‘The adoption of remote working is not about to slow down’ – Interview with Milestone Systems

Amine Sadi, Regional Sales Manager MENAT at Milestone System, was interviewed by TECHx to discover their video management solutions, emerging trends in this sector, and channel partner ecosystem. The responses we got are listed below.

TECHx: Working remotely has become a viable long-term option in the previous year. What role does Milestone Systems play in this change, particularly in terms of bridging the technology and business divide with its video management solutions?

Amine: The adoption of remote working is not about to slow down as organizations across all sectors continue to make the big switch to the new style of working. To provide a smooth transition for their teams, most organizations have adopted tech-driven systems that will enable them to monitor and communicate seamlessly and most importantly, cost-effectively. Top on their must-have list is video surveillance – a critical tool for organizations that need to constantly monitor their remote operations. Organizations need a system that ticks all the boxes: Reliability, Security, Flexibility, Scalability, Great user experience. Developed by innovative surveillance experts who work to solve the challenges you have today and in the future, Milestone’s video management software, XProtect, has proven to be a perfect fit for organizations that need to keep their people and property safe.

TECHx: What distinguishes Milestone’s video management solutions from those of its competitors?

Amine: With over 20 years in the industry, Milestone’s video management software, XProtect, has repeatedly proven to be the right partner for more than 500,000 installations worldwide. Milestone XProtect is based on a true open platform, which means it has a published application programming interface (API), allowing developers to alter the functionality of XProtect to cater to new needs and technologies. The open platform enables you to add custom, best-in-class solutions, such as access control, cameras and video analytics. Currently, the system supports over 10,000 devices, which makes it ideal for any business. Also, Milestone’s XProtect is easily customizable to fit a business of any size. This simply means you can create a unique solution for your specific needs.

TECHx: What role does the channel partner ecosystem play in your company? What does Milestone Systems do to empower its partners in the face of a changing business landscape?

Amine: Our channel partner program is crucial to the overall success of not just our business but also our customers. The objective is to help our partners grow their businesses and enable the greatest outcome for the end-users.  The pandemic has provided a timely reminder of the need to rapidly expand video solutions, integrate analytics and other functionalities, and innovate and repurpose existing investments. These adaptations require collaboration and inspiration, two areas that Milestone seeks to cultivate through our Marketplace.     

Milestone’s Marketplace offers an open platform approach that enables flexibility and deepens relationships between end-users and Milestone partners. It then takes this a step further, by including specialists who can help deploy and customize video systems.

A detailed search function that allows users to search for specific companies, by software and hardware, by solution services, or based on their city and country. This helps them quickly hone in on the exact product or specialist they need to meet their particular application.

Marketplace 2.0 also now lists Milestone’s many system integrators, making it possible for customers to find partners to help them deploy. Conversely, system integrators can display their relevant projects, expertise, and references to help them build trust and authority in the market.

Through Marketplace, customers can now explore hardware and software to expand their XProtect application, connect to vendors and system integrators, and then deploy their custom solutions.

During the pandemic, we also initiated our Milestone Care campaign where we looked at how we can support our customers and partners, the latter in terms of driving enhanced service levels during times of hardship.

TECHx: Do you foresee any new trends in the video management solutions industry in the next few years?

Amine: The video surveillance industry globally and regionally is largely expected to experience trend-driven changes over the next couple of years. By the close of 2020, the global video surveillance industry was valued at US$52.45 billion and as new trends kick in, the industry is expected to grow phenomenally to reach US$ 90.37 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 9.31%, from 2021 to 2026.

Regionally and in the United Arab Emirates, in particular, the video surveillance market is projected to reach US$197.8 million by 2021 as the government’s appetite for IP surveillance systems soars.

As consumer and market needs continue to evolve, especially now that organizations are aligning their operations in conformity with the new ways of working, the industry will be expected to develop video management solutions that address emerging needs. Some of the most notable trends expected to shape the future of video surveillance will revolve around artificial intelligence to help with enhanced video and audio analysis, enhanced cloud storage and intelligent video surveillance.

In the wake of the global pandemic, contactless solutions, for example, are also widely expected to gain popularity as organizations seek to boost their overall health and safety protocols. The integration of the Internet of Things is also another area that’s expected to influence the development of solutions. This trend will provide the much-needed information that can be used to boost the operational and security needs of organizations.