Demand for security boosts Indian Surveillance Industry

Robbin Shen
Director, India & SAARC Region
Dahua Technology

In a talk with VARINDIA, Robbin Shen, Director, India & SAARC Region, Dahua Technology, highlights the growth of the IoT-enabled surveillance industry and the growing demand for security in the country  
 

In the twenty-first century when India is facing a huge number of security issues because of late adoption of technology in India, various nation-building initiatives of  the present Indian Government such as “Digital India”, “Smart City”, “Safe City”, and “Make In India” have accelerated the rate of  technology adoption process in the recent years. Though Analog-based surveillance systems have accounted for majority of the share (68%) in the overall market, yet IP-based surveillance systems are expected to increase in the next five years due to increasing IP infrastructure, declining prices and demand for remote access. The shift from analog to digital is making steady progress due to crystal clarity, superior technological features, flexibility and affordability.                                                              

IoT enhancing Surveillance…
In the era of IoT, the use of internet and wireless communication has seen a paradigm shift. With current trends including 4K video surveillance, HD-SDI (High Definition – Serial Digital Interface), Body Cameras, Drones, Mobile Video Surveillance, IoT in Video Surveillance, Automated Intelligent CCTV Surveillance and Advanced Analog CCTV, video surveillance through CCTV can now be used and watched anytime from anywhere in the world. 

“With the emergence of network video and remote monitoring devices and the advent of advanced applications in security products, surveillance is now a tool for gathering business intelligence and other applications,” opines Robbin Shen, Director, India & SAARC Region, Dahua Technology. “Take the example of student security in schools. For that one cannot fault surveillance cameras alone as they can only help in forewarning and identifying culprits. Besides installing CCTV cameras, the school management should enforce strict policies and make them known to all students, parents, other stakeholders and visitors to prevent unsavoury incidents in schools. It should establish Safety & Security Department, Crisis Management Cell, Law Enforcement Coordination Team, and Policy Development & Volunteering Unit and have regular media relations. Security devices are only means to protection and not the end.” 

Security is a matter of concern 
The concern regarding security has risen over the years. Therefore, people want security everywhere like office buildings for IT/ITeS, infrastructure development, new airports, banks, schools, colleges, universities, hotels, hospitals, shopping malls, which is contributing to the demand for security products in India. “What Indian customers want is durability, seamless performance and instant customer support. And also the consumers are opting for more and more integrated solutions than standalone one. Though the device is bought for safety and security, consumers do expect add-on values like energy savings, business intelligence and mobile-based operations,” points out Robbin.

That is also the reason why the Indian Surveillance Equipment market is moving toward integrated security solutions, created by integrating multiple systems, including video, intrusion, video analytics, fire, access control, HVAC, chemical and biological sensors, etc. Also, the rise in terrorism and crime rates has triggered the demand for security and surveillance products. All trains in India are getting CCTV cameras installed to prevent crimes and to increase safety of women passengers/commuters. Likewise, all school buses have to mandatorily install CCTV cameras inside the vehicles to protect children.

The Indian Government’s “Smart City” Initiative has further opened up humongous opportunities for the surveillance market as  all major sectors  in this mammoth  project such as aviation, bank, education, energy, health, hospitality , housing, Infrastructure, real estate, retail, road,  telecom, 24x7 transport need to have surveillance for safety, security, sustainability and success.  

“Video surveillance will have a critical role to play in India’s ‘Smart City’ initiative and its development,” says Robbin. “India is a young, buoyant and fastest-growing market in the world.  The Union Government has taken a number of initiatives to modernize or revamp the ailing infrastructure by announcing new airports, ports, railway stations, expressways, educational institutions to build 100 smart cities across the nation. Hence, these will lead to a great demand for the safety and security products and services across different segments.”

Opportunities for Partners
The security industry provides plenty of opportunities for channel partners to expand in the existing markets and to explore new geographies for many cutting-edge solutions. These include opportunities to identify strategic goals, develop sales and support programmes, hosting events to increase security awareness, decreasing sales cycles, winning business consistently through quick and effective adoption of technologies, corporate culture and customer-centric focus. Such valuable opportunities leverage both strengths and help differentiate products, services, values and vision vis-a-vis the competition. Like many companies, Dahua is partnering with leading distributors across the world to expand their market through domestic and global distribution channel. 

Megha 
megha@varindia.com