Bosch is realigning its Building Technologies division: in the future, the division is to focus on its regional integrator business, with solutions and services for building security, energy efficiency, and building automation.

The company plans to sell most of the Building Technologies division’s product business. This includes the Video, Access and Intrusion, and Communication business units, and affects some 4,300 associates at more than 90 locations worldwide. Bosch is now looking for a buyer who will take on all three business units together with their associates and locations.

The product business with fire alarm systems, by contrast, is not to be sold. Because of its importance for systems integration, it is to be merged with the integrator business and continued.

“We are confident we will be able to find a buyer who will take over all three business units, and who will further strengthen the business and give it a secure future,” said Christian Fischer, Deputy Chairman of the Bosch Board of Management. He explained that, for strategic reasons, Bosch does not intend to develop this business further.

Thomas Quante, the President of Bosch Building Technologies, added: “The product business is excellently positioned for a promising future under a new owner: innovative products, highly skilled associates, and a market environment with attractive opportunities for growth.”

Following the realignment, the Building Technologies division will employ some 7,600 associates, and operate at 40 locations in 8 countries. As a brand-independent systems integrator with a wide-ranging portfolio of energy and building solutions, the division intends to benefit in the future from digitalization and growing customer demand for integrated, intelligent, and cross-domain solutions in the areas of building security, energy efficiency, and building automation.

The Bosch Building Technologies division is a leading global supplier of security, safety, and communications products and systems. About 10,900 associates generated sales of 2.5 billion euros in 2022. Protecting lives, buildings, and assets is the major aim. The product portfolio includes video security, intrusion detection, fire detection, voice evacuation systems, access control and management systems, as well as professional audio and conference systems.

Milestone Systems, a leading provider of video technology, is preparing for the upcoming release of a new camera-to-cloud deployment option for its Milestone Kite video surveillance as a service (VSaaS) software.

Known as Milestone Kite Camera to Cloud, the new option will offer even greater simplicity and cost-efficiency to customers. As an alternative or expansion to gateway installations, Camera to Cloud builds on Milestone’s focus on flexible and scalable solutions that support evolving needs.

Ideal for Sites With Low Camera Counts

Milestone Kite Camera to Cloud VSaaS works with a series of Axis cameras pre-installed with AI-based Axis Object Analytics. All computing, recording and video storage take place on the cameras, which connect directly to the Milestone Kite cloud. This can reduce bandwidth load and associated costs, as well as installation and maintenance costs.

“The combination of simplicity and cost efficiency makes Milestone Kite Camera to Cloud a highly practical choice for organizations with smaller or newly built locations, or simply those where having a gateway onsite would be impractical,” says Jesper Just Jensen, VP Products at Milestone Systems.

Camera to Cloud is particularly suitable for businesses with multiple locations with a small number of cameras at each site. It is also beneficial for those with limited IT knowledge, bandwidth limitations or situations where installing on-site gateway hardware is not feasible.

Seamless Gateway Solutions

Companies already using Milestone Kite with gateways can expand to new sites with Camera to Cloud. The new sites will be recognised and managed as part of the same Kite service as the gateway deployments.

Milestone Kite was introduced in January of this year, providing a simple, secure, and scalable cloud video security solution, particularly for small and medium-sized organisations looking for a budget-friendly video management option. The introduction of Camera to Cloud enhances Milestone Kite’s commitment to easy cloud video security.

With the new Camera to Cloud offering, set to be released in Q1, 2024 – there are more options available, and customers can save on costs and bandwidth.

Texecom has made two key appointments to strengthen its EMEA sales team. Thomas Vanden Wyngaerdt has been named as Head of Sales and Tom Wright as Account Manager.

Wyngaerdt has over 12 years of sales management experience, primarily in the telematics industry. In his new role, he will oversee the full EMEA sales and work closely with the existing team, customers and distribution partners to help grow sales of the company’s range.

“As a company renowned for its customer-centric approach, Texecom holds a respected reputation for manufacturing high quality professionally graded products for the global security market. I am looking forward to building upon the great relationships we already have with our customers whilst building new ones,” commented Wyngaerdt.

Wright will take responsibility for a number of key customer accounts. He will additionally assist them in developing their business.

“Texecom’s products are highly regarded within the industry and I relish the opportunity to work closely with our customer base to best support them in all aspects of their intruder detection business,” commented Wright.

Gunnebo Safe Storage took the next step towards establishing a stand-alone high-security locks business with the acquisition of Tecnosicurezza, a manufacturer of electronic locking systems for safes, vaults, and ATMs.

Tecnosicurezza is based in Verona, northern Italy, with subsidiaries in the USA and Spain.

“By focusing on the needs of our customers and supporting their daily operational processes, with an emphasis on connectivity, this high-security lock business will increase our support to them along the end-to-end value chain.”

