In the security industry, it is imperative for manufacturers to establish long-term relationships with each of their partners and clients based on trust. They must take into consideration the needs and demands of end users. Based on the belief that security products are meant to protect people, GKB makes customers its priority.
In the security industry, it is imperative for manufacturers to establish long-term relationships with each of their partners and clients based on trust. They must take into consideration the needs and demands of end users. Based on the belief that security products are meant to protect people, GKB makes customers its priority.
Solution Provider
Around 2006, Peter Jen, President of GKB, realized that security is not just about selling products. With the introduction of IP, clients may encounter integration problems for meeting specific application requirements and providers must be able to address these problems. A successful company should be able to provide a total solution for clients instead of single products. At the time, if GKB wanted to compete with other global brands in the long run, changes had to be made. Jen decided to reposition the company as a solution provider. However, GKB had been regarded primarily as a manufacturer of analog cameras, making the transition to being a branded solution provider difficult. Though many doubted him, Jen insisted on guiding his company in a new direction.
Undeterred by discouragement from internal and external sources, Jen continued to emphasize the importance of the transition, while simultaneously changing GKB's corporate culture. Jen stressed the importance of strong teamwork to his employees in order to succeed, just as solutions are able to function based on the ability of the products to integrate with each other.
Being a solution provider requires deep-seated patience, according to Jen. It cannot be rushed. The same applies to brand management. To understand each client's distinctive needs, GKB started working with local integrators in Taiwan. GKB repeatedly adjusted its products according to client feedback for deeper integration with other products according to marketspecific requirements. Finally, the staff was able to grasp customer demands and build internal teams. As systems involve hardware, software, and firmware, the company significantly increased the amount of experts required in those departments. GKB also worked with many R&D institutes and other security companies to boost its technologies. Its IP solution delivers a comprehensive network-based surveillance solution for video collection and management required by large and multi-site security installations by incorporating its cloud NVR, self networking cameras, and managing software.
Trust and Communication GKB's emphasis on trust and integrity were a great fit for the integrator-centric market and brand marketing. For system integrators, product reliability is top priority. Meanwhile, there is frequent communication between them and their manufacturing partners. Once there is absolute trust between the SI and its partner, full and effective communication can be achieved. In the project market, where customizable solutions are expected, only teams who are passionate about what they do are capable of providing the necessary solutions.
In order to benefit several long-term ODM clients in America, GKB does not have many other partners. To mainly promote its clients' products, GKB agreed to an open cooperation in order to create maximum value on both ends.
Complete Product Lines
GKB manages its EMEA branches and its new Phillipine branch established last year. In 2013, GKB plans on opening three more branches in Europe. Currently, GKB has four business units: analog products, IP products, fleet management, and early detection fire alarm systems. The fleet management systems are jointly developed with its Canadian partner in charge of markets outside of America and Australia. Its early detection fire alarm system, which took six years to develop, received the Factory Mutual Award from America and is EM54-certified in Europe. Traditional smoke detectors sense a fire when it is already too late. The early detection system targets this problem and pre-empts fire-related disasters especially in large, spacious areas through the detection of fire and smoke with existing video surveillance systems to replace traditional smoke detectors.