Milestone Has Problems
Milestone has problems. While the company previously excelled in the shift to IP cameras, as IP has matured and competitive differentiation has shifted to AI and VSaaS, the company is now struggling to find its way.
Inside this note, we examine 3 inter-related themes:
- The lack of significant new product development
- The bungled spinout of Arcules
- Their continuous PR problems
Finally, we conclude with observations about what Milestone could do to rectify those problems.
*** ****** **: ***** ********* *** not *** ********* *** **** ** or ***** ********, **** *** ****** conflict *** ********* ** ******** * competitive ***** ******* (*******), ********* ** left ** ***** ******** ***** ******** that **** *** ** ** ****** nothing. *** *** *****,********* *** **** *** ******** "#*" position**** ** ********* *** **** **** a ******.
Lack ** *** ******* ***********
********* **** ********* ******* *** ******** but ***** ******** ** *** **** a *********** *********** ******. * *** years *** (**** / ****), ********* *** ********** rightfully *** *** ********* ********. ***** ****, **** **** ***** to * ********* ******** *** **** kept ** **. *** ********* ****** is ****, ***** ************* ****, ** has ******* ******, *.*. **** **'* 'key ************':
** *** ***** ****, ********* *** announced ********* *** ****** *** *** delivered ****.
PR ********
**** ***** ** ***** ** ********.
** ****, ***************** *** **** ******* **************** **** ******** *** ******* * deep ******** ****** / ********. ** months *****, ** ** ***** *** shipping. ********* *** ***** ******** *** industry ******* *** **** *** *** delivered.
****, ** ****,********* ************** ***** ** "******** ********** ******** 45% ** **** ****-***". *** '********' may **** ** **. *** ******** is ***.
***, ** ****, ********* **** **** to**** *** ********* * '***********'**** **** ******* ******** ***** *** realized ** *** **** * ******* 2019 ******* ***** ******* *** ******** for ****.
** **** ******* ********, ** *** because********* *********** ********* *** **** ***** back ** **** ** ****, ***** *** '*********' ***** *** that ****.
***** ***** *** *** **** *********** PR ******** *** *********, **** *** ongoing. *** *******, ** *** ****, Milestone *** ******* ****** ** ********, so **** ****************** *** '*** *** **** ****** in ********' **** ** *************** ********** ******** ********.
*** **** ******,********* ********* ********* * '****-*****' *************, only *** **** ** ******** **** ** ***** ******** *** not ******** *** *** ************* ****** was '*** ********' ** *** **. Milestone ********* **** * **** **** addendum ** *** **** ****** ** the ***** *******:
Bungled ******* ** *******
***** ***** ****** *** *********** ************ and ********** ********, *** ******* ***** for ********* ** *******. **** ** the ******* ** ******* ********* *** part ** ****** ******* *********.
******* ***** ***-**** ** ***-**** ************ talking ***** ***** ***********. ***, ** least ** ** ******* ** *********, that *** ****:
********** *** ************ *********** ** ***-********* **** * ****** ** ***** senior ******** *******. *** ***, ******* employee ****** *** *** **** ******* it *** ******** ****** **** *** last * ******:
******** **** ** ******* ***** ********** employee ****** *********:
**** ** ******* *** ** ********* problems, *** ********* ** ******* ** be * ******* *** *********. **** do *** ********* ***** *** ********* people **? *** **** ********* ********** has ***** ** *******. **** **** scenario **** **** ********* ********* ** Arcules; ***** **** **** ** *********.
***** ***** ** ** *********** ******** yet ******* ******* *** *********, **** when ** ** ********, ** **** inevitably ** **** ********** ** **** with *** *********, *** ***** *************, two ******* *************, ***. **** * single ********.
***** ***** ***** ********* **********, **** Avigilon, *****, *** ******* *** **** cloud / ** ****** ***** *******. It ** ****** ******* ** **** more ***** *** ** ********* ** expand *** ** *** ***** ****** than ****-*** * ***** *******.
#1 ** ****
****** *** ****,********* ** ** ****** #* ** IHS's ********. ***** **** ** *** ********* we *** ********* ****** ** *** industry *** **** ****** **, ********* marketed **** *******. **** ****, **** have **** **** ** ***** ********.