Gunnebo says the acquisition will enable the creation of synergies across the existing portfolio of Gunnebo locks, as well as across the safes and vaults business, by leveraging technology and customer service, combined with its digital expertise.

Anna Miller, Tecnosicurezza Managing Director, says: “This is an incredible opportunity to scale the availability of our class-leading locks range into over 100 markets. Gunnebo Safe Storage’s complementary expertise and shared focus on innovation and sustainability make this the perfect next step in our company’s journey.”

Stefan Syrén, Gunnebo Group President & CEO, explains: “The locks market is moving fast towards connectivity, and Tecnosicurezza together with Gunnebo Safe Storage will form a strong base on which to build our next-generation locks and Safe Storage Solutions.”

“I am delighted that Anna will continue to lead Tecnosicurezza as Managing Director and along with Andrew will ensure that Tecnosicurezza moves from being an important strategic supplier to joining the Gunnebo family. The creation of this standalone business unit will benefit both parties’ existing and new customers.”

According to the latest information from Marketsandmarkets, the global AI camera market is expected to be valued at USD 7.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 22.1 billion by 2028; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 23.9% from 2023 to 2028. The convergence of AI technology, decreasing costs, and a wide range of practical applications have fueled the growth of the AI camera market.

The growth of processor offerings in the AI camera market is driven by several key factors that emphasise the critical role of high-performance processors in enabling advanced AI capabilities and real-time processing. AI-powered cameras perform increasingly complex tasks like object detection, facial recognition, natural language processing, and scene analysis. These tasks require powerful processors capable of handling the computational workload efficiently.

Natural Language Processing an Important Factor

The integration of NLP technology into AI cameras enhances their functionality, accessibility, and usability across various industries and applications. Using natural language, NLP technology enables AI cameras to understand and respond to human commands and queries. This enhances user-friendliness and accessibility, allowing users to control and customise camera functions more intuitively. NLP technology allows AI cameras to personalise interactions based on user preferences and behaviour. This can include tailoring recommendations, settings, and responses to individual users.

In-Depth Analysis of Surveillance Footage

The analysts suggest that the growth of the AI camera market for security and surveillance is driven by the increasing need for advanced security solutions, the growing complexity of security threats, and the potential for AI technology to significantly improve the effectiveness of surveillance systems. AI-powered cameras can detect and identify security threats, such as intruders, unauthorised access, and suspicious behaviour, with high accuracy. This capability enhances proactive security measures. AI technology enables video analytics for in-depth analysis of surveillance footage. This includes facial recognition, object detection, license plate recognition, and even behavioural analysis, improving the effectiveness of security systems.

Various Applications of AI Cameras

The need for heightened security measures in public and private spaces has driven the adoption of CCTV AI cameras. These cameras offer advanced threat detection, facial recognition, and real-time alerts, enhancing security capabilities. Many organisations can easily integrate AI-powered CCTV cameras into their existing surveillance systems, enhancing capabilities without significant infrastructure changes. The growth of the CCTV AI camera market is driven by the critical role these cameras play in improving security, reducing crime, and providing valuable data for decision-making. The development and testing of autonomous vehicles in North America rely on AI cameras for object detection, lane tracking, and obstacle avoidance, contributing to the growth of the automotive AI camera market.

Investments in Smart City Initiatives in North America

The need for advanced security and surveillance solutions is a significant driver of the AI camera market in North America. Businesses, government agencies, and residential users are investing in AI cameras to enhance security, deter crime, and monitor properties. North American cities and municipalities are investing in smart city initiatives that incorporate AI cameras for traffic management, public safety, environmental monitoring, and urban planning. Retailers in North America use AI cameras to prevent theft and fraud by identifying shoplifting incidents and monitoring suspicious activities in real-time.

The AI camera market includes major players like Sony Group Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, Samsung, Axis Communications and others. These players have a strong market presence for AI cameras across various countries in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the rest of the world.

The cooperation between MOBOTIX AG and Kepler Vision Technologies has brought together two of the world’s leading IT experts in the healthcare industry.

Kepler Vision Technologies is a Dutch company that uses artificial intelligence to recognize human activities to make the lives of patients and the work of nurses easier in healthcare facilities and nursing homes. Their Night Nurse app analyzes live video streams, detects if and when customers need care and informs staff accordingly.

MOBOTIX, a Konica Minolta company, is a German manufacturer of premium-quality intelligent IP video systems, setting standards for innovative camera technologies and decentralized security solutions with the highest level of cybersecurity and GDPR compliance. The flexibility, reliability, built-in intelligence and unparalleled data security of the company’s solutions are valued in many industries. These competencies are indispensable in the highly personality-sensitive area of healthcare.

The two companies plan to launch the first joint solution, which will improve the quality of care, save time and reduce financial expenses, by the end of this year.

