Interviews

Hikvision's 'Make in India' Roadmap will Serve the Indian Market with Best-in-Class Products and Solutions: Ashish P. Dhakan

The year 2018 has witnessed many new technologies and trends in the Indian security market. It's time to get the latest updates on Hikvision's plans for India market. Safe Secure Magazine Monthly brings the insightful interview with Mr. Ashish P. Dhakan, MD & CEO, Prama Hikvision India Pvt. Ltd. 

1) What are the new benchmarks created by Prama Hikvision India?

A. This year marks the successful implementation of first phase of Prama Hikvision India's "Make in India" roadmap, the state of the art manufacturing plant in Vasai has started production. We are making steady progress in & "Make in India"roadmap while serving the Indian market with best-in-class products and solutions. We had set up a world class service center, it is enabling RMA processes (it provides free pick up and drop facility) with SAP to support Pan India dealer and distributor network. We also have a training center in Mumbai. We regularly conduct Hikvision training and certification (Hikvision Certified Security Associate) program across India to empower Hikvision partners. 

2) Tell us more about Hikvision's leadership in the Global and Indian market?

A. Hikvision has again topped the global security 50 ranking. It has happened for the third year in a row since 2016. Hikvision has successfully retained its top position by earning the highest net profit in the 2017 fiscal year with US$ 1235.1 million, which is the only company in 2018 a&s Security 50 that has generated more than US$ 1000 million net profit. This shows the robust credentials of Hikvision's ongoing success on the global front.

Prama Hikvision India is a leading security systems and solution provider in the Indian market. The company has established an impeccable trust and reputation among security industry professionals in India. Every brand has an interesting story coupled with enterprise, technology, innovation, success and glory. The leading global brand, Hikvision too has one that needs to be celebrated. The brand story of Hikvision has evolved with market growth and global success. 

Hikvision is a leading global brand in the video surveillance and security industry. Building on the company's incredible year-on-year growth, and underlining the global level of support for its range of security surveillance products. 

3) How is your  'Make in India' initiative is shaping up?

A. We are very optimistic about the future of the physical security market in India. Prama Hikvision India has made a big ticket investment in the Government of India "Make in India" Initiative, and it is a significant step towards achieving the India specific product manufacturing roadmap. Through this initiative Hikvision has set up a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant near Mumbai to cater to the India and overseas markets. Our manufacturing plant based in Vasai near Mumbai has started production. The current capacity of our manufacturing plant is five lakh cameras and one lakh beacon devices. Prama Hikvision India has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Andhra Pradesh Government to extend the manufacturing facility in the state with proposed investment of Rs. 500 crore. 

4) What are the latest trends that will decide the future course of security Industry?

A. The top trending technologies driving the security industry, are Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deep Learning. The AI technology will continue to become more common and more powerful. This trend will strengthen critical security efforts in every sphere. Now, Hikvision's DeepinView Cameras and DeepinMind NVRs and Servers are leading the way in this new world of video surveillance technology by making invisible intelligence visible for users, and then putting that intelligence to good use. Hikvision has successfully implemented many projects with advanced AI applications in vertical specific solutions related to Retail, Banking, Transportation, Smart City, and Education sector in India. Hikvision has been credited with India's first Artificial Intelligence enabled Face Recognition Terminals in the Education sector.

Hikvision has developed a Smart Retail Solution that provides comprehensive CCTV security to protect staff and customers and assist loss prevention. Not only that, this smart retail solution features data collection and analytics for enhancing business value. Benefiting from Deep Learning Technology, three intelligent functions for retail support include people-counting to track customer traffic and volume, heat mapping to know the popularity of goods in the shopping area, and queue detection to monitor the queuing situation in real-time.

Hikvision's face recognition terminals are embedded with deep-learning algorithms for access control and office scenarios for improving building operations, workforce management and safety operations. Hikvision has embedded Deep-Learning algorithms into its face recognition terminals, providing fewer transmission delays and a reduced load on backend components. As a result, the terminals have a high success rate the face-capture rate can hit 99% accuracy at less than 0.5 seconds. During rush hours, access turnstiles equipped with Hikvision's face recognition terminals can respond in less than a half-second, passing up to 40 persons per minute. 

5) What are the steps taken by Hikvision to ensure Cyber Security & Data Protection?

A. Hikvision has recently released a cybersecurity white paper designed to be an educational resource for the security industry. Hikvision believes it is crucial for industry leaders to work together to understand cybersecurity risks and to take measures to meet those challenges for the IoT industry. The Hikvision cybersecurity white paper outlines current security threats for the Internet of Things, and for network and information security in the surveillance industry. Globally Hikvision is focusing on various initiatives, including GDPR, FIRST, FIPS 140-2, Common Criteria Certification to further the cause of product reliability and cybersecurity. 

6) In your view what are the challenges faced by the security Industry in India?

A. Despite fast growing market the Indian security and surveillance industry is facing the challenge of high import duties. As most of the key components are imported, it becomes a challenge for security manufacturer to sustain the product cost overruns. The shortage of skilled manpower and trained engineers continues to be the perennial problem. We at Hikvision have always given top priority to training programs and customer service. We will continue to create awareness about our products, technologies and solutions through our various training programs including HCSA Certification program. 

7) What are the key application cases implemented by Hikvision in India?

A. Prama Hikvision India has a dynamic Vertical Solutions team to offer innovative solutions across the verticals, including BFSI, Retail, Hospitality, Education, Pharma & Healthcare, Power, Petroleum, Oil & Gas, Mining and Heavy Industries, Smart City and Safe City, etc. We have numerous application cases across the verticals as a testimony of our evolving success.  

8) What are Hikvision's future plans for India?

A. Hikvision has big plans for the Indian market and we are working on it. Hikvision is constantly expanding its partner network across India. It has plans underway to expand it to Tier II and Tier III cities. The Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, Big Data, AI Cloud and IoT trends will continue to drive the Hikvision products and solutions in the near future. This is the best time to be a part of the security industry.

The security and surveillance industry is growing at 40% growth rate. These are exciting times to be in the fast growing business of security and surveillance systems. The industry needs young engineers and innovators to add value. It is perfect time for youngsters to choose a career in the security industry as it is still growing at an exponential rate. 

9) What is the idea behind the Hikvision's tagline “See Far, Go further”?

A. As a leader in technological advancement, we are fully committed to “seeing“– empowering the ability to “see” in both broad terms and in highly-specified ways. Enabling the progression from “seeing” to “seeing clearly” and “understanding”, the value of video technology is growing rapidly. In addition to security, today's video technology provides highly valuable business intelligence across an expanding range of industries and applications. With an extensive product line and highly effective solutions, Hikvision always adds great values to its partners, customers, and end-users. And Hikvision will continue to equip its customers various needs in security and business development through its accumulated expertise in AI and Video Technology.

In an ever-changing world, Hikvision's original goals have not changed - namely, to provide value to all customers, to combat crime and terrorism, and to provide a safer society for communities, families and children. From our original slogan, “First Choice for Security Professionals”, to our newest one, “See Far, Go Further”, Hikvision maintains its path toward excellence.