Hikvision's Most Innovative Competitor - LTS

By: John Honovich, Published on Aug 01, 2016

It should sound surprising.

After all, as our recent LTS test shows, LTS products are Hikvision with very little changes.

But LTS has an innovative business model, with an approach we have never seen any other surveillance company take.

Indeed, this provides LTS with a strong competitive position, despite the Hikvision rebranding. In this note, we explain the 5 key differences between LTS and Hikvision's go-to-market strategies, examining the pros and cons of this.

** ****** ***** **********.

***** ***, ** ********* *** **** *****,*********** *** ********* **** **** little *******.

*** *** *** ** innovative ******** *****, **** an ******** ** **** never **** *** ***** surveillance ******* ****.

******, **** ******** *** with * ****** *********** position, ******* *** ********* rebranding. ** **** ****, we ******* *** * key *********** ******* *** and *********'* **-**-****** **********, examining *** **** *** cons ** ****.

[***************]

LTS ********

***** *** ********** ***** of*********, ********* ***** *******. ** *** ******** told ** **** **** ~300 *********. ** *** not **** *** **** employees **** **** ***** but ** ******* ** be ***+, ***** ** a *** *********** **** do *** ** *** manufacturing ** *&*. ******* say *** ******* ** in *** $** - $100 ******* *****. *** they *** ********* ******* quite ********, ** ***** by ***** ********** ******** and ** *** ******* numbers ** **** ******* who *** ******** ***, even ****** **** **** it's '*********'.

5 *** ***********

** ******** ** ********* and **** ********* ****, LTS ************** ** * key ****:

  • *** **** ***-****** ******* speakers
  • *** **** ********** ******* graduates
  • ****** ***** ******* (****** than ***** *****)
  • ****** ****** **** ******* (rather **** ************)
  • * ***** *******

Low **** *********

*** ** ****** ******** staffed ** ***-****** ******* speakers *** **** ** the ** *** ******* and **** ****** *** straight *** ** ******* after ******* ****** (*.*.,****** *** ******** ******* ** LinkedIn).

** ********, ********* *** almost *** ************* ******* staff ***** ********* **** significant ******** **********. ** particular, ********* *** ********* hires ****** **** ~** years ******** **********. ***********, there *** ***** ******, most *********** ***** ****** often **** **** ******** knowledge *** *************.

*** *** **** ********* is *** *****. **** ****** pay **** **** **** per ******** ** **** Hikvision **** ***** **** focus ** ************* ****** **** heavy ******* ******* **** they *** **** ** a discount. ** *** ******** side, ******* **** *** young, **** **** ** be **** ****-** *** with **** ******** ************ as ***** *********.

Inside ***** *******

*** **** ****** ** no ***** *****, ******** their ********* **** ********* phones *** ************* ** email.

***** ***** ** *** more ********* ******* ** the **** (******* ***** to **** ********) *** the **** ** *** travel (*** *******, *******, hotels, *****, ***.). ** average field ***** ****** ***** more ****** ** ******** than *** ***** ************ of *** ******* *** inside ***** ******.

** *** ***** ****, there ** ** ***** that ***** ***** ******** additional ***** *** ***** to ** ********* ** build *** ************* ****** for ****** ******* *** accounts. *** *** ****** sales ******** ****** **** to **** ****** *** while ****** * ******.

Dealer ****** ***** *******

*** ********* ***** ** dealers, ******** ** ******* (though *** *** ** found *** **** ****** as ****)

** ********, ********* *** most ********* **** **** through ************. **** **** 20%+ ** ****, *** the ***********'* ******, *** rebates **** ************ ********* demand, ********* ********, ***.

***** ***** *** ********* benefits *** ******* ** ************, given *** ******** *** cost *********, **** ****** can ** **** ******* than ************ *** **** that ******* ** ** customers.

Local *******

**** ********* **** **** 1 ****** *** *******,*** *** * ******* in *** **** *** ******* ********** areas ** *** *******. Not **** ** ***** local ******* *** **** tap **** *** **** local ***** *****, ** provides **** * ******** close ** **** *********, to ******* ********, ** provide ****** *********, ***. This ***** ** ****** the **** **** **** do **** **** *********** field ***** ****** ***** out ** *********.

Contrarian ********

*** ** * ********* animal. ** **** **** they *** ******* ********, ** ****** *** based ** *** ** and ******** ** ***. LTS *********** ** ***** cost / ******* ***** delivers * **** ********* that ******* **** ** ******** profits ** ************* ***** price ****** **** ***** competitors.

