Costar Technologies, Inc. - Experts & Thought Leaders
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IDIS Americas, a new IDIS business unit formed from the recent merger of IDIS America and Costar Technologies, is kicking off ISC East 2024 in New York with a strong presence. At Booth #425, attendees can explore its comprehensive lineup of advanced surveillance solutions, including the scalable IDIS Solution Suite (ISS) VMS and a wide range of AI-powered, NDAA-compliant video surveillance technologies. Designed to excel across key sectors such as banking, retail, education, critical infrastructure, these solutions highlight the IDIS commitment to delivering superior security performance. Powerful products Join the IDIS Americas team in booth #425 to experience firsthand its powerful products designed to meet the diverse needs of many vertical markets: ISS (IDIS Solution Suite) – A powerful VMS offering advanced AI analytics, seamless integration, and centralised management, all without costly, annual recurring fees. Scalable to support up to 65,000 cameras, ISS delivers exceptional value and flexibility for organisations of all sizes, while reducing total cost of ownership. Come see a demo at the booth: IDIS Solution Suite (ISS) VMS delivers AI-driven intelligence, intuitive management and control capabilities. Fully scalable with no annual licencing fees, IDIS ISS ensures seamless integration of the industry-pioneering surveillance cameras, NVRs and servers. IDIS AI Camera Lineup – Featuring advanced deep-learning capabilities for high-accuracy object detection, facial recognition, and behavior analytics. AVC-Omni RS & DN: A versatile multi-sensor camera series ideal for expansive areas, such as campuses and large commercial spaces, providing superior coverage and image clarity. AVC-Microdome Duo: A compact, dual-lens camera perfect for environments requiring discreet surveillance with superior performance. AVC-Microdome LX: A microdome camera that delivers excellent performance in space-limited installations, providing wide dynamic range and high-definition image capture. Visit IDIS Americas in booth #425 to view these products and learn about the company’s commitment to TCO (total cost of ownership), cybersecurity, industry-pioneering warranties, unmatched regional support, and scalable solutions.
IDIS Americas, a new IDIS business unit formed from the recent merger of IDIS America and Costar Technologies, is shaking up the video management system (VMS) landscape with a groundbreaking approach that prioritises affordability and flexibility. The innovative IDIS Solution Suite (ISS) VMS combines AI-driven intelligence, intuitive management and control capabilities, and exceptional value with no annual licencing fees. IDIS Solution Suite “For too long, traditional VMS solutions have been prohibitively expensive and complex,” said Scott Switzer, President and CEO at IDIS Americas. “Our IDIS Solution Suite delivers benchmark AI-driven performance with lower total cost of ownership (TCO), dismantling barriers and unlocking the full potential of fully integrated video security management and control for a broad range of users.” ISS unlocks powerful analytics, seamless integration, and centralised management for exceptional value and flexibility, for powerful performance with lower TCO. Key features Leading-Edge AI Intelligence: Detect anomalies, track objects, and recognise faces with high accuracy, enhancing security and operational efficiency. Seamless Integration and Operation: Effortless integration with a wide range of security devices and systems creates a unified security ecosystem, improving response times and resource allocation. Scalability: The ability to expand the system without compromising performance or budget for long-term value and adaptability, from just a few to up to 65,000 cameras. Cost-Effective Pricing: Innovative pricing model makes advanced VMS capabilities accessible to a variety of organisations by eliminating recurring fees, ensuring low TCO.
