With the Government of India interested in investing more in security surveillance, and the Indian hospitality sector also incorporating the latest security infrastructure on their premises, there is a huge market for GeoVision’s products.
As part of our ongoing series titled `Global Trade Opportunities’ featuring global brands interested in doing business in India, Anurag Gaur from EFYTimes spoke to Daniel Chung, sales manager, GeoVision, Inc, Taiwan, about its business strategy in India. GeoVision Inc is a Taiwan-based company founded by George Tai in February 1998. It focuses on R&D-based products for video surveillance and video content analysis. It is a leader in the PC-based video surveillance sector, and has substantially contributed in bridging the gap between the analogue and digital worlds. GeoVision has five branches worldwide—at Shanghai (China), Tokyo (Japan), California (USA), Prague (Czech Republic) and Sao Paulo (Brazil). It also specialises in network surveillance and remote monitoring.
EB: Can you share some details about the history of your organisation and its current market position?
Founded in 1998, GeoVision specialises in designing, manufacturing and distributing professional network video surveillance solutions. From the first analogue digital video recording (DVR) cards to the complete line of video surveillance solutions, GeoVision has always been working towards bringing in better technology and solutions to the industry. With its NVR solution, the company’s intelligent video surveillance management platform, GeoVision continues to add more security solutions to its name.
EB: Can you tell us more about your organisation’s products and services?
Based on the intelligent video surveillance solution as a platform (NVR), GeoVision continues to develop more security solutions —mega-pixel IP cameras, access control systems, LPR, POS/ATM, mobile DVR, CMS and GIS. This year, GeoVision invites you to experience the world of convenience enabled by the following new solutions:
- The HD-SDI box camera
- A mega-pixel IP camera in 5-MP Fisheye
- A mega-pixel IP camera in Full HD Speed Dome
- A mega-pixel IP camera in Wi-Fi Cube for homes
- A mega-pixel IP camera with WDR
- A mega-pixel IP camera in LPR camera
- A compact DVR and touchscreen
- A high definition decoder
EB: What is your annual turnover as per the latest available financial report?
According to the latest financial report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, GeoVision’s consolidated revenue for FY-2011 amounted to US$ 55.9 million, which is a 27 per cent growth in local currency earnings, or a 35 per cent growth in US$.
EB: What are your views about India as a market for your products (or services)?
I believe India is a huge market with lots of potential for our products. The Government of India is investing heavily in security surveillance due to the string of terrorist bombings and attacks all over India in the past few years. Moreover, India’s transport infrastructure is developing at a fast pace with a healthy demand for security surveillance equipment.
EB: Which products or services do you expect to sell the most in a country like India?
IP cameras. Resorts, restaurants, etc, in the hospitality sector, have a large inflow of guests, and can use IP-based systems very effectively to tune up their security arrangement. These surveillance systems can be used to monitor strategic locations in and around the hotel/resort for any threat to guests and property, apart from preventing sabotage and keeping away unwanted visitors. We have also carried out a lot of banking projects worldwide and there are a lot of video analytical features that we have developed, which are used extensively.
EB: What are your current strategies or plans with respect to the Indian market?
India is a very important market for us. With GeoVision’s complete line of products covering IP cameras, access control systems, LPR, mobile DVR, CMS and digital signage, and the fact that all these products can be seamlessly integrated with each other, SIs (Systems Integrators) and buyers can avoid the hassle of sourcing from other manufacturers for projects that require integration. GeoVision is a one-stop surveillance equipment manufacturer. Initially, our main focus will be to appoint strong distributors in Tier I cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, and allow them to take care of the rest of India.
EB: Do you have a direct presence in India or are you represented by any partners?
At the moment, we have had a few strong SIs working with us over the past few years and they are very dedicated in using the GeoVision brand. Our SIs have carried out a good number of projects in India like the LPR for the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi; the MDLR Group’s Rio and Mint casinos; and for India Bulls, Walmart and Airtel, to name a few.
EB: Are you looking for partners such as distributors, systems integrators, etc, for India?
Yes, we are looking for some strong partners who have a wide distribution network all over India. At the moment, we are in talks with a few distributors, but once we have appointed two or three, we will focus more on supporting them.
EB: What are the challenges you foresee or have already experienced while operating in India?
Price plays a vital role in most of developing countries like India and Brazil. In Brazil, GeoVision already has the majority share of the IP market. We wish to do the same with the Indian market over the coming years as the market background is the same.
EB: Have you ever engaged in any marketing activity to generate business from India (like participate in an expo or advertise in a magazine or a website)? If yes, please share a few details about the activities and the results.
We had participated in the IFSEC exhibition held in Delhi in 2009. We had a lot of enquiries but at that time, India was still in a nascent stage as far as IP products were concerned. Our partners put up advertisements in India Safe magazines too. I feel that now with the Internet as the key enabler, all the major players are highly visible, unless they are newcomers.
EB: If any organisation from India is interested in affiliating with you as your partner or customer, whom should they contact?
They are most welcome to contact me. I am the manager in the Sales Division and look after most of the Asian and Oceanic countries, including India.