Important ****** ** ***

*** ********* ***** ** the *** ***** ** that **** *** *** going ** *** **** large ***** *********** ** end *****. **** ** those want ** **** **** (a) *********** ******, (*) people **** **** ************* with ***/** (*) ****** who ********** **** *** to ***** *******. *** LTS ***** ***** ** none ** ***** ******. But, **** *****, *** cost ******* **** ******** by ******** ***** ******** are ********** *** *** be ****** ** ** their ******* *********.

Hikvision ***** *** ***?

*** ***** ******* ** the ******** ** ******* Hikvision ***** / ***** to ***** *** ***. In *******, ********* ******* intends ** ****** ***** competitors *** *** ** part ********** *** **** partner. ** *** *** hand, *** ** * threat ** ********* ***** they *** ******** ********* on ***** *** ** their **** ***** **** sales, ********* *** ******* structure. ** *** *****, Hikvision ***** ***** ** the ******* ****, ****** the ******* ** ************* lower **** ** ********* sold ******.

** **** ** *********** to *** ** *** becomes *** **** ** a ****** ** *********. But ********** ** **** happens, ** ***** *** has * ***** *** differentiated ******** ***** **** could **** **** ******** in ********** ********.

2017 ******

*** *** ****** * Hikvision ************* ******** ** ****** / *********** ********* ********. We ******* **** **** undermine ***' ******** ***** (as ************ **** ***** margins *** **** *********** advantage **** ****). ** remains ** ** *** if ** *** *** will ** ******* ** continue *********** ********* ******** as ***** ***.

Comments (31)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

08/01/16 02:24pm

We have been dealing with them for a couple of years now no problems at all.

Undisclosed Distributor #2

08/01/16 02:32pm

We have been dealing with them for over a year and we had no business problem.

There is however a support problem.

You should know that if you encounter any problem with a LTS product there is little to no support that you will get from them.

Michael Miller

08/01/16 02:43pm

I get at least one phone call, email or flyer a week from LTS. I am lucky to speak to my Hikvision rep once a quarter.

Undisclosed #5

In reply to Michael Miller | 08/01/16 04:36pm

I am lucky to speak to my Hikvision rep once a quarter.

I think your luck, and possibly your rep, may just be changing ;)

Marty Calhoun

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #5 | 08/01/16 06:19pm

Speak to your regional rep about that problem if you are really looking for a resolve

Undisclosed #5

In reply to Marty Calhoun | 08/02/16 07:48am

Speak to your regional rep about that problem if you are really looking for a resolve...

I really am. And I'll gladly speak to whomever will listen, if that's what it will take to make Mike's rep stop by more often :)

Undisclosed Integrator #3

08/01/16 03:13pm

IMO LTS is hilvision equipment just at a cheaper price point. But yes, the lts people are really good. Puts ADI staff to shame.

Undisclosed Integrator #4

08/01/16 04:18pm

I work with both. I prefer going to the actual manufacture instead of OEM but I have to say working with LTS is so smooth and easy. when I place an order I can trust that it'll be processed and shipped out the same day. It doesn't take effort to work with them. Working with distributors like ADI takes a lot of hand holding on my part to make sure orders are correct, are processed quickly, and delivered in a reasonable time. RMAs are very similar. So not only do the products cost more going through a "value added" distributor, it costs me more time to get orders completed.

The only issue I have with LTS is that some locations IMO have shady selling practices that are completely against their terms to purchase their products.

Undisclosed #5

08/02/16 02:05am

Hikvision's Most Innovative Competitor - LTS

As a company, you know you are doing well when your most innovative competitor sells nothing but your innovations. :)

Undisclosed Integrator #6

In reply to Undisclosed #5 | 08/03/16 12:21am

Which Hikvision product is innovative? "Cheap" is not innovation. No one looks at Walmart and says "now that is innovation... Next Apple in the making right there".

Successful? No doubt. Disruptive? Absolutely. Innovative? Not yet.

Undisclosed #5

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #6 | 08/03/16 12:28am

Maybe: Hikvision Darkfighter 1/2" Imager Camera Tested?

P.S. 'sells nothing but your innovations' claims poetic license in any event.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #6 | 08/03/16 12:54am

Nothing was said about Hikvision or LTS products being innovative. The title referred to their method of doing things with slight racist undertones.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #6 | 08/03/16 12:55am

"Cheap" is not innovation.

The term 'innovation' is used in various ways.