“MOBOTIX promotes recovery and well-being with its video technology. This led MOBOTIX to be the market leader in health care sensors” said Harro Stokman, CEO of Kepler Vision Technologies, during his visit to the MOBOTIX headquarters in Langmeil. “This is what convinced us of the cooperation because to have economic success in healthcare, people must benefit. That is the sick person being cared for, the patient’s family, and the caregivers who urgently need relief. Last but not least, the facility’s operators must benefit from the solution,” explains Stokman.

“With Kepler Vision Technologies, we have found a partner that shares our values in the sensitive area of healthcare,” added Christian Cabirol, CTO of MOBOTIX AG. “We are convinced that our joint solution – the combination of Kepler’s AI expertise in the nursing and care sector and our data- and cyber-secure, qualitatively and technologically leading hardware and software – will be an enormous asset for the nursing and care market,” Cabirol explains.

The global surveillance camera market size is expected to reach USD 81.36 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 10.7% from 2023 to 2030, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc.

The rising concerns regarding security and safety and the growing adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart technologies in smart cities are some of the major factors cited by analysts as driving the growth of the market. In addition, growing technological advancements in video surveillance solutions to achieve improved security are further propelling the market’s growth. The continuous evolution of camera technology, coupled with innovations in Artificial Intelligence (AI), video analytics, and edge computing, has empowered surveillance system manufacturers to offer advanced functionalities and capabilities.

AI Enhances Performance and Utility

Integrating AI into video surveillance focuses on specialised software or systems embedded within security camera devices. These systems facilitate real-time analysis of audio and images to rapidly identify individuals, vehicles, objects, events, and behaviours. The implementation of AI in video surveillance systems enhances their overall quality, accuracy, and utility.

The 5G cellular service offers considerable benefits to users, including reduced latency and improved data speeds. Its expanded bandwidth capacity makes it ideal for video surveillance applications in residential, commercial, and industrial environments, as its capacity to notably enhance image resolution and support diverse surveillance requirements.

Cellular Camera the Fastest-Growing Segment

Based on product type, cellular camera is anticipated to emerge as the fastest-growing segment over the forecast period. The segment is poised to experience significant growth due to the rising need for remote and flexible monitoring solutions leveraging cellular networks to enable real-time video access and connectivity in various locations.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest-growing region owing to rapid urbanization and increasing industrialisation. The key players cited within the research as being most active in this sector include, Honeywell, Cisco Systems, Eye Trax, Nokia, Panasonic, Bosch, Teledyne FLIR, Milesight, Dahua and Swann.

Idis Solution Suite VMS has streamlined operations and transformed security for a 350-camera system at the Social Sciences University of Ankara (ASBU), in Turkey. ASBU’s historic city centre location, with its night-time economy, makes it the study destination of choice for around 5,500 students annually. But with such a busy site, the university also has to deal with an increased risk of incidents, including crime and anti-social behaviour.

A 350-camera surveillance system monitored 24/7 from ASBU’s dedicated control room, had been expanded several times over the years. However, the resulting mix of six different vendor brands had left the VMS struggling, with issues such as frozen live images, hard-to-manage data burden, and difficulty to control.

Idis integration partner 11S Savunma Sanayi ve Güvenlik Sistemleri was asked to devise the best upgrade route. In an on-site proof of concept demonstration, the company showed how Idis’s VMS, IDIS Solution Suite, (ISS Expert) could quickly register all the mix-and-match cameras and devices, including recorders and a 3×3 video wall.

 Complexity Issues Resolved

With the project now completed, the result eliminates the previous complexity allowing seamless control, full functionality of all cameras regardless of the brand, and transformed ease-of-use for operators. They can now control the system from their workstations as well as from the video wall, with browser features allowing the university’s fire system to display on the same screen. Idis Mapvue (demonstrated in the video) is also being added, with a schematic showing the locations of the cameras, to improve domain awareness and make navigational playback easier.

The Idis solution is easy to maintain and expand, and a further 100 cameras will be added in the next phase of the project when two renovated accommodation buildings will also benefit from upgraded surveillance.

 Easy Provision of Video Evidence

ASBU’s security team can now easily comply with requests from law enforcement agencies for video evidence. Bookmarked event recording makes it easy for ASBU operators to skip from scene to scene when reviewing recordings. “Idis Solution Suite solved all the problems we had with our complex and ageing system, with an easy upgrade that extends the life and performance of all our cameras,” says Zafer Buldu, Manager of Hardware & Technical Services, ASBU.

Koray Ozyildirim, Idis Turkey Country Manager said: Idis Solution Suite has turned ASBU’s cluttered and failing system into a powerful, integrated surveillance solution that is easy to use, adapt, and upgrade, with the assurance of an extended lifespan backed by the industry-best warranties.”