Axis: "Everything is IP" - False

Axis is congratulating itself, with executive Fredrick Nilsson declaring:

"Now the conversion is all done and everything is IP and analog is rapidly on the decline... It's kind of fun to reflect...."

It surely is 'fun' for Axis to say that but it is simply false.

False Claim

Axis cited / blamed IHS for their anti-HD analog / HD CCTV position the last time they falsely claimed this (see: Axis: HD Analog Will Die Out).

By contrast, HD analog is one of IHS's top 2017 trends, with IHS asserting:

Demand for HD CCTV cameras and recorders is forecast to continue growing rapidly in 2017... IHS Markit forecasts that in the professional market, shipments of HD CCTV cameras will grow to almost 29 million units globally in 2017. This is from fewer than 0.2 million units in 2012. Furthermore, in a number of countries in 2017, HD CCTV cameras are forecast to account for the majority of cameras shipped. [emphasis added]

And IPVM statistics has shown growing adoption of HD analog with 42% of integrators now using it.

'Education' Problem

Nilsson's remarks in this interview were part of his book launch [link no longer available] that Axis describes as a:

comprehensive reference for anyone involved in developing, implementing, and maintaining the latest surveillance systems.

Unfortunately, for those reading the book, it completely omits HD analog, AHD, CVI, TVI, etc., as if this simply did not exit.

In fairness, Axis' new book gives less than a half page to H.265, another technology Axis does not support.

Since Axis considers this to be more than just their own marketing material, they should hold themselves to the higher standards of educating rather than hiding things that they choose not to sell.

Strategic Problem

The bigger and more interesting point is that Axis repeated denials of HD analog shows how Axis has erred strategically, despite HD analog's rapid usage growth and continued increase in functionalities (e.g., to 4MP and soon to 8MP/4K).

Axis is not stupid and does not live in a bubble. They know HD analog usage is growing. They know it is improving. It might feel good temporarily to say 'everything is IP' but it results in poor strategy.

The low end will continue to be mostly lost with Axis' strategy. Sure, they hope that once SD analog was dead, everything would be IP, even the low end but that is just not the case.

And with HD analog getting better (Power over Coax is the next step) and dealers getting savvier about combining HD analog with VMSes like Milestone to cut costs, HD analog will be even a stronger competitor in the mid market.

That is not to say HD analog will 'beat' IP overall but HD analog is a clearly a significant factor that is here to stay for many years, something that Axis needs to better handle.