Milestone Systems focus to be on Healthcare and Smart Safe Cities
Artificial Intelligence (AI) now powers communication devices, smart cars, smart apps, voice assistance, customer support, and more. The no-code revolution is also increasing in popularity, driven by code-generation capabilities by Machine Learning (ML) technology.
Malou Toft, Vice President, APAC, Milestone Systems
What defines modern video technology and what role does it play in critical infrastructure industries like water, transportation, healthcare?
Modern video technology takes many forms all of which can be combined into highly customized and effective systems. With increasing digitization, businesses are adopting technologies that offer real value to business outcomes. Data and security have become the prime factors that affect the health of businesses and operations of organizations.From monitoring assets to on-ground reporting, identity management, motion sensing, the key goal is to increase situational awareness of the site and assets and ensure the safety and security of people and places.
Critical infrastructure is the backbone of any economy. It is the integration of essential operations that are running today’s smart cities – power, water, electricity, telecommunications, healthcare, airports, and mass transit systems to name a few. When combined with a host of technologies and robust processes, a resilient video system can play an invaluable role in providing accurate situational awareness and visual confirmation of any threats on the ground. Modern video technology combined with the internet offers the highest level of protection across all critical operations like electricity supply, water supply, healthcare, transportation and monitoring.
How Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and data analytics have contributed to bringing a revolutionary change in the way video surveillance systems operate and service today?
New-age technologies have drastically altered the capabilities of security cameras. New advancements allow security devices to play a critical role in a variety of fields. AI and IoT have transformed the traditional concept of standalone Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras with features like facial recognition, smartphone integration, 360-degree field view, two-way communication, and more. Data analytics has helped to significantly improve compliance in the business environment by integrating factors like instant alerts, providing real-time experience, access control, and automation.
How are countries in Asia Pacific (APAC) harnessing the power of new-age technologies to build digital smart cities?
Today, the region’s growing population is moving to urban areas. This trend is particularly relevant to APAC, where more than half of the planet’s mega-cities are located.
In Hong Kong, big data and decision support systems are used to tackle air pollution. Japan has a City-Platform-As-A-Service (CPaaS) that leverages cloud technology, big data, and IoT so that they can develop applications and services to support their smart city infrastructure. In Singapore, one of the most connected cities in the world, we see a fusion of digital technologies with smart nation initiatives like 5G technology increasingly being used in telemedicine and autonomous vehicle monitoring. In India, there has been an increase in security spending and hyper-automation.
Since the advent of smart city concept, countries in APAC have been on the road towards embracing the power of innovation in making citizen lives better and more sustainable.
What growth opportunities do these new-age technologies provide?
We are on the cusp of the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)’ with technological changes creating job opportunities, boosting employee productivity, and driving economic growth. Globally, the automation of knowledge work or machine learning and intelligent applications has the potential to generate a 40 to 50 per cent productivity gain in work that involves processing data and information, interacting with customers or making decisions.
What is Milestone System’s channel partnership strategy for 2022-2023?
We launched The New Milestone Partner Program earlier this year. The program framework features a tiering structure, realigned benefits, and exclusive support in training and resources to partners. It also reflects changing market conditions alongside evolving partner and customer needs. Partners will be provided with training and certifications support that will help to boost their revenue opportunities.
Going by Milestone System’s ‘People First’ policy, what trainings & programs are a part of the strategy to foster partner relationships?
The Milestone Systems Partner Program is about enabling our partners and our customers to explore the full benefits of video technology – both in and beyond security. With a community of more than 11,000 resellers and integrators, we are focused on helping these partners create new business opportunities. We do this by providing access to foundational resources and benefits to build high-performing video solutions. We also provide training in verticals of onboarding, sales, and technical knowledge to help them achieve customer success.
What are the key technology trends we are observing this year?
We are witnessing accelerated digitalization and virtualization, as well as a convergence of technology trends.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) now powers communication devices, smart cars, smart apps, voice assistance, customer support, and more. The no-code revolution is also increasing in popularity, driven by code-generation capabilities by Machine Learning (ML) technology. In a broader sense, the Internet of Things (IoT), lightning speed 5G networks, and the democratization of data are coming together to augment us with new capabilities.
As we move forward, the need for sustainability, data-volumes, cloud computing, and network speeds will be on the rise.
When we talk about the landscape of security monitoring and on-ground surveillance, what does the way forward look like?
Security is an essential practice and a necessity. Significant growth is predicted in the video management industry because of rising commercial and IT infrastructure, physical attacks, and crimes, increased competencies, and low penetration of CCTVs. Consumer behavior is a goldmine that we now have the technology to unlock. More and more businesses will tap into the enormous potential of their Video Management Solution (VMS) for diverse tasks, from analyzing customer behaviors to managing inventory and securing infrastructure.
What is your objective for the region?
According to 6Wresearch, India’s Video Security market size is projected to grow at CAGR of 17.8% by 2027. We will be working with our key community partners to build innovative solutions focused on key verticals which are – Healthcare and Smart Safe Cities. Our goal is to deliver the best solutions while changing perceptions of what is possible with video technology and how it can contribute to creating a real impact and brining about real change.
Can you elaborate on your market approach?
We believe that modern video technology is much more than protecting people and property, it can integrate analytics and AI capabilities to offer video data translation into actionable insights to grow sales, automate non-value adding tasks, reduce inefficiency and much more. We create solutions for customers and sell through partners. Our global network of diverse partners is central to our success. Together with our ecosystem of GSI integrated partners in India, we work on creating video technology that maximizes the value of our customer’s existing video assets and discover how video can enhance multiple aspects in different business operations.
