How can they say it is an Open Platform when they are only leveraging Axis for their camera direct to cloud integration?
Arcules CEO Interview And Company Profile
Published Sep 07, 2023 16:51 PM
This year, Milestone Systems started to relabel/resell Arcules, bringing the two Canon corporate siblings close together, combining the scale of Milestone's VMS customer base and Arcules VSaaS, but how well is Arcules doing in 2023?
We interviewed Arcules CEO Andreas Pettersson and CRO Steve Prodger to better understand how Arcules is doing and what they are planning for the future, including an upcoming partnership with sibling Axis.
For IPVM Research and background, see Arcules VSaaS Test 2023 and VSaaS Rankings 2023 - Arcules, Avigilon, Eagle Eye, Genetec, Meraki, OpenEye, Qumulex, Rhombus, Turing, Verkada, Vivotek, YourSix.
Executive *******
******* *** ********** ***** ****, *** partnership **** *********, *** *** ******** Axis ******-**-***** *********** ** **** ******* of ***** ******.
*******, ******* ********** ******** ** **** any ******* ** ***** *** *******, revenue ******, ** ****** ** ******* connected. ** ***** ******* **** ******* is *******, ** *** *** ********* partnership ** ******* * ******** ***** to ***** ******* *** ******** ** Arcules.
**** ** *** ***** ** *** well ******* ** *****, ********** ******** to *********** **** ** ***********, ****-****** newer ******** **** ** ***** *** or *******, ** ***, *** ******** Alta, **** ** ********'* ******* ***** surveillance *******.
*********
******* **** **** **** **-*** ********* and *** ********* ** **** **** through *** **** ** ****/****. **** would ******* * ***** ** ********** headcount **** *** **** ****, ********* to ******** ****:
Leading **** ********
**** ******* *********, ******* ***** **** being ****,******* ******"*** *****’* **** ***** **** *****-***** VMS ********." ******* ***** * ****** about **** ** "***** ****", **** VSaaSs *** ********* ****, ****** *******, though ******* *** ***** ***** ******* in *** *******.
******* *** ********** ** ******** *********** it ** *** ***** ** ******* people ** *** ********:
***** * **** ****, *** **** mindset, * ** ******* **** ** the ***, *** ********* ****** ** able ** **** *** *********** **** if **** ***'* **** **, **** should ** **** ** ******* ** with ******* ******. **'* ****. * don't **** *** ******* ** ******* people ** *** ******** **** ***'* use. ** *******, **** ** *** key *******.
******** *********** *** *** ******** ** Arcules ********, *** ******* *********:
*** ***** **** ***** ***** *** us, ****, ** ******* *** ****** in *** ********* *****. **'* ********** and **********. *** ********* *** ************* that **** ** ** *** ***, I ******* **** ***** **** ****** brands, * ******* ** ** *** middle ** *********** **** ** ****. But * **** *** *** ******** of *****, ********** *** ******** ************, some ** *** ********* ********, **** can * **, *** ** ***** pretty **** *** ** ** ***, drop ** * *******, ******* **** you ****, *** ***'* **** ** rip *** ******* ****'* ******* *** there. *** **** **** ****, ** you *** ********* ****** **** **** the **** *********** ** *******, *** have ** *********** *** **** *** to ***** [******** **** ***********, ********* later **], ***** ** *** ********** area ** ***, ***'* *** * camera ***** ** *****. *** ********* one *** **** ***'* ** ******* a ******* *******. *** *** ******** of *** ***** ***** ** ********** related ** ********** ***********. ** **** is *** *******.
Milestone ************ ****
******* **** **** *** ************ **** Milestone *** **** ***** ****:
* ***** *** ********* ** *** of *** **** ************ **** **'** focusing * *** ** ******* ** in ***** ** **** **** **** selling *****, ******* ** **** **'** been ***** **** *** *** ********. It's **** ***** ****, ** **** all *** ******* **** *** ********* it *** ****** ** ****** *** how **** ** *** ** *** there ** *** ****** ****** ***** partners. ** **'** ********* * *** of **** *** ***** **** ** to **** **** **** **** ** is **********, *** **'* * **** relationship.