IDIS Americas, a new IDIS business unit formed from the recent merger of IDIS America and Costar Technologies, is kicking off GSX 2024 in Orlando with a strong presence. At Booth #1917, attendees can explore its comprehensive lineup of advanced surveillance solutions, including the scalable IDIS Solution Suite (ISS) VMS and a wide range of AI-powered, NDAA-compliant video surveillance technologies. Innovative surveillance solutions These solutions highlight IDIS Americas' commitment to delivering superior security performance Designed to excel across key sectors such as banking, retail, education, and critical infrastructure, these solutions highlight IDIS Americas' commitment to delivering superior security performance. "IDIS Americas is dedicated to our delivering innovative and reliable surveillance solutions that empower our customers to protect their assets and safeguard their operations," said Scott Switzer, President and CEO at IDIS Americas. Latest technologies at GSX 2024 Switzer added: "We are so very excited to showcase our latest technologies at GSX 2024, demonstrating our commitment to providing exceptional value, industry-pioneering cybersecurity, and solutions that reduce total cost of ownership." "Our AI-powered systems are specifically designed to be easy to manage and scalable for future growth, ensuring our customers success in deployment and their evolving security needs." IDIS Americas and its powerful products Join IDIS Americas in booth 1917 to experience firsthand its powerful products designed to meet the diverse needs of many vertical markets: ISS (IDIS Solution Suite) – A powerful VMS offering advanced AI analytics, seamless integration, and centralised management, all without costly, annual recurring fees. Scalable to support up to 65,000 cameras, ISS delivers exceptional value and flexibility for organisations of all sizes, while reducing total cost of ownership. AI Camera Lineup – Featuring advanced deep-learning capabilities for high-accuracy object detection, facial recognition, and behaviour analytics. View cameras at the IDIS Americas booth: CHD-RISE 4260: A high-performance camera solution for critical infrastructure, with enhanced night vision and weather resistance. AVC-Omni RS & DN: A versatile multi-sensor camera series ideal for expansive areas, such as campuses and large commercial spaces, providing superior coverage and image clarity. AVC-Microdome Duo: A compact, dual-lens camera perfect for environments requiring discreet surveillance with superior performance. AVC-Microdome LX: A microdome camera that delivers excellent performance in space-limited installations, providing wide dynamic range and high-definition image capture. Visit IDIS Americas at Booth #1917 to view these products and learn about the company’s commitment to cybersecurity, industry-pioneering warranties, regional support, and cost-effective solutions.
Insights & Opinions from thought leaders at Costar Technologies, Inc.
The sale of Carrier’s Global Access Solutions to Honeywell in December amounted to a dramatic finish to a big year in 2023 for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the physical security market. In the transaction between two industry giants, Honeywell sought to enhance and strengthen its building automation capabilities with the acquisition of Carrier’s Global Access Solutions business for $4.95 billion, in an all-cash transaction. Honeywell acquires Carrier Access business The acquisition, which includes both hardware and software solutions, will mean a new corporate owner for the LenelS2 brand, a pioneering business for over 25 years in commercial and enterprise access solutions, including well-known offerings Onguard and Netbox. In addition, the acquisition covers the Onity brand of electronic locks, including hospitality access, mobile credentials, and self-storage access; and the Supra brand of cloud-based electronic real estate lockboxes. ADT sells commercial business, which rebrands as Everon ADT Inc. announced the sale of its commercial security, fire, and life safety business unit to GTCR ADT Inc., another industry giant and a trusted brand in smart home and small business security, announced the sale of its commercial security, fire, and life safety business unit to GTCR, a private equity firm, for a purchase price of $1.6 billion. ADT Commercial, a security integrator and premier provider of commercial security, fire, and life safety in the United States, announced that it will move forward as a standalone organisation and rebrand as Everon. Bosch to sell building technologies products Bosch Building Technologies announced in 2023 that it is realigning its Building Technologies division to focus solely on its regional integrator business, with solutions and services for building security, energy efficiency, and building automation. Therefore, Bosch plans to sell most of the Building Technologies division’s product business. At year-end, Bosch was seeking a buyer who would take on all three business units with their associates and locations. This includes the Video, Access and Intrusion, and