According to the latest research from Marketsandmarkets, the RFID market is expected to reach USD 25.24 billion by 2033, up from USD 12.61 billion in 2025, at a CAGR of 9.1% from 2025 to 2033.
The growth in the RFID market can be attributed to the increasing demand for automation and real-time tracking across retail, logistics & warehousing, healthcare, and manufacturing industries. The analysts found that the major drivers of growth of the market are an upsurge in demand for e-commerce and optimisation of the supply chain, enrichment of asset tracking and solutions in inventory management, increasing precision and security through RFID technological advancements, and the growing adoption of contactless transactions. The increasing demand for passive RFID tags and readers, RFID-IoT-cloud integration solutions, RFID initiatives by the government for various sectors, and smart city and Industry 4.0 initiatives are the major growth drivers for this market. The technology is becoming less expensive with time and has become more widely applicable in a broad range of industries.
Key players
This market includes key players on the world stage including Zebra Technologies Corp., Avery Dennison Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., HID Global Corporation, Datalogic S.p.A., Impinj, Inc., Gao RFID Inc., Alien Technology LLC, Caen RFID S.r.l., and Xemelgo, Inc. These businesses have adopted various organic and inorganic growth strategies such as product launches, expansions, partnerships, collaborations, and acquisitions.
Entertainment vertical is strong
In the vertical segment of the RFID market, the entertainment sector is characterized by a phenomenal growth and will attain the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth in the entertainment sector is chiefly driven due to the rising adoption of RFID technology and enhancing customer experience, operational processes, and security at entertainment venues such as theme parks, stadiums, and theatres. RFID-enabled wristbands and tickets are widely utilised for access control, cashless payments, and personalised services, significantly improving visitor convenience and operational efficiency. In addition, RFID technology aids in inventory management and asset tracking for equipment, costumes, and props in production houses and live events. Immersive experiences, like interactive exhibits and escape rooms, further increase the pace of the adoption of RFID solutions for real-time engagement and data collection. Thus, as demand for seamless, secure, and data-driven entertainment grows, it is likely that the inclusion of RFID solutions will become essential and therefore will grow at a tremendous rate in this segment of the market.
Larger size reduces costs and allows for greater volume
During the forecast period, the 12-inch segment in the RFID wafer size market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR. This growth will, however, be driven mainly by the demand for greater efficiency and performance in RFID applications. Larger wafers, such as the 12-inch, enable a far larger number of chips per wafer, reducing the per-unit cost of the individual chip and allowing greater volume. This requires additional wafer technology development as businesses such as logistics & warehousing, retail, and healthcare take up RFID-based technologies for asset tracking and authentication and inventory management purposes. The 12-inch wafers can support a higher density of chips and better performance and integration, which are critical to support the growth in RFID applications in various sectors. Moreover, the automation and digitisation trend across industries is also fuelling the demand for more effective and cost-controlled RFID solutions. Companies are continuing to invest in advanced RFID systems, putting the 12-inch wafer segment in a good position for witnessing a reasonable share of growth, which is another factor driving the RFID market.
Asia Pacific to remain the strongest market
Asia Pacific is anticipated to remain the largest market for RFID, because of solid industrial growth, fast uptake of technology, and substantial investments in logistics, retail, and manufacturing. This, combined with heavy investment into infrastructure, with growing pressure on supply chain efficiency, has quickly led to adoption across diverse industries. In addition, growing demands of retail, healthcare, and automotive sectors for automation, real-time tracking, and inventory management further boosts adoption of RFID technology. The research found that some key players in Asia Pacific like China, Japan, and South Korea have been leading the development of RFID technology; with the support of respective nation governments through considerable initiatives on smart cities and their economic digitalisation. Rising use of RFID solutions within the IoT ecosystems and an expanding pattern of e-commerce and smart retail are also the market contributors. In addition, benign environments that are regulatory in nature as well as the presence of big brands of RFID manufacturers within this region add to competitive edges and continued expansion within this Asia Pacific RFID market.
We’ve once again reached the time of year when we look ahead to some of the technology trends that will affect the security sector over the coming 12 months. The pace of change is as fast as ever.
Written by: Johan Paulsson, CTO, Axis Communications Mats Thulin, Director Core Technologies, Axis Communications Thomas Ekdahl, Engineering Manager, Axis Communications
Some of the trends are evolutions of those we’ve seen in previous years. An obvious one is the continued interest in how AI will be applied in our sector, and we’ve highlighted some of the new considerations that will need to be addressed moving forwards. Others are new, or even a resurgence of topics we may not have focused on for a while.