******* ***** **** ********* ** ******* Kite's ********:
** **** **** **** ** ***** pipeline **** ** **, *** ****'** they're ******* ******** ***** ****** *****, which ** *********** ** ***** ****. They're *** ******* **** ** ********. They're ******* *** ***** ******* **** making **** **** ****'** ******* **** and ****** * ******** ****. **'** seen **** ******* ** ***.
*******, ******* ***** *** ******** *** growth, *******, ** ****** ** ******** Milestone ** *******.
Sales ******* ********* **. ****** ******* *****
********** ***** **** **** ***** **** their *** ***** **** *** **** a ********* ******** ** *** ****** than *********:
** ** ***** * *********** **** Milestone. **'** ******** ** *** **** family, *** ******** ****'** **** *** big *******, *****, *** **'** ****** to ****** **** ******* **** ****. We ******** ***** ** **** * competitive ********* ** *** ******, ***** they're ***** ****** ** *** **-******* side ** **. **'** ****** ** the ***** **** ** **, *** we ******* * ****** ********, **** is ** ********* *** **. ** that's **** **'** ****** ******* **. So **** **** *** ********* **, or ** ***** ********* ** ** me ** ***** ***********, **** *** it ** ***** **** ** ******* it ******** *** ** * *** plus *** ****** ***** **** ** approach.
** **** **** ********* ******** ********* partners **** ****, *** *******:
****'* **** ** ********* **** ** if ******* ***** ** *** ****, "Hey, ****'* *** ********** ******* ******* and ****?" **'** ******, **** ** Arcules. ** **** *****, **** * product **********, ** *** *** ** existing ********* ********, *** ***'** **** to ****** ********* ********, *****, ** get **** ******* **'* ***** ** give *** **** *** ****. ** tend ** **** ** *********** *** selling **** ****** ********, **** **'* a ********* ******* **** ***** ** and ****, "****, ** ***'* ****** buy ********* ** *** **** **** way, ** ** **** ** ******** Arcules."
******* **** **** **** ********* ** selling ******* ********* ************ ********:
** *** ******* ************ ******** **** are ********* **** *********, *** ***** us ** *** *** ***** ** a *** **** **** ******* **** couldn't *******, ******* ****'** ************* ** on ******* ********. ** ** *** look ** *** ******* ***** **** of ********, ** **** *** ******* to ** ** ***** ***** ******** and **** ******* *** ******* ** that ***.
Not ******** **** ***** ***** *********
***** *********** *** ********* ** ****, Pettersson **** **** **** *** *** planning ***** *****-***** *********:
* ***** ** **** ** *** embedded ******* ****, **'** *** ** the ***** ***** **** ** ** right ***. **** ******** *******, *****'* probably * ****** **** ** ** the ****** *** ** *** *** of *** ***, ******** *** ********** take *** ****** *** ***** ** in ***** ***
**'** ***** ******* ** *** **** of * ****** **** *** ********* that ****** ****** ** *** *** system, *** ** *****'* **** **** the ******** ***** ***. **'** ***** trying ** ***** ** ***. ** we've *** **** **** ****** ** can ******** ***** ** *** ** see ** **** ** ****** *** us.
Access ******* *********** ****** ***********
********** **** **** *** * *** of ******** *** ******* ***** *** access *******, *** **** *** ** discussions *** ****** *********** **** ****-***** access *******:
** *** ***** * *** ** requests *** *******. ****** **** ** not **** ** ***** ***** ***** into ******** ********. ****** ********** ** the ******* *** **** ****** ********* and ****** *****, *** ** **** started ** ****** *** ************ **** our ****** ********. ** *** * few ****** ******* ******* ***** **, we **** **** *** *** ******* of **. ****, ** *** ** discussions ** **** * ****** *********** with **** ** **** ** ****, to ****** *** *** ** *** unify *** ******** ********.
** **** ********* ***** ** * good *** **** *******:
* *** ******* *** *** *'* not ******** ****. ***** ** ***** a ****** **** *** *** ** have * ****** **** ******* *********** with ****. * ***** **** **** markets **** *** **** ****** ** the *****, ** **** *** **** and **** ** *** ******* *************, so ******** **** **'** ** ***** and ************* **** ****, **'* ****** the ******* ****** ** ** * request.
