The results of new research, carried out on behalf of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA)'s Export Council to coincide with the recent Intersec 2013 event in Dubai, underlines the strong demand being seen in the Middle East marketplace for the latest security systems from UK businesses, despite increased international competition, and also brings into sharp focus the key technology trends such as HD surveillance, PSIM and hybrid solutions that have been center stage over the past 12 months.
The results of new research, carried out on behalf of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA)'s Export Council to coincide with the recent Intersec 2013 event in Dubai, underlines the strong demand being seen in the Middle East marketplace for the latest security systems from UK businesses, despite increased international competition, and also brings into sharp focus the key technology trends such as HD surveillance, PSIM and hybrid solutions that have been center stage over the past 12 months.
The vast majority of the council's member companies (87 percent), who responded to the survey, confirmed that they are active in this pivotal region. Of those questioned, 40 percent reported that they had witnessed a notable increase in revenues derived from the Middle East over the past 12 months. A similar proportion of companies saw business levels remaining unchanged, while a much smaller number (20 percent) reported that sales in the region had actually fallen. The outlook for the coming year is much stronger than 2012, with an impressive 80 percent of members anticipating a rise in orders, and, crucially, no one predicting a fall in revenues.
Focusing on the business areas covered by the member companies who completed the survey, most were electronic security manufacturers; this reflects the composition of the council as a whole, with 7 percent being involved in cash-in-transit solutions and a similar number providing training.
When questioned regarding the approach to security technology which they believe has had the greatest impact in the Middle East over the past 12 months, the areas out in front, cited by 25 percent of those surveyed, were HD surveillance and PSIM. The HD revolution that is now so well-established in consumer electronics is really making its mark in the Middle East, with megapixel cameras being able to provide additional detail in security-critical applications like banks and hotel lobbies. The rise of PSIM in the Middle East is not surprising, given the surge of interest worldwide in the bringing together and operation of a range of security systems, especially where larger projects are concerned.
Not far behind in third place in the security technology stakes, on 17 percent, was hybrid security solutions. Other elements that were reported as having had a real impact were biometrics for access control, more efficient and reliable switch mode power supplies for security systems, and IP-based technology. One surprise from the research was perhaps that VCA did not feature, which is certainly a security and operational requirement that is undergoing resurgence in other markets.
In buying behavior, it was discovered, for instance, that although initial purchase price was ranked as the most important by a third of respondents, compliance with industry standards was the main decision-making factor found by 20 percent of companies questioned when dealing with Middle East customers. Following on from this, in joint third, came ease of operation, technological innovation and strong business connection.
The survey also sought to discover which vertical markets were leading the way. It was reported that the top market sector was government on 46.7 percent, underlining their pivotal role with regards to major projects in the region, followed in second place by residential on 13.3 percent. The remaining sectors of note singled out by the respondents were: banking (specifically, ATM protection), transport, hotel/leisure and office developments.