National and regional legislators will once again try to keep pace with technological innovation. AI, cybersecurity, privacy, the need for resilience in critical entities… All these (and more) will be the focus of proposed and new regulation. We haven’t highlighted this as a specific trend, but it’s no less a priority and something every organization will need to respond to.
We believe that within all of these trends lies significant opportunity for the sector. For our customers that means enhanced capabilities, more flexibility, greater efficiency and increased value.
Hybrid solutions: the foundation for freedom of choice
In previous years we’ve highlighted how hybrid architectures – those making best use of edge, cloud, and on-premise technologies – have become the de facto choice for security solutions.
The drivers for the choice of architecture will be unique to every organization, taking into account technological, legal, ethical and governance concerns and requirements. The environment is evolving quickly, and therefore freedom of choice is imperative.
Hybrid solutions give freedom of choice in how to store, view, and analyze video, or manage devices. A combination of edge, cloud, and on-premise technologies can deliver an optimal total system solution, or its flexibility used to choose the specific instance preferred.
Whether demanded by emerging local and regional regulations or concerns over control of data, cost, or energy efficiency, hybrid solutions will continue to offer the greatest flexibility in creating architectures to best suit specific organizational needs and allow a system to be scaled.
AI evolution alongside AI efficiency
Development within the field of AI continues to race ahead. Deep learning technologies are the bread and butter of most analytics solutions within the security sector, while newer generative AI technologies are rapidly maturing. There is still a lot of hype in certain areas but real applications of generative AI in the security sector are becoming available. Each step of evolution brings with it a new set of opportunities, but also ethical, legal, and corporate considerations.
Generative AI models are large and require much compute capacity to execute, which creates a debate in how to balance the cost of AI (both in terms of financial investment, but also in terms of energy use and environmental impact) with its value. A lot of effort is being put into reducing the size of the models while maintaining the quality of results. The increased use of AI technologies only reinforces hybrid architectures as the standard.
The various ‘flavors’ of AI – from deep learning-based object recognition to generative AI – either demand or benefit from being applied at different places in the value chain, and in specific environments. Generative AI can assist operators in interacting with security solutions in natural language but, for the foreseeable future at least, require significant processing power. Conversely, deep learning-based analytics such as enhanced object recognition can be performed within surveillance cameras themselves.
Eventually this will enable generative models to be, at least partly, run on cameras with high-quality results. At the same time the models are improving in quality with regards to ethical aspects, bias, hallucinations, and the risk of making the wrong decisions.
Over time there is a big opportunity to dramatically change the efficiency and effectiveness of security operations. Algorithms will be able to understand what is happening in a scene and react to anomalies, based on the analysis on different types of input data, including but not limited to visual information. Input data will come from radar, audio, and numerous other sensors. This will create solutions that enable increasingly proactive capabilities and generate valuable insights in security scenarios for long term planning.
Beyond safety and security becomes real
The application of increasingly advanced computer vision, audio, access control and other connected technologies continues to serve security and safety use cases. Greater accuracy of analytics through the application of AI – particularly in object recognition – means that incidents can be responded to more quickly and effectively than ever before.
What is also clear is that the data generated by sensors of all types – video, audio, environmental, and more – can benefit numerous use case beyond the traditional. While still a relatively small part of the market, we expect to see an acceleration of applications aligned to operational efficiency and business intelligence.
This trend highlights the opportunities for increased collaboration across customer organizations. Technology being sourced or specified for one use case could well be used in another area of a business’s operations. For instance, data being created by video cameras employed principally for security purposes can be analyzed over time to improve customer or employee experience, sustainability, or process efficiency.
Through the high-quality hardware platforms available, the pace of development and innovation is astounding. Hardware vendors that foster an open and collaborative ecosystem of application developers and system integrators will bring greatest value to customers most quickly.
The “rebirth” of image quality
It may be counterintuitive to suggest that a focus on image quality is a trend in the sector, where many would assume it’s always been a priority (which, of course, it has). The trend is in how the images from visual sensors are being used, and with that the increased opportunities that better image quality brings.
The paradigm shifts when we consider that images are now often being initially viewed and analyzed by computers rather than humans, and that images are being viewed continuously, rather than when an incident of interest has taken place.
Advances in analytics and AI mean that a higher resolution image will inevitably lead to a better result, whatever the use case. Object recognition will be more accurate and more detailed data (and metadata) created. The drive towards even better image quality has been reignited.
With this has come opportunities for efficiency as well as effectiveness. A single camera producing much higher image quality can cover as large an area as multiple cameras would have been needed for previously. Higher resolution images also support analytics, for instance in large crowds, busy traffic intersections, or fast-moving production lines.
