Lone worker protection market predicted to more than double in value by 2022

Berg Insight, an analyst firm specialising in the Internet of Things, has forecasted that the market for lone worker protection solutions and services in Europe and North America will grow from €110 million in 2017, to reach more than €260 million in 2022.

It also predicts that that the number of users of dedicated lone worker safety devices based on GPS and cellular technology in Europe will grow from 500,000 users in 2017 to reach 1.1 million users at the end of 2022.

The company’s research notes that app-based solutions are estimated to account for 20 per cent of all lone worker solutions in Europe, compared with more than 40 per cent in North America. Berg Insight expects that app-based solutions will increase their share of the lone worker safety solutions market in the coming years in both regions.

The analyst firm lists the main market drivers for the sector as occupational safety regulations, increasing employee insurance costs and higher awareness of risks associated with lone working. It also expects that the number of individuals working alone will grow as businesses strive for increased efficiency.

“Traditionally, lone workers exposed to the highest social or environmental risks have been found in industries such as security and protective services, social care, field service maintenance and in heavy industries such as oil & gas and construction”, says Martin Bäckman, IoT analyst at Berg Insight. He adds that companies in other industries are now also starting to see the benefits of these services. “There is now an increasing demand for lone worker safety services from employees in retail, financial services, education and more, which fuels market growth.”