*******, ******* **** **** **** **** no ***** ** ******* * ****** access ******* ******** ** ********* **** 3rd ***** *********** ******. ***** ******* was *********** * ***** ** ******* video *** ******, **** ********* *** only ******** ***********, *** **** *** party *********** ** * *********** **** but **** ******* **** ***** **** currently ***.
Analytics / ****** *********** *****
******* ****** *****-********* ** ****** *** vehicle *********, *** ***** ******* **** they *** *** ******* ** ****** recognition, ** ** *** ********* ** the ******* *** ***** **** ** 2024:
** ***'* ***** [****** ***********], *** also *****'* ** ********** *** *** we ********* *** *** ******* ** we're ******* ** *** ***** **** it's ***** ** ***** ** *** customer *** ****'* ****** *** **. In *** ******** ********, *** ****** have ** ***** ****; ********* **** you're ***'** **** ** *** ******** and *** ** *** *****. ****** recognition *** **** ** * ****** of *****, *** ** ****'* **** a ******* *****. *****'* ***** ****** that **'** ******* **, **** **** help ** **** ** *** ****** recognition ***** **** **** **** **** year. **'** **** *** **** ***. We *****'* **** * *** ** requests *** **.
******* ********* ******** **** ****** **** VSaaS ***********, ******* ******** ********* **** unusual/anomaly *********, ****** ***********, ******* ***** recognition, ** ********** / **-************** *********, and ****** ** ***** *** *****-***** integrations.
Arcules ******-**-*****
******* **** *** ******-**-***** ********,****** ** *****, ** ** ******** *****:
*** ** ***** ** *** **** real *** ****** **** **'** ******* about. *****'* **** * *** ** demand ** *** ****** *** **, and **'******** ** ****** **** ** in * ********** *** **** ****, which ** ** **** ***** ********. We're ** ***-******* ***. ** **** the ***** **+ ***** ******** ** it *** *****, *** *** ********** GA ** ** [****].
*** **** ** **** [**** ******] on *** ******* *** ***'** ** and *******. ** ***** **** ** less *** **** **** *** ******* product, **** **** ** ******* *******.
**** ******** **** **** *** *** primarily ********* ** ** * *** or *** ****** ******* **** ** storage ******* *********:
*** *** ***** ******** ** **** put ******** * *** *** **** it *** ** ****. ** ***'* want **** ** ***** *** **** time ** *** **********, *** ** it ****, *** **** ***'** **** it. *** ****'* *** *** ********* way ** **** ******* *** *******
******** ******-**-***** ******* ** * ************* good **** *** *******. *******, ********* SD **** ******* ** ** ********* after ********, *********** ** ** *********, is **** **** ******* **** *******, Rhombus, *** ******** ****, ***** **** require * ** **** ****, *** the ****** ** ********** *** ********.
****, *** ***** *** *** ** card **** **** *********, ********** ** whether ** ***** *********** ************** ** recommendations. **** ***** ****** ** ********* failures ***** ******* ******* **** ********** have ** **** ****.
** *** **** ****, **** ******** of **** ******* *** ******* ********, and ** * ********* ******* ** Axis, ******* *** **** ********* ** co-selling ******* ** ******** **** ******** that *** ** ******* * *** to ******* ** *** *****.
Remaining ***********
***** ******* ** ******* **** **** its ********, ** **** ********* ** us *** ********* ** ****** ** a ******** *********** ******, *** **** point **** **** *** ********* **** periodically **********, ****** *** ***-*********** ******-**** ownership ** *****.
****, ********* **, **** ******** ** or **** ***** ***** ******** ******* their ******* ***** ************ ********, ***** they **** *** ****, ****** ***** now ******* ******* ********** ******** ***** has ****** *** ******** ************.
*******
***** ***** ** **********, ********* ************* with ***** ******** **** **** ******* but ** **** ** ********* ** see *** **** ***** ************ **** and *** **** ******* *** ****, now **** ***** *** ****** **********.
** ** ******** *******, ** **** cover *********'* ***** ***** ** * key ******** ******* ** *** **** Milestone, ** *** *********, **** ******* or ******* **** *** *** ***** offerings.