The human is still very much “in the loop”, as the saying goes. Operators will be automatically alerted to scenes they need to pay attention to, increasing efficiency and effectiveness of a response. Image quality as a focus will also place keen attention on the maintenance of surveillance cameras – still often a manual task – as small obstructions can have a significant impact on analysis.
The long-term value in products comes through software support
At the higher end of the security sector, the quality of hardware has been improving year-on-year. Today, hardware devices can be of such high-quality – particularly in terms of performance and capabilities – that expectations about their lifetime are greater than ever.
But while quality hardware can last for many years – as illustrated by the length of warranties – the defining factor in a camera’s functionality, including cybersecurity, and therefore its lifetime value, comes through ongoing software support.
Vendor commitments to support software throughout the expected lifetime of the hardware are essential; software that continues to enhance and build on the capabilities of the camera and keep it as secure as possible.
This also underpins the total cost of ownership of hardware. An investment in better quality camera, with comprehensive software support throughout its lifecycle, will ultimately be a more effective and efficient solution.
Technology autonomy to the customer’s benefit
Our role, and that of our partner ecosystem, is ultimately to focus on meeting the needs of customers. Technology for technology’s sake serves nobody’s purpose – innovations must be aligned to the priorities of the end user.
This clearly means supporting customers’ goals in safety and security, operational efficiency, and business intelligence. But it also means supporting their cybersecurity posture, commitment to sustainability through energy efficient solutions, and flexibility and freedom of choice via open standards-based technologies and platforms.
Technology vendors with more autonomy over their core technologies are clearly best placed to support these customer requirements. Greater control over foundational technology, from the silicon “upwards”, will allow a vendor to design specific capabilities and functionality aligned to customer needs into its products. Such an approach to core technology ownership will also allow a vendor to stand by commitments of being “secure by design”.
Furthermore, greater control of technology – at a component or even material level – is an important prerequisite to more effectively mitigate the risks of broader disruption to global supply chains. This enhances the ability to meet the requirements of customers, when they are needed.
We’re already seeing companies that would have traditionally been seen as software vendors designing their own semiconductors to gain more control over their service delivery – particularly in the area of AI – and we foresee this trend continuing in all sectors. Core technology independence is a trend we’re proud to say we’re some way ahead of, having developed our own system-on-chip, ARTPEC, for the last 25 years.
So, there you have it, our take on some of the trends that will shape the security sector in 2025. We’re sure you’ll have views on these and maybe some other trends of your own. We’d be delighted to continue the discussion on this with you.
Since 2024, Maringá, a city of approximately 500,000 residents consistently recognized as the best city to live in Brazil for over 6 consecutive years, has further strengthened its reputation by addressing the growing need for public safety.
In this pioneering project, ALCA NETWORK and ALLNET were responsible for the project design and partnered with VIVOTEK, the leading global provider of security solutions, to implement one of the most advanced smart surveillance solutions in Brazil. This system integrates cutting-edge cameras, facial and license plate recognition, and Big Data technologies. By consolidating data from the municipal, state, and federal sectors, this collaboration increases the safety of residents, solidifying Maringá’s position at the forefront of innovation in public safety.
Challenge
Despite Maringá’s reputation as a peaceful and hard-working city with one of the highest Human Development Indexes (HDI) in Brazil, it faced evolving public safety needs. The city government and security agencies recognized the need for smarter security measures. “The Public Safety Department initially aimed to capture and analyze video data to support decision-making in cases such as drug trafficking, vehicle theft, tax fraud, and the protection of women and minors at risk,” explains Security Secretary Ivan Quartaroli.
To meet these objectives, VIVOTEK was chosen by ALCA NETWORK and ALLNET for its advanced technology and quality, perfectly aligning with the city government’s requirements. The implementation of Maringá’s Integrated Control Center (CCI) began in July 2022, with strategically positioned cameras installed in accordance with the city’s public safety guidelines.
Solutions
VIVOTEK played a key role in upgrading Maringá’s security infrastructure by providing a comprehensive suite of solutions. This includes cameras with built-in video analytics processing technology and advanced software with facial and license plate recognition capabilities. This integration leverages Big Data to cross-reference captured information, facilitating streamlined processing and providing reliable analytics for informed decision-making.
To ensure full coverage, 70 VIVOTEK cameras supplied by ALLNET were strategically installed in key locations throughout Maringá, including urban mobility terminals, major avenues, squares, high-traffic intersections and public corridors.