Communication business units, and affects some 4,300 associates at more than 90 locations worldwide. Building its integrator business earlier in 2023, Bosch announced the acquisition of Paladin Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, a provider of security and life safety solutions and system integration services in North America. Motorola acquires IPVideo, creator of HALO Sensor In another deal emerging late in 2023, Motorola Solutions acquired IPVideo Corp., Bay Shore, N.Y., the creator of the HALO Smart Sensor, an all-in-one intelligent sensor that detects real-time health and safety threats. The powerful capabilities of the HALO sensor extend Motorola’s end-to-end physical security offering by integrating a non-video threat detection product into the safety and security ecosystem. IDIS acquires Costar Technologies Costar has a sales channel of over 100 distributors and 1,000 systems integrators across the U.S. Korean video manufacturer IDIS and U.S. company Costar Video Systems had enjoyed a long-term existing ODM (original design manufacturer) relationship, and approximately 60% of Costar Video products were already made by IDIS. Therefore, it made sense when IDIS Co., Ltd. and Costar Technologies Inc. announced an agreement and plan to merge, with IDIS acquiring Costar. Leveraging Costar's established distribution networks and sales channels in the U.S. gives a significant boost to IDIS' growth strategy, which is founded on building long-term relationships with systems integrators. Costar has a sales channel of over 100 distributors and 1,000 systems integrators across the U.S. that will benefit from IDIS’ NDAA-compliant and 100% Korean-made technology. SECOM invests in Brivo and Eagle Eye Eagle Eye Networks, a cloud video surveillance company, and Brivo, a provider of cloud-based access control and smart space technologies, announced one of the largest investments to date in cloud physical security in 2023. SECOM CO., LTD, based in Japan and one of the largest security integration companies in the world, has made a primary equity investment of $192 million in the two companies, $100 million in Eagle Eye Networks, and $92 million in Brivo. $100M primary equity investment Brivo will also use the additional investment to continue expanding in Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific Eagle Eye Networks, a global pioneer in cloud video surveillance, announced it will use the $100M primary equity investment to expand its suite of AI-powered products, fund geographic expansion, and enhance its enterprise features. Brivo will use the investment to grow sales and marketing, accelerate product development scale support and operational functions, and evaluate strategic acquisitions. Brivo will also use the additional investment to continue expanding in Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific, and enhance the smart spaces and AI functionality in the Brivo Access Platform. ACRE buys PremiSys Portfolio ACRE, a security company built on acquisitions, is continuing to broaden its portfolio and serve the expanding needs of its customer base. In 2023, ACRE acquired the PremiSys software and hardware portfolio and assets from IDenticard. PremiSys’ technologies enable organisations to self-manage door access and view integrated video and lockdown facilities. The acquisition extends opportunities for ACRE in healthcare, education, data centers, and senior living facilities. Qognify is a part of Hexagon Qognify extends Hexagon’s real-time monitoring and security reach to detect, assess, and respond Qognify, a provider of video (VMS) and enterprise incident management (EIM) solutions announced that it has become a part of Hexagon. Qognify joins the Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial division of Hexagon, following the completion of its acquisition originally announced on Dec. 19, 2022. Qognify extends Hexagon’s real-time monitoring and security reach to detect, assess, and respond to incidents, providing a more robust offering. ASSA ABLOY continues acquisition trend ASSA ABLOY continued to acquire companies in 2023 to strengthen its position in mature markets by adding complementary products and solutions to the core business. Among the companies acquired in 2023 were Ghost Controls, a U.S. supplier of automated residential gate openers, and Securitech Group, a manufacturer of high-security mechanical and electronic door hardware products in the U.S. Door and fencing ASSA ABLOY also acquired Leone Fence, a Canadian manufacturer, distributor, and installer of fencing products for commercial and residential applications, and Lawrence Hardware and Gallery Specialty, providers of commercial hinges, locksets, exit devices, and door hardware accessories in Canada. Another new acquisition is Inovadoor Portas Industriais Ltda, a Brazilian manufacturer of sectional and high-speed doors. Earlier in 2023, ASSA ABLOY completed the acquisition of Spectrum Brands’ Hardware and Home Improvement division and the divestment of Emtek and the Smart Residential business in the U.S. and Canada to Fortune Brands.
