Vivotek Favorability Results 2017

By: John Honovich, Published on Jan 20, 2017

Financially, Vivotek is doing relatively well. The company did ~$130 million in 2015 revenue and 2016 revenue (through Q3 reported) was up more than 10%. This is much better than almost all of their Taiwan video surveillance manufacturer peers.

All things considered, Vivotek is holding up fairly well.

However, IPVM integrator favorability results show that Vivotek does not have significant mindshare among integrators, with favorability rating overwhelmingly neutral. While some integrators find the products to be a solid value, most report little to no actual exposure with Vivotek.

Hikvision also plays a role in Vivotek's favorability ratings, as we explain in this report.

***********, ******* ** ***** relatively ****. *** ******* did ~$*** ******* ** 2015 ******* *** **** revenue (******* ** ********) was ** **** **** 10%. **** ** **** better **** ****** *** of ***** ****** ***** surveillance ************ *****.

*** ****** **********, ******* is ******* ** ****** well.

*******, **** ********** ************ results **** **** ******* does *** **** *********** mindshare ***** ***********, **** favorability ****** ************** *******. While **** *********** **** the ******** ** ** a ***** *****, **** report ****** ** ** actual ******** **** *******.

********* **** ***** * role ** *******'* ************ ratings, ** ** ******* in **** ******.

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

Vivotek *******

******* **** **** *********** generally ** *** **** strong ******** ** *******. Those ******** **** ***** products *****, *** *** always, ***** **** ********** for *** ***** *****, but ******* ******* ***** differentiators.

** *** ******** ****, despite **** ****** ** effectively **** *** ******, this *** **** ****** than ********* *** ***** who *** **%+ *** negative *******.

Works ****, *** *** ***********

******* *** ****** **** positive *********, ****** ******* responses *** *** **** strong **********, *** **** more ***** *** ***** of *** ******* ***** a ****** ***-*****/**-****** *******.

  • “**** **** & ******* IP *** ******* *** lack *** & ***** peripheral ******.”
  • “**'* ** *** * low ***. **** *** pushing *** ****** ********.”
  • "******* *** * ***** lineup ** *******, ***** is ***** **** ******* to ****** ****** * large ****** ** ********* environments. ******* *** ******* seems ** ** *******."
  • “** *** * *** of ***** **** ***** 180 *** *** *******, they **** ****** ****** resistant ******* **** **** audio ******* ***** **. There *** * *** situations ***** ** **** this, ** ***** ******* have ****** **** *** us. ********* **** ** need ********* ******, **** have **. ****'** ** no ***** *** **** camera *** **** ****, and **** **** ****.”
  • “********* *** ******* **** tech *******. ***** ********* finder ** ******* ******. Lots ** ******. *** product ***** **********.”
  • “****** **** * ******/*** perspective, *** ***** ******** for *** *****.”
  • “****: *** ****** & price *******: *** *********** - *** **** ** recessed ******* **** *** some ** *** ******* models.”
  • “***** *********, ******* *** support. ****** ** *** road *****.”
  • “***** *** ***** ******.”
  • “***** ** **** **** and **** *********.”
  • “********* **** *******, ********** priced *** ********. **** do * **** *** of ******* ** **** their ***********. **** ******* is ****** **** *******, too.”

Lack ** ********

****** **** *********** *** report ******** *********** **** Vivotek, *** ******** ****** had ** *********** **** the ***** ** ********.

  • "*** **** ** ********* line *** ***'* *** them **** ********** ********."
  • "**, *** **** ****."
  • "****** *** ** ** our ******."
  • "***** ****."
  • "* ***'* **** **** Vivotek."
  • "***** ***** ** ****."
  • "***'* **** ****."
  • "** **** *** ***** rep *** **'* **** not * ******* **** we've ***** * ***** for."
  • "* *****’* **** ******** with ****.""***** ** ******* that **** ******* ***** that ***** ** ********* to ***. *** ****, standard ********, ** **** level ** ***-**** ******* from ***** ******. ****, the ****** *** *** designed ****."
  • "*** *** ***** ******, but ***** ******** **** any ** ***** ********. Don't *** *** ***** written ****** **** *******."
  • "**** ******* ******** ** be ******."
  • "************ *********** ****** ************. Looking ** ***** ******* it ***** **** **** might **** ******* ******* into **** ********** ************, which ** *****, *** even ** ******* *** has ****** ***** ********* before * **** ****** nothing ***** ****, ** I *** ******* ** that ***** * **** looked."
  • "******* ******* ***********, ******* inherited ***** ******* ** I ******'* ****** *** much ***** **** *'** not **** *********."
  • "** ***'* *** ******* or *** **** ** often ****** ** ******* one *** ** *******."
  • "**'** ***** ** *** product ****, *** ****** experience ** *******."
  • "*** ******* ********** * have *** ** **** are **** ****** *** not ********* **********."
  • "* *** **** **** or ***** ****."
  • "**** *** **** **** in ******* *****."
  • "***'* **** **** **** them."
  • "**** **** * **** seen, **** *** ****** hard ** ***** **** the **********/********** ******** ****** but ***** ***** ***** associated **** ******** ********."

