Taiwan Update (Part II): Migrating to IP and Quality Service

Dedicated in developing network surveillance solutions, Asoni Communications had a 25-percent sales increase in 2009 and expects more than 30 percent of growth this year. About 70 percent of sales were generated from its own brand. Its major overseas markets were Northern Europe and the Middle East, which brought in about 70 percent of sales.

Strategy and Core Competence
Both R&D and sales are valuable assets to Asoni. Its R&D makes up about 50 percent of the company's staff, with 60 percent of revenue devoted to the team annually

Both its hardware and software are R&D in house with production outsourced. Its network cameras, stand-alone and PC-based DVRs all deployed progressive H.264 compression. Intelligent and value-add software features such as lost object found and face detection are available. “Being an application-oriented company, we aim to provide one-stop shopping for customers. Our software is standardized and bundled with hardware for distribution,” said Heidi Chen, Director of Sales and Marketing.

Future Outlook
In the future, Asoni will dedicate itself to increasing user confidence for branded products. “We believe that actual applications are more important than brand names,” said Chen. “We choose our components carefully, and we will continue to make progress in R&D with better compression methods and hardware enhancement.”

With a background in TV tuning and media player production, Compro Technology released its first network camera in 2010. With export experience since 1988, 70 percent of its overall sales revenue was generated overseas.

“We are targeting the worldwide market with a focus on luxury homes and apartments, where high-level security is required. Regions such as Japan, Europe and APAC are our emphasis,” said Alice Ko, Security Business Unite, Sales and Marketing Director.

“We want to continue enhancing our brand image and value with strengthened sales channels,” Ko said. “For 2011, we are expecting double growth.”

Strategy and Core Competence
R&D is its core, making two-third of company investments. “We are strong in the design and production of high-level security solutions,” said Ko. With strong belief in quality control, Compro develops and manufactures all systems in-house.

Branding is key to Compro, with 60 percent of sales generates from its own brand. Video servers, network bullet cameras and 3-G or Wi-Max wireless solutions are available.

Future Outlook
While branding will continue to be of great importance to Compro, the company also plans to increase OEM/ODM sales. “Our goal is to have 40 percent of sales generated from branding,” said Ko. Russia, the U.K. and Australia will be its future focus markets.

Founded in 2004 as a subsidiary of Chung-Hsin Electric and Machinery Manufacturing, Etrovision Technology has made significant performance in digital surveillance. With 40 percent growth in 2009, the company expects growth to double to 80 percent this year. The U.S., Europe and Southeast Asia are its major growing markets.

Its brand was established in 2007, which currently brings in 50 percent of sales. About 90 percent of sales are generated overseas.

Strategy and Core Competence
The company excels at good image color, stability in data transmission and overall system quality. “We are strong in integration and fine-tuning software with ASIC chipsets,” said Christy Tsao, Sales Manager. This year, the company released its 5-megapixel network cameras with full HD 1080p real-time and H.264 main profile compression. Focusing on providing customers with higher ROI, its surveillance solutions include face detection by using progressive scanning.

Future Outlook
In the future, Etrovision will focus on developing reliable, stable and advanced systems for smoother data streaming and better video quality.

Despite the global economic downturn, Hunt Electronic enjoyed 50 percent sales growth in 2009 and expects even higher growth this year. With more than 22 years of industry experience, the company targets the SMB market with a focus on OEM sales. The U.S. and Europe are its major markets.

Strategy and Core Competence
A comprehensive product line with affordable prices and good quality are Hunt's strengths. “With us, customers can easily find the products they need. Our solutions are highly customizable and come with good services,” said Michael Lee, President.

Strong R&D builds a solid foundation for Hunt in product development. “We have been training our software and firmware R&D team for more than five years,” said Lee. “Now we are focusing on the development of network cameras, DVRs, NVRs and recording software.”

The company is developing H.264 DVRs with 3-G mobile surveillance. It will release network megapixel cameras and IR cameras.

Future Outlook
In the future, Hunt will work hard to stay ahead of market trends. “We are developing low-lux network cameras with at least 2-megapixel technology and IVS,” said Lee. China, India, Russia and Brazil are its future target markets.

Korenix Technology, focused in industrial networking and computing solutions, has an extensive track record in providing innovative, market-oriented and value-focused solutions. In 2009, the company experienced 20 percent sales growth, which is expected to hold steady for this year. All Korenix products are sold through its own brand. The Americas, Europe and developing countries are its target markets.

Strategy and Core Competence
Innovative technology and strong marketing skills are Korenix's major strengths. “We have our own R&D center and we supply solutions to our customer,” said Armine Beybutyan, Product Sales and Marketing Manager. Flexibility is key to product development. Other than offering standard PoE switches, Korenix also offers high-power PoE switches. “Our booster PoE switches are best suited for the transportation segment,” Beybutyan said.

Its current applications include video surveillance, public safety, multisite surveillance and vehicle transit services. “More market education helps to make users realize the differences between commercial and industrial-grade products,” Beybutyan said.

Future Outlook
In the future, Korenix will continue to partner with network camera manufacturers. “We are focusing on integrated video surveillance solutions,” Beybutyan said. “The need for high-power PoE switches will also increase.”