*** **** ******* '****' **** **** is * **** ** *********'* **********. Genetec *** ********* *** **** ****** (which **** ******** * *** ***** ago***** ** '******'). ** *** *****, ******* *** pursued * **** ******** ***** ** high-end ***** ************ (****** **** ********* large *****). *** ******* *** **** well *********** ****** ********* ** *** expense ** **** *****.
*** *********, ******* ** ** ****** Milestone's **** ********* **********, ** ** themselves.
How ** ******* ***** ********
*** ******* ** ***** *** ** no ******* **** **** *********'* ******. It ** *** ***-**** ******** ********** ***** ** * ******* ***** for **** **** **********.
*******, *** ******* ******** ** **** the **** *********** ********* ******* ** to **** ******* **** **** *********. It ***** ******* *** ******* '***********' Arcules *******, *** ******* / ********* conflict *** **** *********'* ********* **** something ************ *** *** *********** ** talk ***** **.
********* ** ********* ***** ** *********** the ********** **** **** *** ************ bring *** ***** ******** ** *** shows **** **** *** ** ***** more ** ******* ********** **** ***** competitors.
**** **** ******** *** **** ********* realize ****, ****** *** **** ** a ******* **** *** **** ** unclear ** **. **** **** ** a *** **** *** ********* ***** if **** ** *** ******* ***** quickly, **** ***** ** ****** * sharp ******* ** *** **** ******.
Vote / ****
** **** ** ************* ****** ***** predators ** ***** ****. ;)
**** ************ ** *** **** ** "spin ******* ****"?
- **** *** *******
- ***** ** ****
- ***** ******
* ** *** **** **** ***** Milestone. *** ** * ***** ***** it ** * ******* ******** *******, likely *** ** *** *** ****** they **** ** **** ******* ****. ** **, ******* **** ******* could **** *** **** ******. ******* being * ****** ********* *****, ** also ******* **** ******( *********** **** slow *** **** ** *** **** you *** ****). ****** **** ** the ****** *** ***** *** ******* has ** *****. *** **'* ********** critical *** ** ******* *** ******** but *** *** ****. *** ****, the ***** ****** ** ********** *** some ****** ******* *** ******.
*****, **** ** **** ** **********. I ** *** **** *** ******* at ***.
**** ************ ** *** **** ** "spin ******* ****"?
***** ** **** **** *********. ********* had ******** ********** *** ******** ********* for **** *****, *** **** *** have ******** ********* *** ******** *******.
*** ** *** *** ****** **** have ** **** ******* ****
****, **** **** ** * ******** issue *** ********* *** ** *********** one. ******, ********* *** **** ************ done * *** ******* **** ** moved**** ********** ** *********.
**** ***** ** * **** **** interesting / ********* ********** ** ******* was ******** *** **** *** ***, so *** **** ******* *** ** or ** ** ** ****** ****** their ********* ****?
** ** ***** *** **** ** make ** **** ****.. ** ***** be **.
**** **** *** *********** ******* ******** in **********. **** ********* "*** ********" state ***** * *****.
*** **** **** ** *** **** by "*** ** ***********" ***. * literally **** *** ****** ******* *** a *****.
*** **** *****.
*'* * ******** ***** *** * types ** ******** *********:
*) *****-******. **** ***** - ******. Big ***********? ***'* **** ** ** regardless *** ******* *** * ******** customer, ********** **** ****.
*******: ********* **** ** ******* ****.
*) *******-******. **** ******* ** *** key. ** **** **** ******* - sales **** ******.
********.
*) ***********-******. ** **** **** *********. The ******* **** **** **** ****.
******.
**** ** *** ***** *** ***** and ** **** **** * ********. Imho, ********* ***** *** ******* ** bought ** ***** ** ** ******* 1. ***** **** *** **** ***** here *** **** ****** **** * step ****.
*’* ******* **** *** **** ****** from “***** ******, ***” ** “*******” hasn’t ****** ****** ******.
