HIKVISION: Technology leadership in surveillance arena
Q. Hikvision has global brand positioning in the surveillance industry; please brief us the success story till date?
In a short span of less than a decade and a half, Hikvision has grown from a non-entity in 2001 to a global leader in the security surveillance Industry. Headquartered in Hangzhou in China, we have 30 branches in China and 14 overseas regional subsidiaries and 30,000 partner around the world. We are present in 100 countries and territories. Our products have become the iconic brand of the security industry in each country we are present in. We have now more than 12,000 dedicated employees of which 4200 are qualified engineers making Hikvision the largest pool of engineers who play an important role in our innovation and R&D. Hikvision has won many prestigious awards for its contribution to security industry. This year we were adjudged number one in many security equipment categories. We owe our success to our robust R&D, constant innovation, high quality, prudent leadership, dedicated employees and customer- centric focus.
Q. Technology evolution has changed the dynamics of the industry in recent time. How did Hikvision equip with this technology transformation?
Hikvision believes in forward planning. It anticipates well in advance the disruptive technologies that will dominate the global security landscape and prepares ahead to provide appropriate solutions in each vertical. Plus the company is blessed with the largest pool of R&D professionals who innovate, improvise and invent tomorrow’s solutions. As the leader Hikvision wants to be always in the forefront. This burning spirit not only enables us to cope with technology transformation but also be the pioneer of the same transformation.
Q. Can you elaborate more about the product portfolio & its applications?
Hikvision’s product portfolio straddles many industries. We offer security solutions to many segments such as Automobile, Banking, Cooperative Housing Societies, Cyberspace, Education, Gas, Health, Hospitality, Insurance, Infrastructure, Oil, Petroleum, Retail, Real Estate, Sports, Telecom, Transport, Utilities and Warehouse. We design, manufacture and supply CCTV Surveillance Cameras, Video Surveillance Equipment, PTZ Dome Cameras, Network Cameras, Analog Cameras, DVR, NVR, Encoders, Decoders, Access Control, Perimeter Fencing, Car Parking Solutions, Video Door Phones, Vehicle Tracking Solutions, HD Over Coaxial and Fire Alarm Solutions. We provide a list of products and solutions, their applications and benefits.
Q. What are your plans to position these products in India & as well as in global market?
We are already well established in many geographies including India. We are a leader in many categories in the security and we want to maintain that pole position during the coming years also both in India and globally. Our security products are internationally well known. Yet we want to position these products in such a way that most of the mankind is benefitted. Since security is vital to stability, growth and peace we want our products to ensure just that. By positioning ourselves as a reliable security solutions company and prompt customer service provider we want to widen our footprints in the global market.
Q. Please brief us about Hikvision’s corporate governance and corporate responsibility missions?
In a public limited company like Hikvision, governance, management and control are equitably distributed among the shareholders, the board of directors and the Chairman /President in consonance with prevailing laws, rules, regulations and instructions. Hikvision is registered in Hangzhou in the Zhejiang province in south eastern China. It is listed on Shenzhen Stock Exchange. The company strictly follows the provisions of the Companies Act of China as well as the stock exchange regulations for listed companies in Mainland China.
Hikvision has always maintained the highest corporate governance standards which conform to the highest international standards. As for corporate responsibility missions, Hikvision is committed to sustainability, integrity, equity and ethics. Hikvision values the diversity of its employees and . encourages and supports their talents and offers an attractive and conducive work environment.We’re committed to offering high-quality products and services to all our customers worldwide. We strictly adopt transparent business practices that are meant to deliver viable values to all our stakeholders and communities.
Q. How do you foresee “India” as a potential market, what are the prospects?
The Indian CCTV market is witnessing immense growth from wide ranging sectors such as BFSI, BPO, Education, Energy, Health, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Retail Real Estate and Sports. The present government’s ‘Make in India’ ‘Digital India’, “Smart Cities’ and ‘City Surveillance’ initiatives hold greater potential and promise to the proliferation of security products and services at broader and deeper levels.
The government, in general, is the biggest segment in terms of volume demand. The private sector, enterprises as well as SMBs are also showing potential. Government’s regulations are also driving the market. Rural India with its teeming 800 million people is still a largely untapped market. India is a huge market and so by 2020 India will become one of the leading security markets in the world.
Q. According to you how is the global video surveillance industry performing?
Well, video surveillance in business is growing, creating new challenges related to managing surveillance systems and storing the rapidly increasing volume of raw video footage. The global video surveillance industry is performing steadily & it is expected to grow by more than 10 percent in 2015. I understand that the market was worth an estimated $15 billion by the end of 2014, up from $13.5 billion in 2013. By 2018 the industry will likely to reach a projected $23.6 billion, which is equivalent to a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12 percent. In India the Video Surveillance market is expected to reach Rs 6480 cr (US$953 million) by 2016, with a CAGR of 32.49% from 2011-2016.
Q. What are technology trends that are driving the surveillance business?
Closely integrated security solutions instead of standalone solutions in IP CCTV segment will be the major trends in the coming years. HD Over Coax, cloud based, mobile operated security solutions will be the major trends in the surveillance business. Internet of Things (IoT) will be to the fore driving the technology roadmap.
Integration of business intelligence software to the video surveillance system will be a major trend. Product cum service will be preferred to product per se. Also, Business Intelligence along with security cover will be the trend in the coming years
Factors affecting surveillance business
There are many factors that affect the surveillance business in India. Let me enumerate them:
- Complex procedures / multiple approvals from different agencies.
- Heavy taxes/duties
- Poor infrastructure and poor network connectivity particularly in rural India
- Lack of proper standard agency to certify the products
- Natural disasters
- Insurgencies and terrorism.
- Delay in project implantation
- Geographical factors like hostile terrain, extreme weather conditions and long distances.
Q. Lastly, being the prudent leader of the company what is your vision for Hikvision in near future?
Our vision in the near future is to make our presence in as many countries and geographies as possible. We are aiming to provide global security at affordable cost with our cutting –edge technology. We want to become as the most preferred brand/company for our customers, employees and other stakeholders. Making the world a safer place is our overriding vision in the near future.