With more than 23 years of experience in the scanner industry, Plustek has accumulated professional experience in imaging and shifted from static images to dynamic motion. Despite the financial crisis, surveillance demand increased. Under its own brand, Plustek offered a variety of products targeting Europe, Germany and Taiwan this year. Transportation, fire departments and police statiosn are its major applications, with offerings in mobile and compact NVRs.

Strategy and Core Competence
Scanner technology makes the core of Plustek's surveillance R&D. “By working with leading cameras manufacturers, it helps us to better customize our solutions for different verticals,” said Marco Kr?mer, Marketing Manager.

Good customer service is also key for total solutions providers. “Having good relationships with component companies is also important for us, to receive good component prices that enabled us to offer our customers affordable prices.”

Future Outlook
In the future, Plustek will focus on the integration of products and transmission technology to optimize product performance. “We want to develop higher performance NVRs with compact design and larger hard-disk capacity,” Kr?mer said. “GPS networks, wireless real-time data streaming and fiber gates will be made available.”

In addition to technology improvements, Plustek will expand its NVR channels in North America, the U.K., Japan, Northern Europe, Singapore, Brazil, Russia and China.

Pocketnet Tech

Focused on IP technology, Pocketnet Tech established its 3S brand for surveillance in 2010. The company had large growth in 2009. With the founding of a new division, it expects at least 70 percent sales growth this year.

About 60 percent of company sales were generated from its own brand, with 40 percent generated from OEM/ODM business. R&D makes up about 60 percent of personnel, with 20 to 30 percent of revenue invested annually toward R&D.

“Our systems are ready. Other than continuing to focus on markets in the mid-end, we are targeting the high-end market this year,” said Kevin Cheng, Sales and Marketing Director. Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and China are its major markets.

Strategy and Core Competence
PC-based software and sensor adjustment for cameras are its core technology. Currently, the company offers 2-megapixel pan-tilt and mini dome network cameras. The cameras offer 720p HD resolution and use dual streaming technology. Mobile 3-G surveillance is available, with a customizable product design, system installation and different applications. Video servers at D1 resolution are also offered.

Future Outlook
In the future, the company's R&D will continue to advance. “We not only offer HD and 2-megapixel cameras with 720p resolution, but we also will launch 5-megapixel cameras with 1080p resolution,” Cheng said.

Backend devices will also be made more convenient for users with intelligent features, such as face detection. The US will continue to be a major market.

Pongee Industries

Despite the economic crisis, Pongee Industries sales grew in 2009. The company expects growth to increase this year.

Overseas markets include Europe, the U.S., Southeast Asia and South Africa. About 70 percent of its sales revenue was generated overseas from OEM/ ODM. “We sell to Hong Kong, the U.S. and the South America by OEM and ODM sales,” said Samuel Lin, GM.

Strategy and Core Competence
PoS and customizable features are highly in demand. R&D will continue to advance for both front-end and backend devices. “Our goal is to grow with balance,” said Lin. “We will continue to learn the firmware skills required to make high-end product with more features.”

Module-based products will also be a focus, with product customization being key. The company will continue its R&D advancement. “Our long range RFID technology can receive signals up to 8 meters,” Lin said.

Future Outlook
The companies will continue its R&D progress in both software and hardware development. Development efforts will allow products to have higher market compatibility and further enable building automation.

Found in 2004, QNAP Systems pledged to become the world's leading network attached storage (NAS) and NVR solution provider. Sales grew for the company in 2009, with the U.S. having the highest growth. Focusing on the mid- to high-end applications, its major markets include Europe, Japan and the U.S.

Its top product for the year was a scalable storage solution, with a Linux management platform.

Strategy and Core Competence
NAS and NVR data storage technology are its major strengths. “We sell through our own brand,” said Jacky Cheng, Product Manager. “To protect our brand, we focus on product quality rather than price reduction.” All of QNAP's products are tested in Japan before their release.

R&D forms the core of the company. Currently, there are about 35 to 40 percent of the company's personnel in R&D. An additional 40 percent investment is made each year. Quality control is also important. “Our stand-alone Linux NVR hardware and software are all made in-house,” said Cheng.

Future Outlook
Chain store application will be QNAP's target application. The company will emphasize integration with third-party systems, PoS functions, access control and central management software.

In the future, the company will also start its OEM business. Security and IT will be more closely integrated in the near future. User friendliness will be a focus. “Linux is increasingly used, with easier to use interfaces,” Cheng said.

Ray Shine Video Technology

Ray Shine Video Technology, a video surveillance specialist, has more than 10 years of experience in designing and manufacturing analog cameras. Selling mainly through its OEM partners, the company also sells branded products.

“Growth for 2009 was not largely impacted by the economic downturn,” said Grace Chang, GM. “The company is expecting 20 percent sales growth this year.” Focusing on high-end analog solutions, airports and seaports are its major verticals.

Strategy and Core Competence
HD compression and decompression are its key strength. “We are strict on quality control. Maintaining our product's high quality help us avoid price wars,” said Chang.

R&D represents about 40 percent of the company's staff. “Our high quality and commitment to customer satisfaction match and exceed the quality requirements of OEM/ODM customers in Germany, the U.K., France, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Japan and the U.S.,” Chang said.

Future Outlook
In the future, Ray Shine will continue to develop high quality analog systems. It will also launch more network video products. “We are planning to release more IP solutions in the future, but our product focus is still analog systems,” Chang said. Developing countries, such as China and India, will be the company's target markets.