In the context of this post, I mean 'business model innovation'. LTS obviously is not technologically innovative, but their combination of go-to-market strategies is innovative for this market.

Likewise, even if you ignore Hikvision's technology, there's clearly an enormous business model innovation. They were able to get the world's largest communist party to fund them, enabling them to do everything they are doing today. What other video surveillance manufacturer has ever attempted that business model?

Undisclosed #5

In reply to John Honovich | 08/03/16 05:45am

Also pioneered by Hik, the ol' "U.S. based company" line, OEMed by LTS below:

Avatar

Jonathan Lawry

Trecerdo, LLC | 08/05/16 12:27pm

The assertion that younger workers have "less external distractions" is unsupported by data.

Don't know about you, but I had way too many external distractions when I was younger!

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Jonathan Lawry | 08/05/16 12:30pm

The assertion that younger workers have "less external distractions" is unsupported by data.

Please share your data.

If you look at banking, consulting, law firms, etc., the people who work the most hours are those straight out of college.

Avatar

Jonathan Lawry

Trecerdo, LLC | In reply to John Honovich | 08/05/16 12:39pm

I only have a sample set of one, sadly.

Certainly younger workers work the most hours, but this is not necessarily correlated to a lack of "external distractions".

In my 20's, I worked 70-80 hours a week. However, those hours might have been more productive if I had fewer "external distractions", some of whom would show up at the office unannounced and cause a scene in front of my boss.

Undisclosed #5

In reply to Jonathan Lawry | 08/05/16 05:41pm

Perhaps

On the positive side, because they are young, they tend to be more gung-ho and with less external distractions commitments as older employees.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #5 | 08/05/16 05:44pm

I agree commitments is better word choice than distractions, I was implying children / family obligations.

Avatar

keith maxwell

Northeast Remote Surveillance and alarm, LLC | 11/21/16 11:37pm

Biggest Reason for me LTS over Hikvision LTS warranty smacks the snot out of Hikvision. 3 Year over the counter exchange, no questions asked in the extremely rare instance there is a problem. cement LTS repairs nothing you cannot even get a replacement board. I tried for a customers LTS SDI recorder. I use LTS for TVI and entry level IP going to other brands for higher end. You can also upgrade LTS firmware to Hikvision on the comparable models. To me its interchangeable.

Michael Miller

In reply to keith maxwell | 11/21/16 11:52pm

You can also upgrade LTS firmware to Hikvision on the comparable models. To me its interchangeable.

When was the last time your tried this?

Undisclosed Distributor #7

In reply to Michael Miller | 12/07/16 08:24pm

Not anymore even by TFTP!

Avatar

keith maxwell

Northeast Remote Surveillance and alarm, LLC | 11/21/16 11:59pm

A few moths back. I have not had the need to recently.

Another nice feature with LTS is they ship till 6pm for next day delivery. In a pinch its nice, also simple blind drop shopping when working out of town..

Michael Miller

In reply to keith maxwell | 11/22/16 12:08am

What is your go to manufacture for "higher end" customers?

Avatar

keith maxwell

Northeast Remote Surveillance and alarm, LLC | 11/22/16 12:21am

I like the geovision products as a step up by no means highend. No annual licensing fees. My current customer base doesn't have many "Hi End Customers" !

My verticle markets have become multi family housing, Low income housing, Industrial, and Manufacturing. None of which are looking for 4k or higher resolution.

I do almost zero retail and residential.

Avatar

David Johnson

11/22/16 02:10pm

I've had only positive experiences with LTS. They also seem to have the latest Hik gear (branded as LTS) before it's available from ADI. Very quick response to orders.

Undisclosed Distributor #7

12/07/16 08:22pm

We used to sell LTS and Hikvision, Hik threatened to stop dealing with LTS if they did not drop us as distributors as we were selling alot of LTS. One issue we found with LTS was that firmware issues were not sorted until 2 -4 months after Hiks own models were sorted.

Avatar

keith maxwell

Northeast Remote Surveillance and alarm, LLC | 02/01/17 06:00am

John how did I get labeled  with saying LTS is hikvusions most innovative competitor.  I  dont see where I posted those words. Cheap and innovative do not eork in the same sentence last time I checked.  How can a brand be more innovative than its OEM? Kinda of like CNN around here?  Better performsnce than Hikvision for the same money all day. About as innovative as a graphite pencil.  Just to clear the air.

Undisclosed #5

In reply to keith maxwell | 02/01/17 09:30am

John how did I get labeled...

Where did you get labeled?