Results and customer feedback
The implementation of CCI Maringá with VIVOTEK solutions has improved public safety, leading to a notable reduction in crime rates and an increased sense of security among residents. Continuous monitoring of CCI allows officers to identify suspicious activity and promptly alert nearby law enforcement with accurate information. VIVOTEK’s advanced imaging technology supports crime prevention and investigation and serves as crucial evidence in legal proceedings. Key benefits include:
Reduced investigation costs and time.
Greater efficiency and safety for public agents working in the sector.
Reduction in car thefts.
Reduction in criminal activities.
Increased quality of life for the population.
As Acting Mayor Ulisses Maia emphasized, “This investment is capable of protecting the law-abiding citizens of Maringá, preventing all types of accidents that can happen in our city.” The integration of video analytics, particularly License Plate Recognition (LPR), greatly increases safety by managing the flow of vehicles in and out of the city, reinforcing Maringá’s status as a smart city in Brazil.
ASSA ABLOY has acquired Roger Sp. z o.o. sp.k., a Polish manufacturer of on-premise electronic access control systems and related hardware.
“I look forward to welcoming Roger into the ASSA ABLOY Group. This acquisition delivers on our strategy to add complementary products and solutions to our core business,” says Nico Delvaux, President and CEO of ASSA ABLOY.
“Roger has over 30-years of track record in Poland with a reputation as a strong electronic access control system provider trusted by over 5 million users. The team has a solid track record of innovation and is a valuable addition to our business” says Neil Vann, Executive Vice President of ASSA ABLOY and Head of EMEIA Division.
Roger was established in 1991 and has some 100 employees. The main office and assembly facility is located in Gosciszewo, Poland.
Sales for 2023 amounted to about MEUR 9,5 with a strong EBIT margin.
Aleksander Bartling, Sales Director at NSC Sicherheitstechnik, shared insights on NSC’s growth and innovations during an a&s Adria podcast at Adria Security Summit stage. The summit marked a successful debut for NSC, a German mid-sized company specializing in fire detection systems.
“We are excited to exhibit for the first time here,” said Bartling, reflecting on the engaging discussions and opportunities over the event’s two days.
Highlighting NSC’s core philosophy, Bartling emphasized a customer-centric approach: “Our mission is to acquire customers, develop them, and maintain long-lasting relationships. We don’t focus on one-time projects but on building trust.”
NSC’s flagship product, the Solution F1 Pro, reflects its commitment to innovation. Designed with speed, extended coverage, and robust power, it sets a new standard for fire alarm panels. Bartling also highlighted NSC’s voice evacuation systems, which integrate seamlessly with fire alarms to ensure clear communication during emergencies, significantly improving evacuation processes.
NSC’s dedication to quality and safety is further evident in their rigorous adherence to global standards like VdS and EN54, ensuring reliability in critical environments, including unique projects like the Swiss Gotthard Tunnel fire alarm installation on intercity trains.
Bartling concluded with a message for end-users: “Fire alarm systems save lives. Don’t go cheap—invest in premium quality because lives are irreplaceable.”
NSC continues to expand globally, maintaining its focus on innovation, customer feedback, and exceptional safety solutions.
Jonas Matkala Nordlund, Head of Business Line Security at Siemens Smart Infrastructure in Sweden says, “Embedding Go Cards into Sipass provides an end-to-end solution that enhances security and simplifies management for end users and administrators.”
In a move that aims to redefine physical access security, Siemens has integrated Nexus Go Cards with its versatile Sipass system. This powerful collaboration combines robust security features with an intuitive, cloud-based platform, enabling organisations to control access efficiently and securely.
Sipass offers adaptability and support for access management across straightforward setups and complex, multi-site networks. With Go Cards integration, organisations can now leverage Sipass to issue and manage credentials quickly, with a seamless end-user experience. Once credentials are assigned, users can gain access to facilities without the need to navigate complex onboarding steps. The system also allows multiple operators with varying authority levels to manage access, making it suitable for teams of any size and scope.
Seamless, secure access
A standout feature of this integration is its Card Activation Flow, which reinforces security while streamlining the process for users. To begin with, customers can choose to print the card on a local printer or receive it via mail. If the card is delivered through mail, it is sent in disabled mode, and the card’s design can contain additional security details such as microprinting and holograms. Card layouts can also be customised based on the user profile, such as employees, contractors, or visitors.
Once the users receive their card, they must confirm their email and physical card possession to activate it successfully. This process functions similarly to two-factor authentication: users verify their identity through more than one mode of authentication to ensure that only authorised individuals gain access. Until these steps are completed, the card remains inactive within Sipass, adding an extra layer of security to the system.
