Growth in 2022 is definitely not going to be as easy as before. But we can expect the market to pick up further as the year continues.
If 2021 was a year of recovery for the Middle East security market, 2022 could begin with a fear of new variants. However, businesses, having already learned to live with the virus to some extent, will suffer less than what they did in 2020. We may not see a dramatic growth that was a norm before the pandemic. Some professionals even expect the market to remain flat, but we would definitely see the recovery story continue this year.
The well-being of city residents and building occupants will come more into focus going forward. Earlier this year, Honeywell commissioned a survey with Wakefield Research, which revealed the measures workers in the Middle East want to make them feel safer in the workplace. A top priority in the findings was enhanced safety and building management technology investment.
More integrated security solutions
Integrated security will remain a key driver going forward as we see the continued advancement of technologies going into 2022 and beyond, according to Sertac Yurter, Regional General Manager for Commercial Security at Honeywell Building Technologies in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa. While security has always been important to protect people, data, or property, now more than ever, it’s critical to have complete visibility into all systems to help reduce risks.
“One example of such solutions is Honeywell’s Pro-Watch Intelligent Command, a comprehensive security software platform that helps protect people and property by using video analytics, sensors and access control – all from one intuitive and user-friendly interface,” Yurter said. “To help safeguard occupants and streamline processes in the event of an incident, Pro-Watch creates intelligent, customizable Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) workflows, reducing compliance exceptions, security risks, and response times.”
Digitization to continue
Binson Xu, Regional President at Hikvision MENA pointed out that digitalization will be the unstoppable trend for both public entities and commercial enterprises.
“Artificial intelligence will be used more and more (or use: increasingly) in the security industry,” Xu said. “For instance, many public sectors started to invest in intelligent traffic Systems, Smart Parking systems, etc. Top real estate developers started to invest in smart buildings and intelligent facility management. Video security has evolved, with technological advancements transforming its capabilities by adding business intelligence components to it, and in turn, transforming the business.”
What should the systems integrators do?
John Cowling, a security consultant, explained that with the expectation that the 2022 market be generally flat with a modest growth at best, growth could be led by organizations with strong leadership, already in the region, and well versed in regional culture and can provide solution-orientated results. Not just technically but also holistically, as the slowdown in the market has enabled many organizations to improve their maturity.
“Subsequently, very well-established providers should continue to maintain their market share with an eye to acquire market share via trusted relationships that don’t overstate their actual capabilities but rather ‘under promise and over deliver,’” Cowling said. “This approach should assist organizations in avoiding most of the constraints posed by global supply chains that impact the delivery of their products and services.”
Yurter added that system integrators need to work closely with end-users to understand evolving needs. They also need to stay abreast of the developing trends and technologies, which are evolving rapidly, to ensure they can provide the best solutions for their customers’ requirements.
“Another area to focus on is services, which help end users to streamline their operations and support business continuity,” Yurter said. “Through our range of professional services, we help our channel partners protect their investments and those of their customers while minimizing their support costs, which, in turn, help improve their bottom line, even as the environment continues to evolve rapidly.”
Others pointed out that specialization could turn out to be a key in the Middle East market. Although the potential of the region is undeniable, a focused approach that values customer experience is essential.
“The Middle East market potential is very promising,” said Binson Xu, Regional President at Hikvision MENA. “At the same time, end-user demands remain very dependent on vertical-specific security and business needs, and we think that most system integrators will be more successful if they focus on certain market segments. Security solution providers may also want to avoid the risk and costs of expanding across the entire market. To be competitive in the market, system integrators should invest in services to ensure high customer satisfaction and that the end-users get the most out of their investment in new security solutions.”
Conclusion
Growth in 2022 is definitely not going to be as easy as before. But we can expect the market to pick up further as the year continues. Challenges of COVID-19 variants and chip shortage would continue, but businesses should be able to strategize their way around them.