the path forward has been shaped by real people and real experiences. Every stop, every installation, and every piece of feedback has helped strengthen the direction The Connected Shop is taking.
What’s clear now is that connected security isn’t a trend, it’s becoming an expectation. Homeowners want simple, reliable, integrated solutions, and professionals want tools they can trust in the field. Meeting those expectations requires more than new features or updated hardware; it takes a commitment to raising the standard for what smart home security should be.
That commitment is at the heart of the Founder’s vision. A smarter, safer, and more connected home isn’t built in a single moment, it’s built through collaboration, continuous improvement, and a clear focus on what people need. As the industry continues to grow, The Connected Shop is doubling down in that direction, working to create products and partnerships that support the future of connected living.
The work ahead is exciting and the progress so far is only the beginning.