31 May Rising high
Abu Dhabi-based Rise General Trading launched Rise Technologies in response to the growing demand for security and surveillance systems and solutions in the UAE. The company has recently been appointed Golden Distributor for Hikvision. SME speaks to CEO, Ghassan Kassabji.
Which technologies do you think are going to be the game changers in security over the next five years?
We expect video analytics and optimised storage technology to grow at a fast pace in the near future. Customers don’t want to scroll through hours of recorded videos when they need to get evidential information related to an incident. This is where smart video analytics comes into the picture. In addition, much research emphasis is given to edge analytics rather than routing the video to a dedicated analytics server to carry out the detailed processing of the footage.
In addition we are also witnessing a major breakthrough in advanced compression technologies such as Hikvision’s H.264+ and the newly released H.265. These technologies bring significant savings to customer with 60-70% efficiency in terms of storage and bandwidth resources.
What type of ‘value-adds’ do Rise Technologies offer to differentiate themselves from their competitors?
Rise Technologies not only distributes Hikvision products, but also provides value added services for its clients – system integrators (SI) and channel partners – by working closely with consultants, end users and various parties to ensure the delivery of the most effective and efficient service. We believe in full association and partnering with our client network, to ensure end-to-end project support inclusive of technical design and compliance with local security standards.
How important is after sales support these days?
After sales support is the key to any end-users’ piece of mind and encourages business retention with SI partners and end-user clients. It also allows us to build a firm and solid reputation in the market which is going to help us retain and attract a new base of customers.
How do you help to educate end-users and installers about the products and solutions you are selling?
We encourage Hikvision product and solution training on a regular basis with our SI partners and have product orientation sessions with end-users to allow full understanding of the security technology offered. This gives users confidence in operability and maximises full functionality of the products.
Are you seeing more end-users by-passing distributors and buying on line (if they are already familiar with the product)?
We are focused on large projects by providing and supporting CCTV technology as part of full surveillance solutions that our SI clients offer their customers. Online portals target mainly the end-user market.
What key trends would you say are seeing in the market in terms of technology requirements – i.e. HD, more storage, and more in-camera functionality?
Since the ICT industry is constantly advancing and security solutions are now completely aligned with digital technology, HOD, SANs, higher mega pixel video, built-in camera analytics, etc. are some of the increasing demands in the security industry. In addition, there are additional key needs in today’s security challenges including behaviour analysis and smart solutions (e.g. RFID, GIS … etc.)
Which are your biggest markets locally?
In the UAE, we primarily focus on the rapidly growing verticals such as construction & facilities management, education, manufacturing, healthcare & transportation.
Are there any areas you are looking to break into over the coming years?
We are looking to expand further in the border surveillance, critical infrastructure and banking sectors.
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