Consolidation persisted in the physical security industry in 2018, and big companies such as Motorola, Canon and UTC continued to make moves. Also among the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) news in 2018 was a high-profile bankruptcy (that ended well), continuing consolidation in the integrator market, and the creation of a new entity called “LenelS2.” Here’s a look at the Top 10 M&A stories in 2018: 1. Motorola acquires Avigilon Motorola Solutions announced in February that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire video surveillance provider Avigilon in an all-cash transaction that enhances Motorola Solutions’ portfolio of mission-critical communications technologies. Avigilon products are used by a range of commercial and government customers including critical infrastructure, airports, government facilities, public venues, healthcare centers and retail. The company holds more than 750 U.S. and international patents. 2. UTC Climate, Control & Security buys S2 Security UTC Climate, Controls & Security agreed in September to acquire S2 Security, a developer of unified security and video management solutions. UTC subsequently combined S2 with its Lenel brand to create LenelS2, “a global leader in advanced access control systems and services” with “complementary strengths.” 3. Costar Technologies acquires Arecont Vision after bankruptcy Arecont Vision, the provider of IP-based megapixel camera and video surveillance solutions, announced in July that the acquisition by Costar Technologies, Inc. of its assets had been approved by the bankruptcy court. After the closing of the sale, the company began operating as Arecont Vision Costar, LLC and is part of Costar, a U.S. corporation that designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes a range of products for the video surveillance and machine vision markets. 4. Allegion acquires access control company ISONAS Allegion plc, a security products and solutions provider, agreed in June to acquire ISONAS through one of its subsidiaries. ISONAS’ edge-computing technology provides access control solutions for non-residential markets. ISONAS' devices – like its integrated reader-controllers – utilise power over ethernet, making them easy to install and cost effective as they utilise existing customer infrastructures. The company is based in Boulder, Colo. 5. HID buys Crossmatch for Biometrics HID Global announced that it had acquired Crossmatch, a provider of biometric identity management and secure authentication solutions, from Francisco Partners. Crossmatch’s portfolio of products includes biometric identity management hardware and software that complement HID’s broad portfolio of trusted identity products and services. 6. BriefCam announces acquisition by Canon BriefCam, a global provider of video synopsis and deep learning solutions, announced its acquisition in May by Canon Inc., a global digital imaging solutions company. The addition of BriefCam to Canon’s network video solutions products portfolio complements the Canon Group’s previous acquisitions of Axis Communications and Milestone Systems. 7. Allied Universal acquires U.S. Security Associates Allied Universal, a security and facility services company, finalised its acquisition of U.S. Security Associates (USSA) in October, further building on its position in the security services industry. This acquisition includes Andrews International (including its Government Services Division and Consulting and Investigations and International Division) and Staff Pro. 8. Johnson Controls acquires Smartvue Corp. Johnson Controls announced in April that it had acquired Smartvue, a global IoT and video provider that empowers cloud video surveillance and IoT video services. The addition of the Smartvue cloud-based video platform will enhance Johnson Controls’ offering of an end-to-end, smart cloud-based solution that can provide superior business data and intelligence to customers and added value to partners. 9. ADT acquires Red Hawk Fire & Security (and others) ADT Inc.’s acquisition of Red Hawk Fire & Security, Boca Raton, Fla., was the latest move in ADT Commercial’s strategy to buy up security integrator firms around the country and grow their footprint. In addition to the Red Hawk acquisition, announced in mid-October, ADT has acquired more than a half-dozen security system integration firms in the last year or so. 10. Convergint Technologies continues to acquire Convergint Technologies announced in August the acquisition of New Jersey-based Access Control Technologies (ACT), bringing further electronic security systems experience to Convergint's service capabilities. Convergint has strategically grown its service footprint across the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia Pacific through strong organic growth and the completion of 18 acquisitions since early 2016. And it continues: Convergint announced acquisition of SI Technologies, Albany, N.Y., in November and Firstline Security Integration (FSI), Anaheim, Calif., in December. (And Convergint itself was acquired in February by private equity group Ares Management.)