Comments (9)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
Sep 07, 2023UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #2
Sep 07, 2023It is interesting to me how ACS and Video providers will tout "Truly Open!" and then in the fine print mean-
- If you're using Axis Communications cameras
- If you're using Mercury OEM hardware
Open should mean Open- not "open....to one company"
JH
John Honovich
Sep 07, 2023#1, #2, what are you proposing they or others do? There's no ONVIF for the cloud (at least yet).
Axis and Mercury have worked hard to provide broad 3rd party open support. Axis, e.g. newest ACAP version is especially strong at allowing 3rd parties to add apps like the cloud app Arcules is doing for Axis cameras. Related - Axis ACAP 4 Camera Applications / Analytics SDK Examined
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
Sep 08, 2023Well there are plenty of other camera manufacturers that offer good edge functionality besides Axis, IE Bosch or Hanwha. Why are they limiting development to one camera manufacturer? Resources? Or is it really because of the Canon influence?
Whatever the answer is fine I get it. Just don't say your open when you clearly are not.
JH
John Honovich
Sep 08, 2023Axis, IE Bosch or Hanwha. Why are they limiting development to one camera manufacturer? Resources? Or is it really because of the Canon influence?
Axis sells more cameras than Hanwha or Bosch and has a mature, well-documented API /SDK. Putting aside the Canon connection, partnering with Axis first is a logical move, no?
Just don't say your open when you clearly are not.
You're conflating 2 points. Arcules does have broad 3rd party camera support, which we verified in our testing (in our VSaaS rankings, they are not the top but they are above average in this category).
Arcules right now does not support any direct-to-cloud cameras. Sometime, hopefully soon for them, they will support Axis, as the first one.
While we've been critical of Arcules over the years, I don't think their current early state of direct-to-cloud third-party support should be a fair criticism of them not being open.
Mike Maxsenti
Sep 13, 2023Totally agree John. With cam to cloud they can't leverage onvif, they have to use the manufacturer's API. AXIS is the leader, they made the right choice where to start and will expand into other manufacturers.
As a Mercury-based ACS it's the closest thing to Onvif for ACS. There is no open protocol, nor are there any viable alternatives at scale.
Sometimes, you just have to go with the best possible option to run a sustainable business while adhering to your values as a company.
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
Sep 08, 2023Fair enough but I don't think I'm conflating two points. I guess it depends on what you believe is "true" integration. If you believe Onvif is up to par with truly integrated then yes I can concede your point. However, Onvif doesn't always integrate every feature of a camera. That typically only happens when the API is written to, IE, Vapix. What version of Onvif do they support? Looking at their list there are not as many camera models supported with Bosch/Hanwha as their is with Axis. Is that because of Onvif or their driver development?
If they were smart why would touinit yourself to just the number 1 camera seller? I would have thought with Hanwhas release of an SSD camera that would eliminate the SD card issue that was specified above.
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #3
Sep 08, 2023I agree with John that you're conflating the points. Open, doesn't mean you need to provide deep integrations with every camera out on the market. The "open" companies like Genetec and Milestone for example only have deep integrations with a small subset of their partners. The rest of their driver libraries are either limited in function or based on ONVIF which as you pointed out has its own limitations.
The device list has more Axis models because Axis has been shipping IP cameras longer than Bosch/Hanwha and simply has more camera models to start with.
From what I understand, Arcules is launching with Axis based on demand from partners as well as the support they get being a sister company. I do know they are open to looking at adding Hanwha and others based on market demand. One of the biggest challenges with a cam to cloud solution is that you need to provide a way for the camera itself to initiate a connection to the cloud service. You either have to have the manufacturer modify their firmware or if the camera supports it, write your own application to run on the camera to make that connection. Neither of those are as easy as adding support to a camera via the manufacturer's API.
None of the cam to cloud solutions support more than one manufacturer with the exception of Genetec's Stratocast. However, their Hanwha support requires a specific firmware that runs on a limited number of older cameras and hasn't been updated for some time.
Finally, on the Hanwha SSD camera, besides still being in pre-release, my understanding is that the SSD on the camera can only be accessed by WaveVMS loaded on the camera. At least on my camera, while I can format the drive via the web interface I can't say create a rule to record to it directly. I'm also not aware of them adding commands to their API that would support accessing the drive either.
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
Sep 08, 2023*limit