Adaptive cloud-based credential management
With Go Cards and Sipass working in tandem, administrators can rely on a system that, according to the company, practically runs itself. Data from Go Cards transfers directly to Sipass, eliminating the need for repetitive data entry and reducing potential errors. Credential updates happen instantly in the cloud, meaning users can access facilities as soon as they’re granted clearance – whether at a single site or across multiple locations. This cloud-driven approach scales effortlessly, adapting to changing access needs without compromising security.
“At Nexus, we aim to deliver security solutions that adapt to users’ needs without compromising convenience,” says Olivier Dussutour, CEO at Nexus and Head of the Workforce ID business line at IN Groupe. “This collaboration with Siemens demonstrates how thoughtful innovation can deliver secure and efficient results.”
Bosch is selling its Building Technologies division’s product business for security and communications technology to the European investment firm Triton. The transaction encompasses three business units – Video, Access and Intrusion, and Communication – and thus the entire product business of Bosch Building Technologies that was offered for sale. All 4,300 associates employed in these units at more than 90 locations worldwide will be taken over.
The parties signed agreements to this effect on December 12. It has been agreed that the purchase price and other details of the purchase agreement will not be disclosed. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and further customary closing conditions. It is expected to be closed by the end of the first half of 2025.
An outlook for the future
Back in October 2023, Bosch had announced that, as part of its realignment of its Building Technologies division, it would be selling most of the division’s product business.
“It was our aim to find a suitable buyer who will acquire all three security and communications technology business units and offer their associates an outlook for the future. We have achieved that aim. Triton has presented a sustainable and credible growth strategy for the business. As an investor, moreover, it can provide a high level of industrial expertise and many years of experience in taking comparable companies forward,” says Christian Fischer, deputy chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH, with responsibility for Bosch Group portfolio management and thus also for this planned transaction.
With its investments, Triton focuses on European companies in the industrial, healthcare, and business services sectors. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Bosch and to be the preferred buyer for the security and communications technology product business. We want to support the management and employees to continue the strong growth trajectory that this business recently saw by providing not only capital, but also our know-how from having owned and successfully developed other companies in the security space,” says Claus von Hermann, Managing Partner and Co-lead of the Industrial Tech team at Triton.
Peter Loeffler, the CEO of Bosch Building Technologies’ product business, adds: “With Triton as our new owner, its expertise and support we will have a strong base for further, profitable growth. We will work together to push ahead with innovations in the security and communications area – to the usual high quality standards and with comprehensive expertise.”
Realignment of Bosch Building Technologies
As part of its realignment, the Bosch Building Technologies division is to focus on its regional integrator business, with solutions and services for building security, energy efficiency, and building automation. The goal of Bosch Building Technologies is to become a globally leading supplier of systems integration and to seize the attractive opportunities for growth in this segment. Because of its importance for systems integration, the product business with fire-alarm systems is to be merged with the integrator business and continued.
Following the transaction, Bosch Building Technologies will have roughly 8,000 associates in 8 countries. As a product-agnostic systems integrator with a wide-ranging portfolio of energy and building solutions, the division intends to benefit in the future from digitalization and a growing customer demand for integrated, intelligent, and cross-domain solutions in the areas of building security, energy efficiency, and building automation.
Whether you’re retrofitting existing sites or looking to build brand new plants, Milestone’s XProtect software can meet your video security needs. Let’s look at how.
Common surveillance needs within manufacturing
Surveillance is often associated with avoiding crime-related activity. For a manufacturing plant, this is part of the story. You certainly need to keep unauthorized people out, prevent theft and cyberattacks, etc.
However, there are two other needs that people don’t think about as much despite being equally important. One of them is compliance with health and safety standards. Investigating accidents can halt operations for days or weeks before all the facts are verified. The more surveillance coverage you have, the more reliable the video management software and the easier it is to find and export evidence, the faster incidents can be resolved, and business can resume.
Surveillance should be just as much about preventing problems as responding to them. Think of all the places on a production line where it’s too difficult or too dangerous for people to be. Setting up cameras helps ensure that everything is running smoothly without risking the safety of employees.
This brings us to another major need—optimizing and ensuring business operations. You obviously don’t want people stealing. Still, that’s probably not what’s going to put you out of business. A greater risk is a major defect going undetected in your production line. If this type of issue isn’t nipped in the bud, you could end up with literal tons of faulty inventory that you can’t sell.
Surveillance means reassurance that machinery is running smoothly and the ability to quickly detect and resolve breakages and bottlenecks. A robust system can also utilize sensors to, say, flag increased machinery vibration. But it’s the cameras that let you see what could be causing the vibration and understand what’s actually going on.
How Milestone meets surveillance needs within manufacturing
Here’s how respective XProtect variants, extensions and third-party integrations can help. Instead of covering all features and functionalities, this list is curated for manufacturing use cases.