It has been an eventful few months for Arecont Vision, which has gone through Chapter 11 bankruptcy and, ultimately, was acquired by Costar Technologies Inc. What emerged is a new company, Arecont Vision Costar, poised for future growth unfettered by previous debt. For insights into what’s next for the newly minted company, we posed several questions to Jim Pritchett, CEO, Costar Technologies Inc., and Raul Calderon, President, Arecont Vision Costar. Q. Please relate how Costar came to acquire Arecont Vision. Why did you see it as an attractive acquisition target? Pritchett: We were excited when we learned that Arecont Vision was for sale. We have a long history with the management team and know the potential of the brand as a leader in omnidirectional megapixel cameras. It also solidifies the breadth of Costar’s offerings for our three major market segments – commercial security, traffic, and critical infrastructure. Q. What benefits and/or synergies do you see of adding Arecont Vision to the Costar “family?” This acquisition transitions us from 50% of revenue related to design and manufacturing to 75%Pritchett: The security market continues to face significant competition and pricing pressures. The more scale we gain, the better we can compete. Size also allows us to invest more in the business, producing differentiated products. To that end, this acquisition transitions us from 50% of revenue related to design and manufacturing to 75%. Not only is that another step towards unlocking value for our shareholders, it better allows us to control our own destiny. Q. What new insights have you gained during these first few weeks since the acquisition? What has surprised you the most? Calderon: Since I have known the Costar management team for over two decades, there have been no real surprises. We have already had cross-company strategy meetings and are making decisions that will improve different facets of the organisation, starting with adding much-needed headcount on both the domestic and international sales teams. Q. What is the path ahead for Arecont Vision Costar? How is that path different than what we discussed previously about your expectations if Turnspire Capital Partners had acquired the company (as previously proposed)? There are opportunities to leverage products and benefit customers between companiesCalderon: Arecont Vision set a plan in motion last year for turning around the organisation. There will be no significant deviation under Arecont Vision Costar of the main components of that turnaround. They are still in motion. The main difference is that Costar and its group of companies are in the same business as we are. So, there is already a fundamental understanding of our requirements, and of our competitive pressures, and of how the industry works. This will help greatly as we mold our strategy to fit within the new organisation. Additionally, there are opportunities to leverage products and benefit customers between companies that would not have existed under different ownership. Q. How actively involved will Costar be in managing Arecont Vision going forward? Any other changes in how the company is managed? Pritchett: Costar will be very actively involved in supporting the Arecont Vision business plan. Having said that, our mantra is that our people make the difference. Our job on the executive team is to remove obstacles from the paths of our employees, enabling them to execute the strategy. We have a long history and a lot of confidence in the Arecont Vision Costar leadership team. Costar will be very actively involved in supporting the Arecont Vision business plan Q. What misconceptions have you encountered in the market about the bankruptcy process, the new owner, and/or other aspects of the transition? Calderon: Bankruptcy (Chapter 11) typically has a negative connotation because it is many times associated with shuttering a company. For Arecont Vision, this was a tactical vehicle that enabled us to improve the company’s balance sheet and secure our financial future by selling its assets to Costar. This has made us a much stronger company than we otherwise would have been. There has been very little mis-step in onboarding all our employees. We are already in process of or have completed paying the pre-petition liabilities to our vendors. All-in-all, the transition is going smoothly, and our customers will soon begin to notice the improvements that we are making. Q. Do you expect any personnel downsizing or other efficiencies as the companies combine (i.e., eliminating any redundancies in the two operations)? We are looking for areas where we can expand the workforce, not reduce itPritchett: We are looking for areas where we can expand the workforce, not reduce it. Specifically, sales, engineering, and customer support are all critical to our customers’ experiences. With the industry’s obsession with decreasing prices over the last number of years, it seems there is a real opportunity for a company that is laser-focused on the customer, and that is what the Costar Technologies companies will deliver. Q. What is your hope and/or expectations for Arecont Vision Costar in the next year? Pritchett: It is a little over a month after the transaction closed. During that time, we onboarded all the employees, had in-depth strategy meetings with the executive management team, and identified the areas where we are going to make immediate investments. We are also in the process of scoping our NetSuite (business software) implementation plan for Arecont Vision Costar, transitioning them from QuickBooks and Fishbowl. The various initiatives and investments will not only pay off in the long run but will also make this acquisition accretive in 2019. Q. Will we see you at the upcoming GSX show in Las Vegas? ISC West 2019 will be the first show where you will see a fully combined presence for the Costar group of companiesCalderon: Arecont Vision decided long ago not to participate in GSX this year for a variety of reasons. We will have a meeting room not far from the exhibits, and we will be presenting to our key customers during scheduled meetings. We’ll also be making several pre-planned product announcements around additions to the Arecont Vision Total Video Solution that we first unveiled at ISC West 2018. ISC West 2019 next April will be the first show where you will see a fully combined presence for the Costar group of companies, including Arecont Vision. Q. What is your overarching message to the security marketplace about the “new” Arecont Vision Costar? Calderon: The new Arecont Vision Costar is stronger than ever with a renewed commitment to its customers and partners to provide improved product solutions and customer experience. We will continue to build upon our legacy of industry leadership in megapixel camera firsts, in advanced designs that our competitors frequently attempt to copy, and now in leadership of both stand-alone and web-enabled surveillance systems with our Contera families.
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