Hikvision / ***** ******** ******

******* **** ****, ******* was ********* ********** ** be * **** *****-**** alternative, ********* ***** ********* base ** ******** **** Western *************. ***, ********* has ****** *** **-** product ** *** *** cost *******, ********** ******* here. ************, **** ******** confused ******* *** * Chinese *******, ******* **** unearned ******** **********.

  • "*** * *** *******, but *****, ***? ********* is ******* *** ** least ** ****."
  • "*** ******** "*********" ** my *******, **** *** prices."
  • "******* ***** ******* ***** make ** *** **** over *********."
  • "*** ***** ******* **** some ** ***** ******* IP ********. *.*** ** cameras **** *****. ***** IP ******** **** ** lack ***** *** ***** quality. *** **, ********* has ***** ***** *****."
  • "****** *** ****** ********* cameras ******** ** ***. Software ******* ** ********. performance ** **** *** will *** **** *** Hik ****** *******. **** to ** **** **** .. ****** ******** ****. They ** **** **** interesting ********, *** ** which ** *** *****-******** of *******."
  • "**** * ****** *** IP ******* *** ************ model ***** **** ********* in ********** ** *** also *** **** **** selling ** ********* ** a *** ******* ***** sounding."
  • "**** ****, **** *** now ** ************ **** in *** *** ****."
  • "***'* ***** *** ******* made ** ***** *** more. *** ** ************* or ****** ***, *** because ** **** ** Chinese **** *********."
  • "**-******* ******* *******."

Negative ***********

**** **** *******'* ******** responses, ***** *** ** strong ******** ***** **** integrators ********* * ******** rating. *******, *** ******** were ********* ***** ** poor ******* ** *******, lacking ***** *******, ** having *** *********** ******.

  • "******* ** ********** ******** models *** **** *** not ** **** ********* with ****** ******* ** the ***'*."
  • "** **** **** ******** by ********* ******** ***** to ************ ******** ******* cameras. **** ***** ** changing ** ***** ************* pretty ****. **** ** seems **** *** ***** quality ******** ** ***** cameras ** ******** ** the ***********. ** **** noticed ******* ************* ****** with ********* **** **** supported ******* ******* ****** firmware."
  • "* ***'* **** *******. I **** *** *** of *** *** ****** in *** ****."
  • "******* ***** ***** *** good *** **** **** but ***** *********** *** compatibility **** *** **** nvrs. *** ******* **** motion ********* *** *****.”
  • "*** *** **** **** results **** **** ** their *******. ******* ******* for *** ***** ** not *****, ******* ** mediocre ** ****."
  • "**** ******* *** ****** price *****. ** ***'** going ** ** ***** go *** *** *** and **** * ******* less/poor ***** ******* ****** for * *** *****."
  • "***: ******* ******* *** sturdy. **** ***'* ******* fail. *** ******* ****** invests ** ******** ****** partner *************. *************, ***** image ******* ** ********, their ************ ** ****** existent, ***** ******* **** is ****, *** ***** commitment ** *** ** integration ***** ** *******. Going **** ******* ** a ******* **** **** your ******* ** ** more ******** **** **** REAL ******* ****."

Vivotek *******

** ** **** *** Chinese **** ** *** bottom ****, ******* ***** be ** * **** position. ******* ** *** expensive ***, **** ******** who ** *** ********* or *****, **** ****** provide *** *********** ** marketing, *******, ***** *** support **** ***** *** are ******* ** ******* for ***. *******, ** the **** ********* **** term, ******* *** *** be **** ** ********* those ****** *********.

Comments (24)

Avatar

Scot MacTaggart

01/20/17 02:48pm

I'm a bit surprised by how well they are doing in the current climate. It's good news - the Vivotek team deserve success for all the work they put in. Is this possibly a case where Vivotek has a loyal audience in a market that is under-represented on IPVM?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Scot MacTaggart | 01/20/17 03:18pm

Scot, not sure how to read it. One factor is that they do very little marketing. Even we rarely see them in social media or emails or press releases or publications or ADI's fire sales, etc.

One theory is that Vivotek is doing well as a low cost alternative for larger users / integrators that have been motivated / pushed by the race to the bottom but are afraid to use Hikua given the government and/or cyber issues.

We did test 2 Vivotek products last year (their multi-imager and small recess camera). We will consider testing other ones this year.

Paul Haake

01/20/17 06:37pm

They do OEM for the largest networking manufacturer in the world and the product quality has improved 100% since that unnamed networking company switched to Vivotek.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Paul Haake | 01/21/17 05:39pm

Huawei?

Undisclosed Distributor #3

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 01/24/17 10:59am

Brand 'C'

Jordi Ibero

In reply to Paul Haake | 01/23/17 09:57am

I only know about the fisheye they do for Avigilon. But... huawei? Seriously?

Eddie Perry

01/21/17 12:58am

I see vivotek mostly popular with IT shops/hobbyist/home owners. they either use Vivotek or Ubiquiti cameras.

they are low end in my opinion, wouldnt use them when i have better alternatives like Samsung/Hanwha

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Eddie Perry | 01/21/17 01:05am

Eddie,

Samsung is the toughest / closest comparable for Vivotek in the low cost / not Chinese segment.

