Although the economic crisis is still being felt, the security industry proved its strength in Philadelpia. More than 600 exhibiting companies presented the best of their technology for the protection of assets and people.
by Ana María Restrepo
More than 19,500 security professionals from 86 countries were part of the 50th version of ASIS, a seminar and exhibition that took place in Philadelpia, USA, from September 10 to 13, 2012.
This event, focused on the training and updating of security professionals around the world, gave its participants the new educational trends and the opportunity to interact with their colleagues in more than 23 thousand square meters of exhibition of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where 696 companies exhibited a wide range of solutions, such as innovations for access control, video surveillance, IP, fire detection, smoke and intruders, among other systems.
For the exhibitors, this was a good year, since they had a good influx of visitors at the stands, allowing the work teams of each company to meet the security professionals, such as integrators, distributors, consultants and others.
In 2012, 200 educational sessions were held in which topics such as workplace volatility, mobile safety, practices and strategies in security management, and other important topics for professionals were discussed. Likewise, the most innovative products were awarded in the ASIS Accolades, selecting a top 10 winners.
IP keeps keeping pace
SALES SECURITY was in Philadelphia and talked with some of the exhibitors about the market for Latin America and the new trends that companies bring to the industry.
IP cameras and solutions, as well as web-based control and alarm systems continue to be the most presented systems.
Juan Echavarría, from Mobotix, explained that the company is concerned with providing complete solutions for the benefit of users and specifically in ASIS 2012 they sought to provide innovation through a security camera that contains alarm control, access, event capture (detects changes in temperature, movement of people, lighting and global positioning), it also has low power consumption.
THE IP solutions were some of the most presented at the show, Fernando Caruso, from DVtel, commented that these solutions are adapted to the needs of customers, and two of the sectors in which they have focused their use are public security and government, especially for security in federal prisons.
The market trend, according to Alex Gutierrez of Verint, is no longer just security, but also giving better management tools, and business intelligence, in order to help the company improve customer service, marketing, and so on, through the delivery of statistical reports.
Latin America, a cost-benefit market
The price factor has always been the breaking point for many security projects, but over the years, customers have begun to understand the importance of cost-benefit ratio, and how quickly they can receive the results of having a good security system.
Juan Echavarría said that the Mobotix market in Latin America has grown since users have in a single team several devices that allow them to achieve their objectives. "Technology is coming faster and faster to Latin America, arguably almost in real time. The region is always aware of new developments in the United States, Europe and now, Asia."
Fernando for his part said that in some Latin American countries the price factor can still guide or delimit the type of product that is purchased, however there are some others, such as Mexico that are clearer about what they need, and the cost-benefit ratio is increasingly important for them.
For Rudy Machuca, from Flir, the panorama of Latin America has changed in the last two years, as more resources have been allocated to the security area, mainly in sectors such as mining, oil, ports, airports, borders, among others. Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Argentina are the main countries investing in protection. "Price is very important, but cost-benefit has become essential and users are always looking for ways to recoup the investment."
"IP technology in Latin America is being imposed in almost every project," said Alex Gutierrez of Verint. And it is that the end user now understands more what he needs, and if he uses the security infrastructure to do business analytics it will allow him to save on other costs.
For Cameron Javdani, of Louroe Electronics, Latin America is a potential market in terms of audio technology for video surveillance and audio monitoring systems, Mexico, Colombia and Brazil are the markets that have worked the most.
Market trends, new products and developments and the growth of a fair that met the expectations of attendees and exhibitors, is the result that ASIS 2012 yielded.
The 59th edition of the ASIS Annual Seminar and Exhibition will be held from September 24 to 27, 2013, having so far 77% of the exhibition space sold.