*******:********* / ***** ********* ***** ******* Arcus ******, *** *******
********, *’* ***** *********; *’** **** a *** ** ** ** ** day, *** ***************** *** “******” *** ***** **** change ****** **** **** *******:
*** **** ** * ******* **** a *** ***** **** *** ******** wishes ** ****** ** *********** ********* – *** ******, *****, ******* *** the ******* ** ****** ** *****...
** *** ***** ******, ***. **** developed *** ******** *** ********** ** the ***** ********** ********, ** ****** [apparent] **** *** ******** ******* ** wished ** ***** *** *** ********** we **** ******** *** ******* ****** what *** ***** **** *********...
...** *** ********* **** *** **** reflect **** **** [********]. ** ****, the ******* **** ****** *****, ********, security *** *** ********** ****** ** our *******, *** ******* *** *** product. *** ************ ** *** ***** name *** ** ***********, ******. **** Arcules, ** *********** *** **** ** Arcus – *** ********** ********* ***** the ***** ******* ***** *** ******* offering ********.**** *** *** ****, *******, ** wish ** *********** ****** ****** **** technology **** ********* ******.
*** **** ******* ** *** ******** name *** *** ***** **** ** me **** *** ***** ********** ******. To***** ****** **** ****:
*** **** ** **** ******* ** Arcus ******. *************, ***** ******* ****** another ******* *********** ********** "****** ********** ***** ***** ********" who **** *** ****** ***************.***. *** ********* / ***** ***** Global ********* *** *** ****** *************.***. *** * ******* ********* ** much *****, ****** ***'* ******* **** a ******** **** *** ****** **** another ***** ******* ******* **** ** not **** ****.
Arcus ****: I’m afraid our name no longer reflects the bold company that we’ve become. To remedy this, I am proposing we insert the power letters “le” right before the final “s”. Thoughts?
Arcus ******** *: That new name is really powerful and strong! It just exudes way more. Plus, its got the L.E. subliminal thing, and the Hercules allusion. I’m in!
Arcus ******** *: Sir, good news, arcusglobal.com is willing to sell their domain name.
Arcus ****: On second thought, power is overrated.
*** ******** ** ******...******* ****** ** a ********** ** *** ********* ****...** should ** **** ******* *** **** channels *** ****** ** ******* ** the **** ***. *** ***** ** from *** *** ** *** ****** you **** ** **** *** ** market **** *** *********** ********* **. Genetec *** * ******** ** ***** that ****** *** ** "********" * cloud ****** **** ********** **** ***** core ******** ****** *******. * ***'* know *** ********** **** *** **** Startocast ** *******, *** **** * technical ***** *****, **** ** ******* for *** ******** ** ****** ********** strategy.
** ***'** ***** ** *** ** the ***** * ***** ****** ** Milestone, *** ** **** *** ** the *** ** *** ****. *** need * ***** **** ** ********** to *** *** **** ****** ** the *****. **** *** ****** **** core ******* ** ***** *****...********* ******* to ** **** *** **** ** your **** ******* ***** *** ** the ***** ******** *****. *** ******* from * **** ********** ***** *****. See: *******, ***** ***, **** ***, etc....everyone ** ***** ** ***. *** have *** ********* **** **** ******* for ***** *** ****** ** ********* into * ******** ****** ********. **** luck...but *** **** *** ******** * hole. ***** *** **** ** ******* it, *** ****** ** ********* *** can ** *******.
*'** *** **** ********** *****. *** only *** ** **** * *********** is ** **** ** ********* ******* generating ******, *****, ******, ***. *** many **** ******* *** ******* ** a ****** ****** ** ***** ****** who *** *** *** *** *** knowledge ** ***** ** *** ********* core? */* ** *% ************?? *** many ****** **** ** ***** *** kit, ******** ** *** *** *** Milestone?
**** **********, *********** **** **** ** these ******** ***'* *** ** *******. Many ** **** **** ***** *** internal ******* ********** ***** **** **** MONTHS ** ****** ** *** *********** done. *** ** ******* ******* ****** and ******** *** ** ******** ** the ******* ******. **** *** **** to **** **** **** ****** ******* to *** **** ******** *** ********* bug *****, ** *******, ** *******, version *******...*** *** ****** ******* ***** integrations. ** *** * ******* **** ONVIF ** *** ****** ******* *****?