Eddie Perry

In reply to John Honovich | 01/21/17 01:11am

Yes, Yes they are.

also Vivotek has a lot of Wireless cameras which I am personally biased against for security reasons. its one more hole you have to worry about.

Avatar

Luis Carmona

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Honovich | 01/21/17 01:25am

John and Eddie, Samsung or Hanwha? If it was Hanwha you meant, I know old habits are hard.

Eddie Perry

In reply to Luis Carmona | 01/21/17 01:29am

they are low end in my opinion, wouldnt use them when i have better alternatives like Samsung/Hanwha

I did, they still haven't officially dropped the name yet so I use both till there is a change .

Chad Ray

01/21/17 04:39am

What about the Alarm.com factor? I believe all Alarm.com cameras are Vivotek?

I have just recently entered the security camera scene so excuse my ignorance. Thanks to John and IPVM I am learning. Most of my security camera experience is with Alarm.com. Alarm.com's tech support is second to none!! (that I have experienced). So Vivotek has quite a customer with Alarm.com. The Vivotek cameras they provide have been incredibly reliable!

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Chad Ray | 01/21/17 11:59am

Chad, good question / input. We have not covered Alarm.com enough to have feedback but we are aggressively expanding into alarm / intrusion this year and will ramp up coverage of Alarm.com as part of that.

Chad Ray

01/21/17 04:51pm

John, can you please show me a little love and and hit the informative tab?

Just trying to get more funny, I mean I am just having a little fun.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

01/23/17 11:12am

About 5 years ago here in the UK Norbain were everywhere with the Vivotek brand, then it went quieter, and now think they've binned them completely since they got hold of Hikvision.

Never hear about Vivotek anymore, and Norbain is fully 'Hik, Hik, Hik'

Jordi Ibero

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #2 | 01/23/17 11:19am

I met Norbain some months ago in a Vivotek meeting. I don't know they switched to Hik... Interesting...

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Jordi Ibero | 01/23/17 01:07pm

Not sure what Norbain is promoting the most but Norbain did add Hikvision as a supplier last week.

Avatar

Guilherme Barandas

01/25/17 11:20am

I believe that today, Vivotek is the best cost benefit, it is the only equipment that beats head on with Axis and has a better price.
I read the comments, asking for NVR and the basics of small integrators.
I think these people who comment, use Chinese, like Hikvision, Dahua and Uniview do not know Vivotek, Axis, Panasonic, Avigilon ... that use the Chinese and stop talking nonsense.
Compare Hikvision with Vivotek, Axis, Panasonic is at least insane, there is no comparison.
The only comparison is that they are very cheap and do not fulfill what they promise in the many Speecs of the same camera (hehehe).
The only thing that Chinese does well and food, and copy.

Undisclosed Distributor #3

01/26/17 02:04am

Vivotek appear to be on a clear mission to emulate AXIS - which I loathe.

But in saying that they do offer another low cost option and fairly complete solution with 95% of the features the 'big guys' bring.

vivotek vs axis

Avatar

Guilherme Barandas

In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #3 | 01/26/17 11:34am

Good friend, and when it is the opposite, the camera solution, copied by Axis, and Pin Hole, was not Axis but Vivotek, both companies walk in similar directions, but there is a big mistake, because Axis copies and Much to Vivotek.
Another example is the fisheye, where Vivotek has no hesitation, the best cameras and dewarps..and who copies ?? Axis!!

Undisclosed Distributor #3

In reply to Guilherme Barandas | 01/26/17 11:17pm

I am only talking about product and marketing aesthetics - today most dedicated brands will a camera for most situations.

This sort of blatant imitation was something that the Chinese brands were criticised for and personally I think Vivotek would be better off by differentiating themselves with their own style.

vivotek vs axis 2

Avatar

Guilherme Barandas

In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #3 | 01/27/17 01:32am

There is only one big mistake, Vivotek is not Chinese, but Taiwanese.
I just think, before talking about copy, you should know a little more about this manufacturer.
The only mistake of Vivotek is its markting department, which is very weak.
If they had a good markting department, they would be easily beating very different numbers.
They were and are pioneers in several technologies.
Best IR in the market, best LPR solution in the market (IP 816A-LPC), 3D counting (no one has a solution with SC 8131) 100% accuracy in the count of people in large flow, better compression of the market with Smart Strean And h265.
See the results in the IPVM itself.

That's why I'm from Vivotek, Axis, Panasonic. Among other players.
And there are people who talk about Hilvisin, Dahua as good cameras, zero quality of the Chinese, just want to sell and copy.

Undisclosed Distributor #3

In reply to Guilherme Barandas | 01/27/17 10:22pm

I'm sorry if I wasn't clear - I was not saying that Vivotek is Chinese but that they are falling to a trap the Chinese brands have been criticised for in the past.

Avatar

Guilherme Barandas

01/28/17 01:05am

In what sense do you say that?
I did not understand the reasoning.

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