We are thrilled to invite you to our first-ever Central Europe and Adria Security Solutions Roadshow in Croatia! This is your chance to celebrate the consolidation of ZKTeco Europe within the ZKTeco group and explore the latest advancements in security technology.
In these days, aimed at our distribution channel and professionals in the sector, we will have sessions in unique spaces in which we will present the new products of the brand, but we will also train with demonstrations, workshops and we will talk about new projects and opportunities. The meetings in each city will have morning sessions where workshops and presentations will be given, demos of the new products will be shown and will end with a delicious cocktail.
What to Expect
- Unique venue: Network with industry professionals and distributors in a stylish setting.
- New product showcase: Discover ZKTeco’s latest innovations through live demonstrations and presentations.
- Interactive workshops: Gain hands-on experience with our security solutions.
- Networking opportunities: Connect with peers and industry experts.
- Delicious lunch: Enjoy a complimentary lunch and refreshments.
- Prizes and giveaways: Participate in raffles and win exciting prizes!
- Special Offer: As a thank you for attending, attendees will receive a special discount on ZKTeco products throughout June.
Don’t miss this chance to:
- Learn about the latest security solutions from a leading manufacturer.
- Enhance your knowledge and skills through interactive workshops.
- Network with industry professionals and build valuable connections.
- Win exciting prizes and take advantage of exclusive discounts.
Event Details
Date: 6 June
Time: 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Admiral Hotel, Rudeška cesta 140, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
Limited spots available!
Register now to secure your place:
We look forward to seeing you there!
London, May 2024 – Commercial enterprises of every size and type, all over the world, face a common challenge: innovating how and where they do business so they can face the future with greater environmental responsibility.
ASSA ABLOY has long been recognized as an innovator in access solutions, with a range of inventive products around the door and access management which can improve buildings’ sustainability performance.
To prove their commitment – and the effectiveness of their solutions – revolutionary new ASSA ABLOY Dubai headquarters were built with and use energy-efficient building technologies, including digital access managed by Incedoä.
Smart building materials and digital access in practice
According to the International Energy Agency, buildings consume around 30% of the world’s energy*. Therefore, when designing and specifying any new commercial building, efficiency is a strategic priority, for both sustainability and cost-management motives. It’s a key component in Dubai’s Green Building standards, which ASSA ABLOY’s local specification team provide the expertise to meet and exceed.
“This building is more than just ASSA ABLOY’s new headquarters; it’s a declaration of our ongoing mission to push the boundaries of sustainability and innovation. By incorporating state-of-the-art energy-efficient solutions and our latest access technologies, our Dubai headquarters exemplifies dedication to creating environmentally responsible and secure commercial premises,” says Mauro Felice, Senior Vice President and Head of MEIIA region.
Throughout the building, it was important to use construction materials that were sustainable. In the UAE’s climate, efficient heat management was critical to the choice of high U-value windows to minimize energy transfer and a reflective warehouse roof to cut heat absorption. Materials usage was reduced by flooring made with recycled steel fibres from end-of-life tires, alongside virgin steel fibres and green admixtures.
Building systems – incorporating smart lighting and energy management – have been configured for long-term energy efficiency. In this process, at any commercial premises, the choice of access solution is critical.
Energy-efficient, connected access management also contributes to the building’s sustainability performance.
The Incedo Plus platform-based digital access management system provides the smart connectivity that ASSA ABLOY’s new UAE headquarters needs. The Incedo platform connects a vast range of security software and hardware within a single ecosystem.
The range of devices which work with Incedo makes it suited to commercial premises, where the diverse types of opening usually surpasses any typical office or residence.
At their new Dubai HQ, ASSA ABLOY deployed Aperio® wireless digital locks and Signo readers. Aperio devices use no power when idle, only “waking up” to read credentials or maintain system heartbeat. This translates into an ongoing energy saving versus comparable wired devices, which usually draw mains power around the clock. Adding no cabling around the door saves materials and energy; with Aperio, wireless devices are powered by standard batteries with a typical lifetime of 2 years.
At openings such as main entrances, where cylinders and escutcheons with integrated credential readers are not appropriate, door access is controlled by Signo digital readers. These have an Intelligent Power Mode (IPM) which uses 41% less energy than equivalent readers without IPM configuration**.