*** *** ***** ** * ********* always ******** ******. ******** ** ** home. **** ********** **** *** **** to ** ** **** ********* ** innovating *** ******** ** *** ******. Many ***** *** **** ** ***** and **** ***** ** ** ********** differently. *****, ********* *** **** ** do...
* ***** **** ******* *** **** off ** *******, *** ** "********* innovation ******** ** *** ******** ** silicon ******" *** **** ** * " **** ** **** " **********.
*** **** ** ** *** ******** (dog ****** ** **** **** **** I ***) , * **** *** take ** **** **, ** **** be *** **** ** * ******.
"**** *** ** *******, *** ** "stimulate ********** ******** ** *** ******** in ******* ******" *** **** ** a " **** ** **** " experiment."
* ******* ********* ****** ***** ******* valley '********** ******' ** ******** **** called ** **** **** ******* ***** Global/Arcules (***** ** ** ******).
****'* ******* **** ** * ****** experiment **** ****** ** **** ***?
** * ****** ********* *** *** Arcules **** *** *** * *******, embedded ******* ** ********* ***** ** run ** **** *******. **** ******** was *** ********* *** ** ** the ***** ***. * ****** ** a ******** ***** ********* ****** ** the **** *** ** ***** *** touch *** ***** *** ***** *** scenario ******* ** *** **** *********** project. **** ******* *** **** *** and *** ********* ********. * ***** to ***** *** ******* **** **** the **** ***** **** ***** ******** the ******* **** ********* *** ** place *** * **** ***'* *** it ***** ****** ******* ***** *** scenario.
** * ****** ********* *** *** Arcules **** *** *** * *******, embedded ******* ** ********* ***** ** run ** **** *******
***, ****'* *******. ***:********* ***** *** ******, *** *******:
***** ** *** ** *** ***** powerful ***** ** **** **** ****, with **** ******** ******** *** ************ than * *******, *** *** **** than *** ** *********'* ***** *** offerings.
***** ** *** ********* ******* ****** only ***** **** *** *********** *** client.
******* *** ** ** ***** ** well. ******* ***** ******** **** **** a ***** ***, ********* *** ** support **** ********, **** ********* ** to *** ***** *** *******. ********* says **** *** ********** **** *** that ******* **** ** ******* ** WD, ****** ** *** ********* ***** WD's ******* ** *********** ******* *********'* VMS.
** **********, ****** **** ********* ***** spinoff ***** **** ****** **-****** *** was ******** *** *****.
*** *** ***** (** *** ******) known *** ********** ** **** *****..**** their ****** ******* ***** **** *** great *********. *** ** ***** ************ culture *** '******** ** ********* ******' innovation ** ****. ******** ****** *****, the **** **** ** ******** ** long ** *** ***** **** *** underlying *******-******* ************ (*** ****, .*** 4.7, *** ******* **). ******* ******* into ********* ***** **** **** * fresh ***** *** ****** ****** ** innovate.
******** ****** *****, *** **** **** of ******** ** **** ** *** tooth **** *** ********** *******-******* ************ (SQL ****, .*** *.*, *** ******* 11).
***** *** **** *** *** *** using ***** *******-******* ************?
*** ******** ****** ***\** ****** *** on ****** *** ***** ******* *********** like ** *******?
******** *** *** ** **. ***** is **** ***** ******* ** *** server *** ** ***** ** * appliance. *** ***'* ******* *** ***** version ** **** *** ******** ** least ** **** *****.
*********** ****** *** ** ******* ** C++, ****, & ********** **** ** OS ************.
****** *** *************** *** **** ** decision ****** **** **** *****. **** cloud - ** ***, ******* - no ***, ********** - ** ***. The **** ***** *** * *** different ******* **** **** **** ** our ******** ***** ******* **.
