How a Berlin Start-Up Became a Pioneer in Door Communication
Ingenuity and high quality once made Germany a great place to do business. But even today, both of these points are still real keys to success. Bird Home Automation GmbH’s story from Berlin shows that focusing on core economic virtues can pave the way to dominating an entire market in just ten years.
Berlin, 2014, Joachimsthaler Straße. Not far from Kurfürstendamm, Berlin’s number 1 shopping boulevard, a handful of people are working high up on the 13th floor to conquer the global market for smart door intercom systems with a compact and ultra-modern and above all high-quality and affordable product: DoorBird. The goal was to make it possible for residents all over the world to speak to their visitors at the door and even open the door for them, no matter where they may be at that moment.
In autumn, 2014 the time had come: The very first models had an HD camera with a 180° ultra-wide angle and night vision mode, a motion sensor, Wi-Fi, and various connections. The comprehensive range of equipment was a decisive competitive advantage, and this was also immediately recognized: On December 23, 2014, a customer from Orlando, Florida, placed the very first DoorBird order at www.doorbird.com. The first sale in Germany followed just two days later to a customer near Cologne.
Smart Door Communication Taken to the Next Level
But the first DoorBirds were far from the end of the story. While the so-called D10x series was still maturing into its final version in the company’s early days, another product range was already in the works: This range satisfied the high demand for models made of high-quality material (stainless steel) for flush or surface mounting, with the same technical functionality. Accessories such as the BirdGuard additional camera or an alarm siren were also taken into account.
The small company then became an integral party of the door intercom market. Over the next few years, new or expanded door intercom models, indoor stations, upgrade and access control systems as well as accessory products were consistently introduced. By 2024, just ten years after the company’s foundation, the total number of products would be 2,300 if you were to factor in the different color options available. Almost every one of these many products have been met with widespread approval from customers in 161 countries. And that’s no shock, because from day one Door Bird has always precisely tailored its innovations to meet the needs of customers.
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