What you get with XProtect’s VMS:
Included in all variants:
– Centralized search helps operators quickly find the right footage by filtering according to a time window and specific cameras or groups of cameras. Search results can be further narrowed down based on XProtect’s built-in motion detection. If your cameras come with analytics that detect people, vehicles and other granular data, then these filters will also be available in your search view. Alarms, events and bookmarks will also be visible (if supported by your specific XProtect variant).
– Independent playback is at the core of what our customers need. While in the “Live” tab, operators can play back video recordings without leaving the live monitoring view. The “Playback” tab is specifically designed for reviewing and analyzing recorded footage.
– The basic Maps function gives manufacturers a visual (i.e., still image) representation of their facility layout overlaid with camera locations. This makes it easier to understand the spatial relationships between cameras and important areas such as production lines, storage areas, loading docks and other critical zones.
Included in some variants:
– The Alarm Manager instantly alerts operators to any internal and external security alarms and includes information on the priority level and state of an alarm. The Alarm Manager is included in all XProtect variants except for Essential+.
– The Smart Map syncs information from Google Maps, Bing Maps and OpenStreetMap with static images and CAD drawings. The result is a precise representation of the geographical layout of your areas and buildings, providing a more accurate overview of your camera placements across one or several locations. Smart Maps are included in XProtect Expert and Corporate.
– Bookmarks let you quickly tag, annotate and retrieve specific incidents or events in video footage, enhancing the efficiency of your investigations. Bookmarks are included in XProtect Professional+, Expert and Corporate.
XProtect extensions (additional cost):
– License Plate Recognition (LPR) verifies whether a number plate matches a pre-approved list of vehicles. This reduces the need for manual inspections and ensures that only authorized vehicles enter the premises, helping overall security and the flow of traffic.
– Transact links surveillance video to data from your point of sale (POS) system or any other transaction source. Manufacturers can retrieve data and index it by scanning a product’s barcode.
– Access doesn’t provide access control in and of itself. Rather, it merges your video management software with your access control and intrusion systems in a single interface. Customers who invest in XProtect Access will naturally also have purchased an access control system from a third party.
– The Smart Wall is designed to be used in control rooms. It delivers real-time surveillance via a large canvas of monitors showing a customizable overview of all camera feeds. The Smart Wall is available at no additional cost with XProtect Corporate, and available at an additional cost with XProtect Expert.
– License Plate Recognition (LPR) integrations can provide advanced features that extend beyond what XProtect LPR provides. Examples of advanced features include wildcards for matchlists (triggering if a plate is one or two characters off), live whitelisting and blacklisting of plate numbers and metadata (make, model or color of the vehicle).
– Access Control is a critical security need within manufacturing. If particularly hazardous materials are involved, a fail-secure system might be required as opposed to a fail-safe system. Fail-secure systems lock all exit and entry in the case of a breach whereas fail-safe systems allow people to exit during a failure. Our technology partners provide access control solutions that can work within either type of system.
– Intrusion Alarm Systems integrations connect motion detectors, door contacts, glass break sensors, etc. with XProtect, enabling these external alarms to trigger actions within the VMS. Actions include recording video, sending alerts or displaying live feeds for immediate response.
– Smoke Detection can be synced with XProtect to immediately trigger alerts. For manufacturers, such an integration can assist in quickly identifying and responding to potential fire hazards, minimizing risks to personnel, equipment and inventory while ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
XProtect’s features cover the bases of avoiding crime-related activity and ensuring basic health and safety standards. The extensions and third-party integrations are what can really maximize health and safety compliance and take your system beyond security into business optimization. Of course, the above features and integrations aren’t necessarily exclusive to XProtect. Other VMS vendors likely tout some variation of our list. So, what is so special about XProtect?
XProtect supports more security devices than any other VMS. XProtect is camera (and sensor) agnostic. If you’re retrofitting an existing plant, you can save a lot of money by using the devices you already have. Analog and IP cameras can be viewed side-by-side in XProtect. This means having the space to gradually upgrade devices where and when the time is right. On top of being device agnostic, XProtect is one of only a few solutions that can reliably connect hundreds and even thousands of devices across many different sites.
XProtect is truly open-platform. XProtect integrates with third-party security solutions at no additional cost. Alternative providers often claim to be open-platform while simultaneously pushing customers to use their own analytics. While we offer some of our own analytic extensions, we’ve built our reputation on working with hundreds of technology partners. We want our customers to have freedom of choice when it comes to integrating access control, license plate recognition, smoke detection and more.
