DoorBird has been telling the story of how a Berlin start-up became a pioneer in door communication.
The company argues that its history shows that focusing on core economic virtues can pave the way to dominating a market in just ten years. Read on as DoorBird tells it’s tale of the last decade.
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
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.
Go West Meets Made in Germany
Whether it was more products or more employees, The DoorBird family around the founders Bernd Müller and Sascha Keller continued to grow in order to create the best possible product experience. From the very first minute, DoorBird was based in Berlin. DoorBird still designs, tests and manufactures in the German capital to this day. And for good reason. ‘Made in Germany’ is promise that DoorBird makes to its customers: All products are developed internally, all design phases undergo strict controls, and each finished product is extensively tested in specially developed test environments. This in-house approach ensures the highest level of quality and reliability—the high degree of compatibility of the DoorBirds further enhances user-friendliness. Thanks to a well-documented interface (API), the products can be easily integrated into smart environments and can thus interact with a wide variety of garage doors or smart door locks, for example. This means the customer can combine smart home applications from different manufacturers according to their own taste and do not have to commit to a single brand. In 2024, the DoorBird Connect network has over 80 integration partners.
Although the know-how and production were located in Berlin, right from the outset the two founders saw the USA as one of the most important markets. The decision to present the DoorBird directly at a US trade fair was part of this thinking. The concepts of home automation and security were prevalent there much earlier than in Europe; the successful trade fair appearance in January 2015 confirmed the founders in their strategic direction and actions. In the summer of 2015, the company moved into its first premises on American soil, in San Francisco—with its proximity to Silicon Valley, one of the most important locations for the IT and high-tech industry worldwide, San Francisco was the ideal starting point for conquering the US market. By quickly specializing in the upscale residential segment and the B2B business with electricians, DoorBird chose a path that turned out to be extremely successful. In 2021, the second location was opened in Jacksonville, Florida, with the aim of being even closer to partners and customers on the American East Coast.
Part of a Big Family
With their consistent product and sales strategy, the two founders set the course for success right from the start. DoorBird has grown continuously for many years through its own efforts. In 2022, they took the opportunity to think even bigger with a strong partner at their side and secure a leading, globally relevant position for DoorBird in the market for IP door intercom systems in the long term. Large-scale projects such as hotels, commercial facilities, and entire residential complexes in particular are becoming increasingly important and offer enormous potential for DoorBird’s future.
Since 2022, Bird Home Automation GmbH has therefore been part of the ASSA ABLOY Group. ASSA ABLOY is the one of world’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of locking and security systems for everything to do with doors. Following the acquisition of DoorBird, ASSA ABLOY now has products that can be used worldwide in the area of door communication. After all, there will be other innovative products in the future, of course always geared towards the needs of the customers. Because meeting these needs with top-quality products, no matter what the application and no matter where in the world, is what the company wants to do—always made with love in Berlin. Made in Germany.