**** *** ****** ******** ****** **** the *****, ********* **** ********** *** fly. ***** **** ****** ***** ** failure ** ***** ** **** ***** CIOs *** **** **** *** *** glaring ****** ***** ** ******* ** a *********. ***********, *********, *** - these *** ****** **** ****** ** those **** **** ** ******** *** technology *** *** ******* ** ***** on.
****** ** *** ***** **** **** deer ** *** ********** **** ***** like **-*** *** ******* **.
*** ****** **** ** *** **** cause ** ******** *** ** ** concerning **** **** **** ****** ******** are *******.
"***********, *********, *** - ***** *** things **** ****** ** ***** **** have ** ******** *** ********** *** the ******* ** ***** **."
**** *****.
*** *** *** *** ******** *** CC ** **** **** ******* *** 'IT' ******* ** ******** ****** **** camera ** ********* ****** *** ****** dominant.
* ** *** *********** *** **** towards *****.
* ** ****** ******** *** **** certain ********* ** ************/******** **** ** desire ** **** ***** ******** ******* available/stored ****** *** ******** ** ***** local ******** **************.
***% ****** **** ***** ** * time *** * *****. *** ** all * *** *** *** *********.
************* *** *********** **** *********, *** majority ** ***** ***** ** ********* have ******* ***** **** ** *** solution ** *******. ***'* **** ** either ******* ******** ****** ** ********* XProtect *** ********* ****. *** *** logos ** **** ***** *** **** harder ** ****** **** ******** ** exploding ********** **** *** ******* **** the *********** ** *****. **** ******** financial ******* **** ********* *** ******* as * ******* ** ***** ** keep ******* **** *** ******* **** explosive ******. ** ** * **** more ******* ***** *** **** ** years ***.
** ** * **** **** ******* space *** **** ** ***** ***.
***** * ***** **** **** '******** of *****' ******* - ********* **** VARs *** *** **** ********** ********* (based ******* ** ************ **********, **** time *** ****, *** ******** ********** in * ********** ************, **** **** time) - *** *** ******* **** you **** ** '******* *****'?
* ***** ******* **** *** ********** 'space' ******* ** ***** ******* ** what ** *** ****** ****,and ** ** *** '***-**********' ************* (that *********** ********** ************* ** ******* ** channels ********* ***** ** ***** ******)which **** *** **** ****** ******** *** ***** ** * ********** ******* ********.
** * *****?
***** ********* *****. * ***** *** though **** ***** ** **** **** for *************, *********** *** ******** **** so **** **** *******. ********* *** nearly ********* ** *** ***** ***** make ** * ********** ***** ** perform ******* ********* ** *** ***** of ********* ********* ** ****.
****** *** *************** *** **** ** decision ****** **** **** *****. **** cloud - ** ***, ******* - no ***, ********** - ** ***
**** ***** *** **** ****** *** more **** * ******.
***** *** *** **** *** *** both ***** ****** **** ** ***** with *****.
** ** *****, * ** *** saying *** ** ****, **** **** both *** *** ** *** ******** can ****.
* ***** **** ** ******** **** the ********* ** **** ***** ***** poorly (**** *** **** * ***** that **). *** ********** *** *** direction ** *** ******* *** **** widely ********** **** *** ***** ** view.
*** ** ****** *** ** ******* alone ** **** ******** ***** ** cloud ********** **** ******* ******** ******* (Not ** **** ********). *** **** caveat ** **** **** ** *** time ** ***** ** **** *** a *** ******* ********* ** ***** the ******* **** * ******** *****. Regardless, * ***** ***** *** *** platform *** **** ***** ************* **** compared ** *** ***.
** ** ****** **** ****** **** much ** *** **** ** * new ****. ** *** **** ***** market ***** ** ** *** *** time.
** *****'* **** **** ******** ** conclude **** *********'* **** ************ ******* all *** *********** ***** ***** *********** by *****. **** ** *** *** innovators ****** ********* **** ****** ***** on ** **** **** ********** ****** as * ****** ** *** *********** and ***** ****** ***** ***** **** enjoying ***** *** ********* ** ********** to ******* **** ** **** (** you ***'* ******* ** ***** *** their ******* ***). **** ******* ** of *** ******* ****** ****** ** years **** ** *** *** ********* of ************ **** **** **** ** its ****.