Building users enjoy the convenience to come and go with flexible mobile credentials stored securely on their smartphone – further minimizing unnecessary resource use by eliminating plastic cards, as well as saving security management time in issuing, amending, or blocking any credential’s access rights.
Incedo Plus also gives security teams the power to select best-in-class solutions from multiple manufacturers and control them all seamlessly, without compromises. Third-party solutions which are already “Works with Incedo” certified include video management systems; long-range RFID readers and ANPR cameras; together with various biometric solutions. ASSA ABLOY PULSE digital cylinders powered by energy-harvesting technology may also be added at any time and controlled within the same Incedo ecosystem.
“Incedo Plus redefines the landscape of access control, offering an evolutionary solution that grows with your business,” says Mohammed Shameel, Digital Access Solutions Engineer at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions Middle East. “Our platform ensures your security ecosystem is scalable, adapting to meet the ever-changing demands of your business environment.”
Watch the video on YouTube and visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvCgIEVLG0M
As the Chair of the John Lewis Partnership, Dame Sharon White, said, shoplifting has become an epidemic that’s plaguing many retailers at a time when every pound and penny counts. Organized crime isn’t just petty shoplifting. It involves criminals stealing trolleys and truckloads of products that they then sell via the black market. Everything is a target, including food, clothing, shoes, luxury items, beauty items, and small electronics. Criminals may even steal to order, especially if the requested product can attract a premium on the black market. Organised theft rarely happens in isolation, particularly when organized criminals are involved.
By: Borislava Kenarova, Regional Sales Manager Eastern Europe, CIS and Israel, Milestone Systems
Now, retailers are fighting back with creative and proactive technologies to identify repeat offenders, share evidence with the police and courts for prosecution, and identify and remove vulnerabilities in store. With a host of advances in AI-powered video analytics, video management software (VMS), the Internet of Things (IoT) and other cutting-edge technologies, it’s time for retailers to win the battle against organized retail crime.
How Milestone’s VMS works
Video management software (VMS) can be customized to meet all your needs, from keeping people and property safe to running a more efficient operation—and helping you with cybersecurity, too. Experience Milestone’s VMS features with an exclusive demo trail that provides hands-on experience with state-of-the-art camera management solutions.
Open VMS, AI, machine learning
Core to all loss prevention efforts is the VMS, a single place that consolidates all of the data coming in from cameras in stores, body-worn cameras, sensors, and more. An open VMS is able to integrate with the different sensors (notably, from different vendors as there’s no lock-in) and cameras in a security system to make it easier for security teams to keep updated with the different data feeds coming from stores.
With advanced video analytics powered by AI, the VMS can automatically scan for potentially unusual or threatening behavior such as someone walking against the normal traffic flow, loitering, trespassing behind a counter or in a stock room, or (with an audio integration) shouting and screaming. It can then alert security teams to investigate further. The insights delivered to control rooms can even be shared in real-time with ground patrols to inform their approach and help with identifying people of interest, via their clothing or other visual attributes like eyeglasses wearing.
AI in video is now advanced enough to detect items being carried into a store like a knife or chain that can be used to rip out cabinets or ATMs. Delivering such insights quickly to ground teams is vital for their, and customers’ protection.
Crucially, thanks to machine learning that improves with every interaction, AI models are able to get better and identifying potentially criminal patterns over time. These insights aren’t just helpful for retailers but can be shared with others to improve collective threat intelligence across stores and with local authorities.
Groundbreaking technology
Some of the different sensors that a VMS can integrate with include mobile tracking devices that work using WiFi and Bluetooth. As shoppers move through the store, their phones and devices constantly interact with WiFi access points and Bluetooth beacons placed strategically throughout the location. Retailers can passively collect these device IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) to detect repeat offender devices entering stores. If a device was present during a known prior theft, then an alert can be shared with security teams with cameras automatically panning to the person of interest for monitoring.
Digital tags using RFID (radio frequency identification) can be placed on items so retailers can document when something is purchased and ready to leave the store. If an item leaves without being detected as scanned, security personnel can be informed so they can take action. Likewise, GPS sensors on goods can also tell retailers where stolen goods are being kept, helping law enforcement identify criminal stockpile locations. Knowing where large inventories of stolen goods are kept provides critical intelligence for preventing black market sales and recovering stolen property.
Anonymous facial recognition is another emerging technology, now being used in special locked “smart” cabinets to control access to high-value merchandise like designer goods or premium spirits. Cabinets with built-in cameras and AI-powered recognition software can geometrically map a shopper’s facial features upon first use, allowing entry to the cabinet if no issues occur. But if the shopper has previously stolen merchandise from the cabinet, their facial map will be flagged, and they will be denied access to the cabinet.
Strengthening your security foundation
With many exciting advances, retailers can be forgiven for forgetting to strengthen their security basics to deter criminals. The VMS, of course, is a foundational element needed for basic and innovative strategies. It not only supports emerging technologies and integrates these seamlessly with existing security infrastructure, but it can provide valuable insights to inform your long-term plans. For instance, having enough staff in-store will help to combat shoplifting as a visual deterrent but also in monitoring goods and checking receipts. But how can you determine what the best staffing level is? Video data can tell you about the busiest times in-store when you need more people on the rota. It can even track criminal events over time so you can determine if there are specific times of day when it will help to have more security staff on site.
Benefits beyond retail security
The insights delivered by a VMS can also help to improve the in-store shopping experience by alerting management to potential overcrowding or queues forming. Additional store counters can be opened to reduce queues and customers encouraged to travel through other aisles to avoid busy areas. AI can detect an employee smoking in the wrong area or taking cash from tills. It can also monitor backroom areas to ensure staff aren’t put at risk by moving forklifts, that only authorized individuals are in restricted areas, and to monitor the entry and exit of vehicles.
About Milestone Systems
Milestone Systems is a leading provider of software for data-driven video technologies, both in security and beyond. Milestone’s VMS helps ensure security, protect assets and increase business efficiency with a scalable solution proven in more than 500,000 customer installations worldwide. Milestone was founded in 1998 and is now part of the Canon group. For more information visit: www.milestonesys.com. For news and other press releases, visit our Newsroom.
The global SCADA market size is anticipated to grow from USD 11.2 billion in 2024 to USD 16.6 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 8.3% from 2024 to 2029, according to the lastest research from Marketsandmarkets. Surging deployment of AI and IoT across manufacturing industries and increasing smart city projects pertaining to infrastructure and transportation are cited as just a few of the significant factors which drive the growth of this market.
Within the discrete manufacturing landscape, SCADA systems serve as integral tools to uphold production efficiency and meet targeted output objectives. These systems monitor and control the entire production lifecycle, from tracking units in production to managing inventory levels for just-in-time manufacturing practices.
Additionally, SCADA systems play a pivotal role in orchestrating industrial automation and robotics while concurrently monitoring processes and ensuring stringent quality control measures. As a result, SCADA offers a robust platform for the development of sophisticated, interconnected, and secure solutions that significantly enhance the efficacy of manufacturing operations. The escalating demand for such advanced SCADA systems is anticipated to be a key driver propelling growth within the SCADA market.
Software at the core
At the core of any SCADA infrastructure lies its software, which serves as the foundation for its functionality. This software framework facilitates crucial functions such as trend analysis, diagnostics, and data monitoring, enabling efficient data analysis and communication of system issues to operators to minimize downtime. Key benefits offered by SCADA software include real-time data storage, ongoing system surveillance, alarm validation, and secure management of sensitive information. By empowering operators with streamlined workflows, facilitating rapid decision-making, minimizing errors, pinpointing root causes of issues, and optimizing plant operations, SCADA software plays a pivotal role in enhancing overall operational efficiency and effectiveness.
Remote terminal units
Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) reign supreme in the SCADA market due to several factors. Their versatility across industries, cost-effectiveness for remote sites, and focus on data acquisition perfectly align with core SCADA functionalities. Designed for harsh environments, RTUs offer scalability for diverse project needs.
While PLCs handle complex control logic within central control rooms, RTUs excel at acquiring data from geographically dispersed locations, making them the most widely used component in SCADA systems.
Some of the key players named by the researchers as being active in the SCADA market include Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric, Emerson Electric Co., Siemens, and ABB, for example.
In its latest whitepaper, entitled, “Quanergy 3D Lidar Solutions Redefining the Physical Security of Critical Infrastructure”, global technology intelligence firm ABI Research forecasts the worldwide physical security market for Lidar sensors will surpass 3 million total installations by 2030, with water infrastructure leading the segment. The yearly revenue opportunity will exceed US$6 billion in 2030.
Enhancing physical security, especially perimeter intrusion detection (PID) at critical infrastructure sites like airports, data centers, warehouses, and utilities, is increasingly crucial due to growing threats such as theft, protests, sabotage, terrorism, and war.
“Physical security, specifically PID, encompasses controlling access for both individuals and vehicles into secured areas, as well as preventing objects from being thrown or passed across perimeter boundaries. Moreover, physical breaches often precede cyber attacks, underscoring the importance of intrusion detection in combating cyber threats,” explains Dominique Bonte, Vice President, End markets, at ABI Research.
Quanergy research finds that current security solutions relying on cameras and/or radar struggle to effectively detect and track intruders, and produce numerous false alerts, leading to higher operating costs and alarm fatigue. These legacy two-dimensional (2D) technologies lack accuracy and perform poorly in low light and adverse weather conditions, resulting in missed events, increased liabilities, and high cost of ownership.
According to Bonte from ABI Research, “Three-dimensional (3D) Lidar offers robust, reliable, and high-precision detection and tracking employing mesh architecture at an overall lower total cost of ownership (TCO), allowing security personnel and critical infrastructure to increase the effectiveness, while reducing the cost associated with manned guard services.”
ABI Research believes that 3D Lidar solutions will have a transformational impact on the physical security market, redefining how to protect vulnerable critical infrastructure. “The unique characteristics of Lidar in terms of detection accuracy and reliability, range and field of view, continuous tracking, ease of deployment, and privacy preservation make it the technology of choice for next-generation physical security solutions to protect a wide range of mission-critical assets in the utility, data center, airport, and other critical infrastructure segments,” Bonte concludes.
Johnson Controls has appointed Chris Bontempo as vice president and chief marketing officer, responsible for marketing strategies across the enterprise to drive demand generation and enhance brand equity, including market development, research and planning.
Bontempo joins Johnson Controls from IBM where he spent nearly 20 years in roles of increasing responsibility, most recently as chief marketing & communications officer, Americas. In that capacity, he led all aspects of marketing for IBM across the United States, Canada and Latin America, with direct responsibility for marketing-sourced revenue, demand generation and marketing teams.
Bontempo will report to Chairman and CEO George Oliver and serve on the Johnson Controls executive team, working closely across corporate businesses and functions to grow market share in products, systems and services.
“As we continue our transformation and solidify Johnson Control’s position as a comprehensive solutions provider for commercial buildings, our unwavering focus on solving customer problems drives our strategy at every stage of the sales cycle,” said Oliver. “We remain relentlessly focused on leveraging our digital capabilities to capture those opportunities, and Chris’ unique expertise and understanding of data, AI and the digital ecosystem will assist us in those efforts. I have full confidence Chris’ experience will greatly enable our global product management and commercial teams as we connect new and existing customers with innovative technologies and continue growing demand for our solutions across smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings.”
Bontempo holds a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree in European Studies from Amherst College.
Addsecure is acquiring Connecting Solutions BV as part of its growth strategy within its new business unit, Smart Mobility. The deal is intended to strengthen the company’s position and market share in Belgium.
In September 2023, Addsecure acquired Clifford Group and established a new business unit, Smart Mobility, with the objective of expanding the business unit both through organic growth and acquisitions.
The Smart Mobility business unit offers telematics and business software solutions, specialising in mobile security and connected mobility solutions. It operates under the brands Clifford and Faringwell for Mobile Security, and Traxgo for Connected Mobility.
The acquisition complements Addsecure’s current connected mobility business and will be integrated into the Traxgo brand. Situated in Belgium, Connecting Solutions provide fleet management solutions with information on vehicle’s location (track and trace), monitoring and software applications.