XProtect is secure by design. All variants of XProtect support HTTPS encryption, network separation, strong user authentication with complex password requirements, audit logging, user role-based access controls and digital signing when exporting. Moreover, Milestone has been authorized as a CVE Numbering Authority (CNA) which comes with strict rules for reporting vulnerabilities and shipping patches for our own products. While cyber security isn’t unique to XProtect, it is an important factor to consider when choosing the best VMS as not all vendors live up to the same standards.
In addition to these product-specific benefits, there are many advantages of working with Milestone as a company:
Milestone is a global company that’s been around for 25 years. We’re owned by the Canon Group, so you can rest assured that we’re not going anywhere.
As a market leader, Milestone has the resources to invest back in R&D. With this investment comes frequent product updates with new features, UX improvements and cybersecurity enhancements.
We have strong ties with resellers and integrators all around the world. This means that we can connect you with a local partner that can help you navigate health and safety policies that are specific to the type of manufacturing that you do, your city or municipality, etc.
The most popular Milestone products within manufacturing
XProtect comes in a range of variants that cater to smaller plants, larger industrial complexes and a combination of both. XProtect is highly customizable and there’s no “one size fits all” solution. That said, we can still look at why our manufacturing customers tend to gravitate towards certain products.
XProtect Professional+ is chosen in about 50% of manufacturing cases. Customers in this sector are often looking to connect cameras from a few different sites into a single view. Professional+ is the most affordable option in the XProtect lineup that meets this need. It comes with central management across sites and support for an unlimited number of devices.
Express+ is the second most common choice, representing smaller manufacturers with single sites. For projects that demand more complex infrastructure and advanced cybersecurity features (e.g., media database encryption), you have XProtect Expert and Corporate. These tie for third place and are often the best match for the most risk-averse manufacturers who also want a highly centralized overview with features like the Smart Wall.
Care Plus is chosen in about 80% of manufacturing cases. This is an additional maintenance program that gives customers access to multiple software updates per year and full trade-in credit on product upgrades (e.g., upgrading from Professional+ to Expert+). Many such companies, especially those dealing with hazardous materials, are heavily regulated. Keeping their video management system up to date is considered an essential part of compliance, hence the popularity of Care Plus.
When it comes to technical support, most customers rely on their system integrators to manage issues on their behalf. However, about 10% of manufacturers pay for Care Premium on top of Care Plus because 1) they want the option to get direct technical support from Milestone and 2) they want expedited support regardless of whether it’s them or their system integrator that’s reaching out to Milestone.
Milestone’s Husky servers ship with the XProtect VMS software pre-installed, along with a configured operating system and optimized hardware. They cover viewing stations, recording and management servers. The guarantee of compatibility with XProtect makes the Husky IVO line an attractive option to many customers. Nevertheless, there’s no obligation to use Husky as XProtect can run on any Windows server that meets the system requirements.
How our customers use Xprotect
Here are a few examples of XProtect at work in manufacturing:
Air-cooling and refrigeration: This Hungarian manufacturing plant faced challenges with theft and outdated monitoring tech across their facility. They implemented XProtect Professional+ with 170 thermal and 360-degree AXIS cameras and analytic solutions to protect their inventory, assure health and safety standards and investigate claims of damaged goods.
Auto parts: This international manufacturer needed to improve safety throughout their production facilities in India. They implemented XProtect Expert with over 675 cameras from a variety of different brands. The new VMS was integrated with an Access Control System (ACS) and perimeter video analytics for additional security.
Flooring: As the world’s largest flooring manufacturer, this Belgian company chose to invest in XProtect Corporate to bolster safety and optimize flow. They originally purchased licenses for 1,000+ cameras across 17 sites with plans to expand by 200 cameras per year. This system is fully loaded with the XProtect Transact extension as well as third-party license plate recognition and smoke detection.
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In this article, we’ve covered the manufacturing requirements that we hear about the most. No organization is exactly like another though, and we’d be happy to know about your specific situation. If you’d be interested in a video call where we also get to show you XProtect in action, please book a demo!
The global intelligent traffic management system (ITMS) market is projected to reach USD 27.92 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.2% from 2025 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research.
Factors such as the rising urban population, increased mobility, improved road transport efficiency, and the need to upgrade transport networks due to rapid industrialization are anticipated to drive significant market growth during the forecast period.
ITMS solutions help reduce delays, alleviate traffic congestion, and provide real-time, accurate information to commuters and transportation planners. The growing government initiatives worldwide to implement smart cities with modernized road networks and transportation systems are expected to positively influence the expansion of the intelligent traffic management market.