Avatar

keith maxwell

Northeast Remote Surveillance and alarm, LLC | 02/01/17 11:24am

Avatar

keith maxwell

Northeast Remote Surveillance and alarm, LLC | 02/01/17 11:26am

Yeah maybe I overeacted a little I guess google loves me but wtf>

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

ASIS GSX 2019 Show Report Final on Sep 12, 2019
IPVM went to Chicago for ASIS GSX 2019, with many exhibitors disappointed about traffic and the exhibitor schedule changing next year. Inside we...
Wyze Image Quality Tested vs Axis, Hikvision And Nest on Aug 27, 2019
With Wyze's new AI feature, it is strong at analytics, but how good is the camera's image quality? Is it just as good as incumbents like Axis,...
US Government Ban of Dahua, Hikvision, Huawei Takes Effect Now on Aug 13, 2019
The 'prohibition on use or procurement' of Dahua, Hikvision and Huawei products and 'essential components' take effect today, August 13, 2019, one...
Proactive CCTV "Only Affordable Video Archiving Solution" Profile on Aug 12, 2019
Proactive CCTV is claiming to offer "the only affordable video archiving solution on the market", reducing the storage typically required for H.265...
Stanley Makes "Multi-Million Dollar Investment" Into Banned Hikvision Products on Aug 09, 2019
Just days from the US government ban going into effect, US mega-corporation Stanley has dramatically increased its imports of banned Hikvision...
Vivotek Revenue Soars on Aug 05, 2019
Vivotek's revenue has soared so far in 2019, growing 45%. Inside this note, we examine import records and see who is driving Vivotek's growth...
Hikvision 4K Camera Shootout on Aug 02, 2019
With their latest Smart Series 5 cameras, Hikvision is claiming cameras "fully loaded" with "state-of-the-art technology for high performance and...
Online Video Surveillance Sales Comparison - Amazon, B&H, CDW, LTS, Super Circuits, More on Jul 31, 2019
IPVM has uncovered the key trends and top options being offered across commonly used surveillance sellers. How has the market shifted since we...
Ionodes Company Profile on Jul 31, 2019
What happened to Ionodes? With seasoned leadership from Jean-Paul Saindon founder of SmartSight and Dr. Michael Gilge, founder of VCS, back in...
Fujifilm Expanding Into Video Surveillance on Jul 26, 2019
While Sony continues to fade out of the video surveillance market and Canon continues to make huge investments into acquiring video surveillance...

Most Recent Industry Reports

How Cobalt Robotics May Disrupt Security on Sep 13, 2019
While security robots have largely become a joke over the last few years, one organization, Cobalt Robotics, has raised $50+ million from top US...
Panasonic 4K Camera Tested (WV-S2570L) on Sep 13, 2019
Panasonic has released their latest generation 4K dome, the WV-S2570L, claiming "Extreme image quality allows evidence to be captured even under...
ASIS GSX 2019 Show Report Final on Sep 12, 2019
IPVM went to Chicago for ASIS GSX 2019, with many exhibitors disappointed about traffic and the exhibitor schedule changing next year. Inside we...
Installation Course - Last Chance - Register Now on Sep 12, 2019
Last Chance - Register Now - September 2019 Video Surveillance Install Course. Thursday, September 12th is your last chance to register for the...
Commend ID5 Intercom Tested on Sep 12, 2019
Commend touts the new ID5 intercom as 'timelessly elegant' and the slim body, glass front touchscreen indeed looks better than common, but ugly,...
US State Department: "Chinese Tech Giants" "Tools of the Chinese Communist Party" on Sep 12, 2019
The US State Department has called out "Chinese tech giants" for being "tools of the Chinese Communist Party" in a blunt new speech that makes...
Uniview OEM Directory on Sep 11, 2019
This directory lists 20+ companies that OEM products from Uniview, with a graphic and links to company websites below. It does not cover all...
Yi Home Camera 3 AI Analytics Tested on Sep 10, 2019
Yi Technology is claiming "new AI features" in its $50 Home Camera 3 "eliminates 'false positives' caused by flying insects, small pets, or light...
Hanwha Announces 32MP Camera + AI Line on Sep 10, 2019
In the first rise in maximum megapixel resolution in 5 years, Hanwha has announced a 32MP / 8K camera directly competing with Avigilon's H4 30MP /...
Fingerprints for Access Control Guide on Sep 09, 2019
Users can lose badges, but they never misplace a finger, right? The most common biometric used in access are fingerprints, and it has become one...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact