Vivotek Talks About Taiwan, China, Bans, AI And Business Development

By Charles Rollet, Published May 10, 2019, 07:59am EDT

Vivotek, Taiwan's biggest manufacturer by revenue, did not have a booth at Taiwan's Secutech 2019 (which we are covering). However, marketing/communications execs Shengfu Cheng and Bridgette Pan did an interview on-site with IPVM (which has been condensed & edited).

Topics covered:

  • Why they did not attend Taiwan's largest trade show?
  • What their reaction was to IPVM's latest favorability results?
  • How they view integrators concerns about being dated or poor marketing?
  • What they are doing about facial recognition and AI?
  • What impact do they see from the expected Taiwan Hikua ban?
  • What impact has US NDAA Ban had for them?
  • How they are handling the potential for a Huawei Hisilicon ban?

** *******'* ******* **** Secutech:

***** ***** ***, ** stopped *********. ** ******* our *********, *** ** focus ** *** *** roadshow ******** ** ******. We **** *****. [******** used ** **] **** bigger. ** *** **** surprised **** **** ** shrunk ********* **** ****** years.

** *** ****** ************ ******* ***** '****** *** ********', with ******* **********: *** quality, **** **, **********:

** *** ***** ****** quality ****** ** *********. We ****** **** ********* quality. *****'* ** ****** for **** [***] ** are ********* ** *******. I ***** ** *** deliver **** ****** ******* with ********** ******. *** cost ********** ** ******* vendors, ***, ****'* *** one ** *** ****** points. **** **** ** are ******** *** ********. User ********* ** ********* we **** *******.

** ************ ******* ******* Vivotek *****/********* **** **** marketing:

*** *********, ** *** focusing ** ***** ******: one, *** *************. ** are *** ***** ** include ********* **** ******* ******* **** ***** *****. ***, our *** ****** ****** ******* line, **** ** *** ** the ***** ** *** *********. ***** ** **: ** ****** ******** *** ***** ****** *********.

** *******'* ****** ***********/** solutions:

******* ** **** ******* on ****** ********* *** tracking. ** *** * lot ** ************* *** safety ** ********, ***** station, ***. ** **** in-house **** ******** ********** focused ** ****. ** have ** ****** *********** in-house, *** **** ** try ** **** **** partners. ** ****** ** focus ** ********* **** really ******** ********* *****, like ***** **** ******** to ****** ***** ****** in ****** *********.

** ******* *** ********* Taiwanese ********* *** ** Chinese ********* *** ********* Vivotek:

***, ** *** *******. We *** * *** more ************* ** *** and ***. *** **, Taiwan, **** ******* **** [companies] ** ****** * side. *** **'* **** to *** ***** **** of [*** ****** *** be ********** ** *** ban].

** ******* *** ***** war *** *** **' NDAA *********/***** *** **** benefit *******:

***, **********, ******* ** manufacture ** ******. *** is ***** **% ** our ***** **-***** ********, which ****** ***** ** 40% ** *** ***** business [*.*. ** ******* equipment ***** *** *** USA ***** ** ***** 16% ** *******'* *******]. Q1 ******* **** **** has ********* **** **** 50%, ****** ***, ** $76 *******. *** ** market ******* *** **% growth **** ****. ** have ******* *** ********** capacity *** ****** * new ******* ** ****** last *******. [******* ******** to ******** *** **** units ** ********]. ** be ******, *** ***** war **** ** ******* Taiwanese *************.

[****: *******'* ******* ******** **% ** **** *** *** **** ********* about **% ** $**** since ****, ******* **** to ********* ****** ******** revenue **** $*.* *******  [**** no ****** *********]** **** $* ******* ***** ****]

** *******'* *** ** HiSilicon *****, ***** ***** fall ***** *** ** ********** ***:

** ** **** ******* with ********* ***** ***** but ** **** ******** platforms ****** *****, ****'* a ****** *** **. So ** *****'* * conflict **** *** ****, of ****** **'* ** issue. ** **** ********* as **** *** **-***** SoCs.

[****: *** ***** **** not ***** **** *** ********* ************** ** *** ban ***** *** ********* ******* cameras **** ********* ***** to ****** ****** **** ******* ** the ** **********. ** noted ** *** *** * ******, ********* **** *** is ****** ***** ********* manufacturers *** ** * good ****/***** *****. * notable ********* *** ***** - * *** **** us *** ******* **** "only *********" *****.]

Comments (7)

John Honovich

IPVM | 05/10/19 11:59am

Charles, good interview.

Some thoughts:

  • Interesting to see how much their ODM business is growing. They have ODMed for many years but it is becoming a bigger part of their business (e.g., fast-growing Verkada is using Vivotek).
  • Related, we see a lot of Western manufacturers now emphasizing proudly not 'made in China' with Taiwan being a common source (Dynacolor is the other frequent Taiwan ODM/OEM, e.g. see Mobotix Move).
  • Vivotek remains really bad at sales and marketing. It is fascinating to see how well Hanwha Techwin has done growing branded sales while Vivotek has not. Not sure if Vivotek has the will or skill to execute such a branded business expansion.
  • Regardless, especially with AI and cloud emerging, there is an unmet demand in the market for higher quality, non race to the bottom camera offerings.
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Chris Lanier

05/10/19 01:51pm

As a rep firm for Vivotek, this will appear biased, but our decision to partner with Vivotek 9 years ago had to do with their commitment to quality, that they have been manufacturing IP technology since 2000 and their quiet inroads for private labeling for some very major brands. Because they are so engineered minded, yes marketing has been minimal, however as dealers explore and try their extensive lineup, Vivotek gains loyal followers. Given the market sensitivity to cybersecurity, we are very pleased Vivotek has chosen to focus on this aspect of their development.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

09/16/19 10:57pm

I noticed the report stated the cameras do not contain the HiSilcon chip. Do their 4 and 8 channel recorders contain it?

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David Liu

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 09/17/19 05:40pm

Hello Undisclosed Manufacturer #1,

For VIVOTEK's NDAA compliant model list and transition plan, please see our NDAA page at :: VIVOTEK ::. Thank you.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

In reply to David Liu | 09/17/19 10:12pm

Thank you David after viewing your link I see that they are not NDAA compliant.

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David Liu

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 09/17/19 10:20pm

No problem. FYI, we've been working on new platform to make our NVR's NDAA compliant.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

09/18/19 03:27am

That’s great news. I’ll contact you regarding an opportunity.

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