Challenges with infrastructure upgrades
ITMS require vast, scalable, and advanced data infrastructure for real-time data processing. However, the required infrastructure to support these systems has not expanded quickly enough, and replacing outdated equipment is still costly. To address this, governments across the globe continue to invest heavily in road infrastructure upgrades in an effort to reduce congestion.
For example, in April 2021, SNC-Lavalin Group, an engineering and construction services provider, was awarded a three-year contract worth USD 15 million by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to implement a Transportation Asset Management System (TAMS). Under this agreement, the company’s Data Transfer Solutions (DTS) unit will offer services such as software licensing, system implementation, and post-implementation support, which are expected to drive demand for ITMS solutions further during the forecast period.
Addressing standardization and road safety concerns
Despite the growth prospects, challenges such as the lack of standardized solutions and safety concerns related to traffic management systems could hinder the expansion of the intelligent traffic management market. To address road safety, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is involved in implementing legal instruments aimed at improving road safety, including traffic management and road infrastructure regulations that are binding for member states. ITMS has the potential to significantly reduce traffic accidents and improve safety.
Regional insights
Countries such as the U.S. and China are making significant investments in ITMS solutions, which is expected to benefit the market in the coming years. According to analysts at Grand View Research, North America is expected to dominate the market, accounting for 38.7% of the share in 2024. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is making substantial investments in research, development, and the nationwide deployment of intelligent traffic management systems.
Regarding product segments, the traffic monitoring system segment is expected to hold the largest share of 21.4% in 2024. Poorly managed traffic signals are a major contributor to road congestion, and addressing these issues is expected to reduce travel times considerably. Furthermore, the traffic signal control segment is projected to grow significantly during the forecast period.
Key market players
Companies actively involved in the ITMS sector include Cubic Corporation, SNC-Lavalin Group, Thales Group, IBM, General Electric, Siemens, Kapsch Trafficcom, TomTom, Q-Free ASA, and Transcore. These companies are expected to play a pivotal role in advancing ITMS technologies and capitalizing on the growing demand for smart traffic management solutions.
The global smoke detector market is projected to rise from USD 2.68 billion in 2024 to USD 3.76 billion by 2029, reflecting a CAGR of roughly 7.0%. As noted by the researchers at Marketsandmarkets, the key driver of this growth is the growing awareness surrounding fire safety and stricter regulations for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.
The rising frequency of fires has led to an increased demand for highly efficient smoke detection systems. This demand is further supported by the advent of smart and IoT-enabled smoke detectors. Technological advancements are enhancing the performance and capabilities of these systems.
Wireless smoke detectors
Wireless smoke detectors are expected to experience the highest CAGR during the forecast period, thanks to their easy installation and enhanced functionality. Without the need for complex wiring, these devices can be placed anywhere, making them particularly attractive to homeowners and businesses looking for DIY solutions. As fire risk awareness grows and regulations tighten, the demand for wireless smoke detectors is likely to rise. Advancements in battery and sensor technologies have also boosted their reliability and efficiency, strengthening their position in the market. With the increasing demand for convenience and automation in fire safety, wireless smoke detectors are well-positioned for significant growth.
Dual-sensor smoke detectors
The research indicates that dual-sensor smoke detectors will capture a significant share of the smoke detector market throughout the forecast period. By combining the strengths of both ionization and photoelectric sensors, these detectors are more effective in detecting a wider range of fires. Ionization sensors excel at detecting fast-burning fires, while photoelectric sensors are better suited for slow-burning, smoldering fires. The integration of these two technologies makes dual-sensor detectors a more comprehensive solution for fire safety, and the growing consumer demand, along with the commercial use of advanced smoke detection systems, will ensure their continued relevance.
Growth in the commercial sector
The commercial smoke detector market is projected to experience significant growth during the forecast period. This is primarily due to increasing urbanization and the growing demand for enhanced fire safety measures in workplaces. The trend is further driven by stricter regulatory compliance and heightened awareness of employee safety. Additionally, advancements in smoke detection technologies, such as smart detectors integrated with the Internet of Things (IoT), are gaining popularity in commercial applications, accelerating the market’s expansion.
Asia Pacific Market growth driven by urbanization
The Asia Pacific smoke detector market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, fueled by rapid urbanization and industrialization in countries like China, India, and Japan. Government initiatives to raise fire safety standards are driving the demand for smoke detectors across various sectors. Increased awareness of fire risks and the growing need for dependable detection solutions also contribute to this growth. The integration of IoT-enabled smoke detection systems, combined with smart home technologies, will further shape the market dynamics across the region.
Prominent companies operating in the smoke detector market, as highlighted in the research, include Johnson Controls, Robert Bosch GmbH, Hochiki Corporation, Siemens, and Honeywell International Inc.
