IFSEC & OSH Arabia takes place at the RICEC in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 24 to 26 November. You can still register at www.ifsec-osh-arabia.com.
Why do you choose to attend IFSEC & OSH Arabia, and what are the main goals/achievements you hope to realise from doing so?
Alvin Wu, QNAP Systems, Inc: We attend because we think Saudi Arabia is the biggest market in Middle East region and it is increasingly booming.
Marwan Khoury, Axis Communications: IFSEC & OSH Arabia is amongst the leading trade shows on our annual calendar. The Saudi market is an important one for Axis Communications with potential to surpass those of the other GCC countries presently heavily invested in the latest technologies. In addition to showcasing our latest offerings, we benefit at the show in attracting new channel partners that are a cornerstone of our global growth strategy.
Is there a key theme you can see on the horizon that might well frame the 2013 event?
Marwan Khoury, Axis Communications: We see image usability to be in the forefront as it is becoming more essential to be able to provide advanced video analytics features and we see them being adopted at a higher pace in our region.
We see increasing knowledge and engagement levels from our customer audiences. The deployment of the latest technologies is rapid in the Middle East, which is amongst the highest adopters of these technologies so the key stakeholders need to continuously be aware of the latest trends to plan and protect their investments accordingly.
What products are you launching at IFSEC & OSH Arabia?
Alvin Wu, QNAP Systems, Inc: We have announced the powerful Linux-embedded and highly reliable VioStor CMS (Central Management System) — VSM-4000U-RP and VSM-2000. The VioStor CMS, with the ability to manage up to 1,024 channels, is designed as a turnkey solution for centralized monitoring, device management and event management with multiple VioStor NVRs distributed at different locations, especially suitable for large-scale surveillance deployment. We look forward to discussing this more at IFSEC & OSH Arabia.
Are you targeting end users, installers/integrators or perhaps consultants this year, and what’s influencing your decision here?
Marwan Khoury, Axis Communications: All three of these groups are important to our success. In addition to meeting with current integrators and attracting new ones, consultants are very influential in the Saudi market as most of the large installation projects are complex in nature and they add immeasurable value to the end customers. We have also been experiencing over the years a larger influx of end customers who are interested in learning first-hand about the latest offerings and who seek to build a closer relationships with us.
