Winners Losers Fall 2015

Author: John Honovich, Published on Oct 12, 2015

There's a lot of losing right now, unfortunately.

The industry is moving into year 2 of sharp camera price declines. Combined with the maturation / saturation of the IP camera market and the growth of HD analog, the industry is experiencing significant challenges.

In this report, we examine the specific winners and losers, based on new product releases and notable industry moves this year.

Plus, we provide a 1 hour audio recording that provides detailed color commentary on the major players and major shifts occuring.

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Recording / ******

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Comments (15)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

10/13/15 01:37pm

If you guys had time/content, you could make a great podcast. Thanks for the audio, I enjoyed it.

Bosch's video integration between intrusion and access control is a cool idea, unfortunately they lack reliable network/cellular communication technology. They may improve their product offerings in the future, but I’m not hopeful.

Thumbnail last saturday

Mark Jones

10/13/15 03:02pm

uh oh, podcast.....Lightbulb moment.

Undisclosed #2

10/14/15 10:35am

Inquiring minds want to know: Who is the undisclosed commentator on the podcast?

  1. Michael B.
  2. Ethan A.
  3. Dan L.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 10/14/15 10:40am

Ethan

Undisclosed #2

In reply to John Honovich | 10/14/15 02:50pm

Then a "Great Job!" to you both.

P.S. Audio much improved over last time, also.

Jeff Sandine

RadiusVision | 10/18/15 07:26pm

It appears that having lowest price allows Hikvision to get away with blatant lack of attention to detail. Many areas of their website are incomplete, their stock answer of "Coming soon..." for supporting sales and tech support information is a poor excuse.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Jeff Sandine | 10/18/15 07:50pm

Jeff, do you have more damning examples that than?

Your example is that they do not provide complete information on this camera's accessories is not a significant practical issue.

I am sure we can find better negative examples of Hikvision than that because if that is Hikvision's biggest problem, Axis is doomed.

Jeff Sandine

RadiusVision | In reply to John Honovich | 10/18/15 10:09pm

Look at the accessories available for a similar spec'd camera from AXIS, the P1427-LE 5mp bullet camera with IR lights. Or any AXIS camera for that matter. Many accessory solutions are offered by AXIS, attention to detail is excellent.

Compare this level of detail with any Hikvision bullet series camera, or ANY Hikvision camera, "Coming soon" is all they offer for accessories, attention to detail is dismal.

If all you want is lowest camera price, Hikvision wins. However, you may spend a lot of time ($) trying to figure out what accessories are available/compatible and then locating those accessories. It appears that Hikvision's low cost business model includes shifting the expense of locating and testing accessory solutions to the integrator/end user, and if the accessory doesn't work, it's not their problem. This is one of the hidden costs of the low price biz model.

While many do base their purchase decision on lowest price, there is no shortage of those that are willing to do business with the industry leaders in quality, service and support. Nordstroms, Apple, BMW and AXIS are good examples of companies that are very successful...people understand that these premium companies charge more and they deliver more.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Jeff Sandine | 10/18/15 10:36pm

"However, you may spend a lot of time ($) trying to figure out what accessories are available/compatible and then locating those accessories"

You are the first person who I have heard complain about that, and we get lots of feedback on Hikvision, so that does not appear to be a showstopper.

So, in exchange for half off the same specs, you need to look up your own accessories, that is an attractive deal to most.

As for Nordstrom, their annual revenue is $13.5 billion. Walmart is $485 billion. So, sure there is a place for businesses that specialize in white glove service, they just tend to occupy a very small percent of the market.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Jeff Sandine | 10/18/15 10:47pm

..."Coming soon" is all they offer for accessories, attention to detail is dismal.

In my heart I knew there had to be a reason they were so much cheaper than Axis.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Jeff Sandine | 10/18/15 11:00pm
Fortunately I don't have to rely on a website to know what accessories go with which cameras. My hikvision reps stop by regularly to update me and provide our team with training. For the short time we sold other "Nordstrom" quality cameras. We spent too much time navigating websites and never enough anytime with a rep.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1 | 10/18/15 11:11pm

"My hikvision reps stop by regularly to update me and provide our team with training."

That aspect is very interesting to me. Selling cameras for half of Axis price is not hard. Most of us get spam emails every day (unfortunately) with such offers.

What's amazing about the Hikvision approach is that they have built a fairly huge sales, tech and support workface in North America in a very short period of time... and are still selling cameras for such low prices. I struggle to understand how they do this profitably but so long as that combination continues, it is hard for everyone to compete.

Undisclosed #2

10/18/15 09:55pm

Interestingly, Jeffery He's (Hikvision) prediction of "massive bloodletting" may have been deemed too divisive by the editorial powers that be. On the left, the copy as it stood on Oct 8, the right as it reads today.

Certainly a case of "He said, He said" if ever there was one.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 10/18/15 10:26pm

That's a direct response of my question to him / Hikvision. They deny that quote, saying SourceSecurity misquoted him, ergo the later removal.

'Massive bloodletting' is a colorful term either way, though less explosive when not atttributed to the bloodletter!

Undisclosed #2

In reply to John Honovich | 10/18/15 11:28pm

That's a direct response of my question to him / Hikvision.

We expect nothing less from someone of your award winning influence...

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