“This deal not only strengthens our position and expands Traxgo’s market share in Belgium and the Netherlands, but also brings a robust customer base and opens up an additional sales channel through distributors,” said Huibjan Braafhart, President of Smart Mobility at Addsecure.
“We are delighted to support the continued development of Smart Mobility. This acquisition underscores our dedication and is a key component of our ongoing growth strategy,” said Stefan Albertsson, CEO of Addsecure.
Gerard Figols has been appointed to the position of I-Pro Chief Product Officer (CPO). With a career spanning over 17 years in the physical security industry, Figols brings a wealth of global experience and strategic vision to his new role. Jose Riolobos has been named as Figols’ successor to the role of President of I-Pro EMEA. For several years, Riolobos held senior positions within I-Pro and, previously, Panasonic in Europe and Japan.
As Chief Product Officer, Figols will be tasked with spearheading I-Pro’s global product strategy. “Gerard’s appointment as CPO underscores our mission to establish I-Pro as a truly global organisation. Building on his years of experience working across cultures, Gerard will be able to leverage insights from different business regions to develop best-in-class products suited to the needs of different industries and markets,” said Masato Nakao, CEO at I-Pro.
Commenting on his appointment, Figols said, “At I-Pro, we’re driven by innovation and the pursuit of excellence, leading the global market with our open AI platform and reputation for quality engineering. I am honoured to take on the role of Chief Product Officer at I-Pro and excited to lead the company’s global product strategy focusing on ethical AI, cyber security, and seamless integration with our VMS partners.”
London, April 2024 – Compatibility with a range of credential technologies can be a critical factor when selecting access control. As organizations across the world explore a move to mobile keys for access, it is more important than ever.
Aperio’s open technology platform has been built on compatibility. Its range of battery-powered access hardware for integration with third-party access control systems can secure almost any opening.
Customers have a choice of wireless Aperio handles, escutcheons, cylinders, security locks, server rack locks and new cabinet/cupboard locks. With Aperio, it is straightforward to control all access points digitally.
And with the rapid growth of mobile adoption in security, Aperio is extending support for mobile credentials, to keep offering high convenience and security benefits to customers.
Extending mobile access options
Changes in end-user demand are reflected in a survey for the Wireless Access Control Report 2023, which suggests 29% of organizations already use mobile credentials — instead of or alongside RFID cards — while another 40% of respondents anticipated deploying them within the next two years*.
The single most important factor when considering a switch to mobile, according to Report data, is convenience.
Aperio native mobile access is built on HID Seos®, a next-generation platform with class-leading cryptography, authentication and privacy protection. Seos Mobile Access supports both NFC and BLE. Unlocking an Aperio device by phone is easy and intuitive: users simply present their phone at the reader, just like a smart card. They don’t even need to open an app.
In response to growing demand for mobile solutions, Aperio has also integrated cutting-edge mobile access credentials from Gallagher and STid. With this, Aperio broadens the range of options available, facilitating seamless integration with mobile devices and enhanced flexibility.
“The open nature of the Aperio development platform removes compatibility worries for OEMs, integrators and other partners — which translates to high convenience for their customers,” says Piet Van Den Bossche, Business Development Manager at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA.
“It is a natural progression for us to now add support for STid and Gallagher mobile credentials, to reflect their growth among our integration partners.”
Aperio openness: “No lock-in, only choice”
“Aperio’s approach supports an ecosystem where customers are not constrained by their initial choices,” adds Van Den Bossche. “Aperio users can effortlessly transition to the latest mobile credential technologies without being tied down, ensuring they are always equipped to meet evolving security demands and new challenges.”
In addition, to increase flexibility, Aperio locks can handle multiple credential technologies at the same site: Security managers may gradually roll-out mobile access while RFID cards already issued remain valid.
Aperio’s credential compatibility has grown in tandem with the platform. Aperio wireless devices now unlock via the widest range of RFID technologies, in both Online and Offline mode.
“To continue to make these convenience and security advantages available to the widest possible market, Aperio will continue to be an open platform which supports the growth in mobile credentials,” confirms Van Den Bossche.
To learn more about mobile access with Aperio, visit https://campaigns.assaabloyopeningsolutions.eu/aperio-mobile-access
