Why Milestone, Why? Axis Vs Arecont

JH
John Honovich
Nov 13, 2015
IPVM

Take a look at this video:

Can anyone make a sensible case why Milestone should be partnering and promoting Arecont when they are part of the same company as Axis?

Why would you associate with Arecont when you have Axis? It's like cheating on your supermodel genius spouse with a Kardashian.

Are there really that many people demanding Arecont instead of Axis? Are there really that many things that Axis cannot do that Arecont can? Wouldn't the Canon corporation make more money more tightly coordinating Axis and Milestone than going out and promoting Arecont?

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U
Undisclosed #1
Nov 13, 2015
IPVMU Certified

It's like cheating on your supermodel genius spouse with a Kardashian.

It's an arranged marriage none the less.

Between two of the most commercially promiscuous vendors in the business.

Remember, neither one chose the other and they both are fiercely independent.

Maybe Fujio was thinking that being so close geographically and culturally they would naturally assimilate, with little heavy-handed arm-twisting.

To make them actually work together would mean putting some management above both of them in a day to day operations capacity. How long before that happens? Maybe there's still another piece to the puzzle? (Distribution?)

Question, has Lars stated anywhere to what degree, if any, Milestone was consulted about the Axis acquisition? It would be interesting to know if he was in favor of it or not, though I doubt anyone's talking.

JH
John Honovich
Nov 13, 2015
IPVM

"To make them actually work together would mean putting some management above both of them in a day to day operations capacity."

Even more basically, my understanding is that Milestone and Axis have no financial incentives to cross sell the other. So if Milestone sells a $50,000 job with 100 Arecont cameras or 100 Axis cameras, it makes no difference to Milestone (except for dealing with Arecont's quality issues, etc.).

By contrast, Tyco Security Products has, from what we have heard, clearly implemented cross-selling targets and incentives for Exacq and Illustra cameras.

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Nov 13, 2015

It seems that Tyco employees have different understanding of corporate strategy. On a question why do you propose Axis cameras for projects instead of Illustra the answer was I do not care and put whatever fits the RFP.

JH
John Honovich
Nov 13, 2015
IPVM

The answer from Tyco IS the integrator or Tyco Security Products?

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Nov 13, 2015

Tyco Security Products. If you can get info from distributors that serving needs (servers, network equipment) of Tyco or for example Avigilon :) you will be surprised by the level of inefficiency and how much usually the employees "do not care".

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #2
Nov 13, 2015

Because it's the 'Open Platform company' and looks to retain that ethos despite the takeover.

Even from Canon's point of view they would want this as if you take the 'open platform' value way then you p**s off 50% of your customer/partner base who likely walk away from the relationship.

JH
John Honovich
Nov 13, 2015
IPVM

'Open platform' is not binary. Milestone knows this well. Remember when the open platform meant software only to Milestone? Now Milestone's key growth initiative is their own Husky hardware / appliances. So much for their hardware partners.

As for:

"p**s off 50% of your customer/partner base who likely walk away from the relationship,"

First of all, lots of people are going to choose Milestone anyway because of its own brand, established position, breadth of functionality, etc.. For example, Arecont needs Milestone more than Milestone needs Arecont, especially now that Exacq is promoting their own cameras.

And for each Arecont rep who 'walked away', Milestone could get an equal number of customers to choose Axis, which would far more than offset that as they would get far more substantial camera revenue for the deals they did get.

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U
Undisclosed #4
Nov 15, 2015

As a motorcycle enthusiast, should I be offended by Schafer's comments regarding the "interesting group of people" who attend Sturgis (1:40 mark in the video)?

Avatar
Jon Dillabaugh
Nov 15, 2015
Pro Focus LLC

It's like cheating on your supermodel genius spouse with a Kardashian.

Ok, I get that scenario historically, but the new mom is a catch!

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U
Undisclosed #1
Nov 15, 2015
IPVMU Certified

...with a Kardashian.

Yes, the lack of specificity here is troubling. Exactly which Kardashian is intended by the OP? An RFI is in order here... ;)

(1)
Avatar
Scott Gerrels
Nov 20, 2015
IPVMU Certified

I'd be afraid of what you could catch, with a Kardashian.

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