The Global Market We’re Entering — and the Shift We Can’t Ignore
Last week, I introduced Making An Entrance Weekly and made the case that the global entrance solutions industry deserves a stronger voice — it is a critical part of how safety, security, accessibility, and experience are delivered in the built environment.
This week, I want to go one level deeper.
Because while the global entrance solutions market is large and growing, the way buildings are constructed is changing — and that shift will have profound implications for doors, access systems, and the companies that design and supply them.
A USD 25 Billion Market — With Very Different Regional Dynamics
Let’s start with scale.
The global market for automatic doors and related entrance solutions (sliding, swinging, revolving, sensor-based access systems) is estimated at USD 23–26 billion in 2025–26, based on late-2025 data from multiple industry analysts.
But this is not a uniform market.
Approximate regional shares (2025):
Asia-Pacific: ~35–37% Driven by urbanisation, mega-infrastructure projects, healthcare, retail, and smart-city investment.
North America: ~30–35% High value per installation, strong retrofit demand, accessibility legislation, and smart building upgrades.
Europe: ~25–30% A mature but steady market, shaped by sustainability regulation, energy efficiency, and replacement cycles.
Rest of World: ~10% Smaller today, but growing through infrastructure investment in the Middle East, Latin America, and parts of Africa.
This matters, because the construction models behind these regions are diverging — and not always in ways our industry has fully adapted to.
Challenge #1: The True Cost of Site Labour (and Why It’s Underestimated)
Recently, I read a LinkedIn post by David Hesketh, who laid out the real cost of a £28/hour electrician once you include:
Employer NI and pensions
Vehicles, fuel, tools, PPE
Supervision, admin, and management overhead
Lost productivity on chaotic sites
His conclusion was stark: most contractors don't factor in the true costs when bidding for projects.
“£28/hr on the payslip. £98,000 walking out of the door...He costs what it takes to keep him productive. Most directors have never calculated this number.”
And this isn’t unique to electricians. It applies to every trade on site — including door and entrance installers — in every country in the world.
Many construction sites still operate with what David rightly called “coal-face chaos”:
Tradesmen caught in traffic, to and from the site
Trades waiting on each other
Rework caused by late design changes
Skilled labour doing low-value, repetitive tasks on site
The result? Margin erosion, delays, and risk — all before a building is even occupied.
Challenge #2: The Rapid Rise of Modular Construction
Against that backdrop, it’s no surprise that modular (off-site) construction is accelerating globally.
There is no single “league table,” but the direction of travel is clear:
Europe leads overall adoption, with countries like Sweden using prefabrication in 80%+ of new single-family homes, and strong uptake in Germany and the Netherlands. The UK is making progress, but lagging behind the leaders.
Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, driven by China’s scale, Japan’s mature prefab housing sector, and government-backed programmes across Asia. India is taking a keen interest too.
North America is expanding modular use in multifamily housing, healthcare, education, and remote projects.
Globally, modular construction is increasingly seen as a solution to housing shortages, labour constraints, sustainability targets, and speed-to-market pressures.
This raises a provocative question:
If modular construction is demonstrably faster, more predictable, and less wasteful — why wouldn’t it become the default for 50%+ of new buildings over time?
So Where Do Entrance Solutions Fit?
This is where our industry has a real opportunity.
Today, entrance solutions often arrive late in the construction process — treated as components to be fitted on site.
In a modular world, that thinking no longer holds.
Here are just a few ways entrance solutions could move upstream and play a much bigger role:
1. From Installed Products to Plug‑and‑Play Systems
Pre-engineered, standardised entrance modules — fire door sets, sectional doors, high-speed doors, hardware, docking stations, access doors — all designed for factory installation could:
Cut on-site labour dramatically
Reduce installation time by 20–50%
Improve quality and consistency across regions
Imagine if Grenfell Tower had been constructed from modules, where the fire door sets and smoke seals were all factory-fitted, and quality assured.
2. Sustainability Built In, Not Bolted On
Factory-installed automatic doors, with thermal barriers, and solar powered access control can:
Reduce material waste by up to 90%
Support net-zero and circular economy goals, aimed at keeping materials, products, and resources in use for as long as possible, while minimising waste, emissions, and the need for virgin raw materials.
Deliver measurable energy savings from day one
3. Accessibility as a Default
Modular, compliant entrance systems make it easier to:
Meet global accessibility standards
Scale healthcare, education, and public buildings quickly
Deliver inclusive design without costly late-stage retrofits
4. Smart, Secure, and Connected
As modular expands into:
Data centres
Warehousing
Infrastructure and smart cities
Entrance solutions with IoT, remote monitoring, and advanced access control become essential — not optional.
5. Changing Perceptions Through Design
High-quality, well-designed entrances can shift modular buildings from:
“Temporary and basic” to “Permanent, premium, and desirable”
That perception shift alone could unlock adoption in higher-end residential, industrial and commercial markets.
The Question for Our Industry
This isn’t without challenges — regulation, standardisation, and upfront cost all matter.
More governments and industry bodies could promote pilots and coordinate certifications to build trust.
By focusing on meeting the needs of the modular construction market - which is poised for 7-10% annual growth - the entrance solutions industry could add impetus and provide technical and regulatory knowhow.
The bigger risk for the industry may be standing still while construction methods evolve around us, or perhaps leaving it to a few global giants of the entrance solutions industry to grab the lion's share of the modular market.
So I’ll leave you with a question I genuinely want your views on:
If modular construction continues its global rise, how should the entrance solutions industry adapt — and where should we lead rather than follow?
What opportunities do you see?
What obstacles worry you?
Who’s already doing this well?
Reply in the comments or message me directly — and if this conversation matters to you, subscribe to Making An Entrance Weekly so you don’t miss what’s coming next.
Next up:
Smart entrance systems in a modular world
Sustainability success stories
Conversations with industry and association leaders
Thanks for reading — and for helping us think more clearly about the entrances we’re making into the future.
Steve
Founder | Brighter Futures Podcasting
P.S. If you found this useful, share it with a colleague. The more voices in the room, the better the discussion.