**** **** ** ********* ******** **** their ******** ********.
*** *** ***** ******** ** *********...
*** ***** **** **** ** **** it **** ** ***** ****? **** are **** ********** *********** *******? * get ** **** * **** **********, but **** * ******** ***** *****...** way. **** *** ******* **** ***** be * *******...
******* *** ******* ********** ***** *** at ******** **** *** ****** *********** haven't ******* ******* ** ******* **** are *** **** ** ********** *** value.
**** **** *****, ******* **********:
***********: ***** ***** *** *** ** are ********* ** **** ***** ********* and **** *** **** ** *** things ***** ******* *** ******** ****?******* ***: ** * ***** **'* a ****** ** ********* *** * lot ** *** *********** ***** ****'** very ******* ** ******* ******** ** a ******* ***** ** *** *** projects *** ******* **** ** ********** the **** ***** ** * ******* recurring ******** ***** ** ****** ****'* gonna **** *** ********** *** * lot ** *** ***********
**** ** ******* *** **** ******* that ********* ****** ******** **** **** integrators ***** *** ****** **** ***** initial ********* ********* * ****** *** - *** **** ******* ******* ****.
********* ******* **** * **** **** when **** **** **** *** ******** solutions ** ******** ******** ** *** initial '*******' **** **** **** ********** sold **.
******* **** ** ********** *** **** value ** * ******* ********* ******** model ** ****** ****'* ***** **** the ********** *** * *** ** the ***********
** ** ** ****** **** * significant ******** ** *********** (** ******* included) *** *** ***** ** ****** recurring *******. *** * ********** *** incremental ***** ***** ***** *** ******* tends ** *** **** *** ********** department ** ******* *** ********** *** our ******* ******** ****** *** ***** projects. **** ** *********** ** * cradle ** ***** ******* ******* * would ****** **** * *** ****** $500k ******* **** ** *** *** done **** ** **** * *** camera $**** ******* **** * **** to ******* ********* $*** **** ***** for *** **** * *****. ******* the *********** **** *** *** *** ongoing ******* ***** ** **** *** integrator ***** ** * **** ******* challenge.
*** ** ***** ***** *** ******** to **** ******. **** *** *********** of ** ********** - *** ***** I **** **?
**** *** **** *** ********* ******* setup **** **** **** ******.
* **** ** * ***** ***** company - *** ***** *** ** is ***'* ********* ** **** ***** ...
**** ******/********* ***'* **** **** **** RMR. ****, **** ********* **** *** buy * ******** ** ** *** model. *******, ***** *** * *** of ********* **** **** *** * lot ** ********* **** *** ******* in ***** **.
************ ** ****** '*** ***** * want **?' ***** *** ******* *******.
*) ****** ********* ** **** ********
*) **** **** **************
*) **** **** ************ **** **** customers (**** ******** ** ****)
*) ******* ****** ******* *** ********* sensitive ** ******* ****** ** *********/****** to ** ******* ******** ** ***********
**** *** ******** *** *******, ***** is ******** ** ******* **********, *** will **** *** ******* ***** *** initial ******* **** **** ****.
*** ************* **** ** ***** ** they **** ********* ******* **** *** user *** *** ******* ** ****** them ****** ****** ****.
*** ** *********.
*** ** ***** ***** *** ******** to **** ******. **** *** *********** of ** ********** - *** ***** I **** **?
** **** ***** ****, **’* ****** at ***** ****** ******...
********* *** *** ******** *** * long **** *** *** ****** **** keep ********. ** **** ***** ***** they ******* ******* * ********* ********** of *** ******* - ***** ***** up ******* ** ********* *** ********** the ****** ***** ***** ** ********** & *******. ** **** ** ** a ****-***** ******* *** ** **** point ** **** **** ********* ***********.
********* **** ** ********, *** ******** search ********
******. *** *********** **** ***** ********\******* would ** * ****** **** *** Milestone **** *** **** * ***** of "**********".
**** * ******** *** *** ** a ****** ****** *** ************* ***** wanted *******.