Offers Video Management Softwares to the transportation industry
Milestone Systems is a crucial player in critical sectors such as oil and gas, banking, finance, and transportation, particularly Integrated Transportation Systems (ITS), explained a senior company official in an exclusive interview.
Milestone Systems is a prime provider of sophisticated and advanced Video Management Softwares (VMS) to the transportation industry, from airports, seaports, rail, and highways to package delivery and cash handling.
The company also offers Crowd Management solutions for Access Control, proactively monitoring and managing access and exit points in real-time and from any location.
It also offers Face Recognition and People Count, it helps to identify, enumerate and understand the number of people in an area to provide the appropriate security and guidance to crowds. Furthermore, it offers advanced solutions including AI-Driven Video Analytics—extract and aggregate data such as gender, age, speed, path and size to quantitatively analyze video footage.
In the company’s repertoire also are the following:
Audio and Video Threat Detection: Detect shouting and cries for help or the appearance of a weapon even before someone can physically call first responders.
AI-Driven Video Analytics: Incorporate real-time alerting capabilities when situational changes occur, for example, if people are breaking perimeters and entering areas they are not supposed to.
Paul Martin Park, the company’s Regional Director for the MENAT (Middle East, North Africa and Turkey) Region, spoke exclusively and expansively to www.LogisticsGulf.com on the sidelines of the recently concluded INTERSEC 2024 in mid-January in Dubai.
www.LogisticsGulf.com (LG): Give us a brief thumbnail profile of Milestone Systems and your origins in the Middle East.
Paul Martin Park (PMP): Our journey in the Middle East has been an interesting one. Milestone Systems was established as a legal subsidiary in the Middle East back in 2007 as part of the strategy to strengthen its business in the region, supplying more sales and service support.
In addition to the Middle East, this office oversees Australia, New Zealand, non-French-speaking Africa, and India, using IP Technology as a core enabler for the strategy. To strengthen business expansion, Milestone focuses on establishing a two-tier, go-to-market model and onboarded certified channel and distribution partners.
Milestone added new team members in sales and service support to accelerate its growth journey in the region and was involved in major projects within government, retail, hospitality, and finance, as well as large ports, with the latest IP video surveillance technology.
Our journey has been nothing less than phenomenal, and within EMEA, the Milestone Middle East office focused on MENAT and soon captured more of the market share, becoming the leading VMS provider in the region.
LG: What industry verticals do you cover, and where do Milestone Systems VMS technologies find applications in?
PMP: Milestone Systems covers diverse industry verticals, strategically focusing on healthcare, hospitality, transportation, logistics and safe city solutions globally and across the Middle East.
Our video technology specializes in safety and security, as well as the development of smart cities and healthcare optimization.
Our strong partnership with local infrastructure authorities in the UAE for example proves our commitment to advancing transport and logistics solutions, making us a significant contributor to the region’s infrastructure development.
LG: Can you share some of your most significant milestones in the Middle East since the commencement of your operations?
PMP: Our journey commenced in 2007 with an operations team of five individuals in the UAE. We have experienced remarkable growth in the past decade, expanding our dedicated team to over 30 professionals across multiple countries.
Our expansion led to doubling the office space required in Dubai, leading to a new regional headquarters in Dubai Media City, including a state-of-the-art Experience Centre equipped with new technology capable of simulating and demonstrating a wide range of innovative solutions.
Another milestone we would like to highlight is that, as per the latest OMDIA (a global analyst and advisory leader) Market Report, we have had continuous growth rates and the highest market share in the Middle East region.
We have also forged impactful partnerships and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with key industry and government clients across the region, solidifying our position as a trusted and collaborative partner. Our continuous efforts to contribute to the growth and development of the video technology landscape in the Middle East are reflected in our growth and financial results.
LG: What sets Milestone Systems apart? What are your core brand strengths, and how are you leveraging these capabilities to increase your market share in the region?
PMP: Our commitment to customer trust, loyalty, and unwavering support is paramount. One of our key differentiators is providing an open platform, allowing seamless integration with thousands of technologies and partners. This openness is our core strength, empowering clients with flexibility and adaptability.
Our brand’s foundation rests on the assurance of continuous support, and our clients are guaranteed a partnership based on trust, loyalty, and robust support, making us a preferred choice in the market.
One of our unwavering goals is ‘Responsible Technology’, and we comply with all required government and industry regulations to ensure that the customers are truly protected and have confidence in Milestone Systems.
LG: How significant is the Middle East for Milestone Systems?
PMP: The Middle East is significant for Milestone Systems as a critical growth area. We have witnessed substantial growth over the past several years, establishing a solid foothold.
Beyond our dedicated team, with expansive plans and aspirations, we are committed to expanding our presence and fostering a robust ecosystem of partners in the region. The Middle East represents a dynamic market for our data-driven video technology software and a strategic hub for collaboration and innovation.
We look forward to furthering our impact in the Middle East by contributing to developing advanced video technology solutions.
LG: How vast is your current network, and which are among the top three performing countries in the region?
PMP: Our current network includes about 30 countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT), divided into four distinct regions. Each of these regions has demonstrated sustained year-on-year growth.
The top-performing countries contributing to our success in the region are the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye. These nations showcase a robust demand and adoption of Milestone Systems’ video technology, reflecting the effectiveness of our technology and the alignment of our offerings with the dynamic needs of these markets.
LG: What are some of Milestone Systems’ newest innovations and technologies in the region?
PMP: Milestone Systems has been at the forefront of innovation in the MENAT region, with a strong focus on addressing key challenges in healthcare, video analytics, and cloud solutions.
Within the healthcare sector, we have introduced innovative solutions such as ‘Hospital Assist,’ a cutting-edge platform designed to enhance operational efficiency and patient care within healthcare facilities. Hospital Assist integrates seamlessly with existing hospital systems, offering advanced video analytics and management capabilities to optimize resource allocation.
Within video analytics, we offer ‘Rapid Review,’ a powerful tool that leverages advanced algorithms to analyze vast amounts of video data quickly and efficiently. This solution is particularly valuable in security and surveillance applications, allowing businesses to identify and respond to potential threats in real-time, bolstering overall safety and situational awareness.
Moreover, we have made significant strides in cloud solutions, catering to the evolving needs of businesses in the region by offering cloud-based technologies to provide scalable and flexible solutions that align with the region’s digital transformation initiatives. Our team is committed to driving technological advancements in these key areas, contributing to the overall progress and efficiency of various industries in the MENAT region.
LG: What is your outlook for 2024?
PMP: Despite the challenges faced in 2023, Milestone Systems grew and expanded its market share. Looking ahead to 2024, our outlook is optimistic, with plans to build upon the momentum achieved.
We aim to sustain growth and further solidify our position in key markets. Additionally, we are strategically focusing on expanding our business into developing countries, aligning with our global commitment to providing advanced data-driven video technology software.
This resilience, in the face of challenges, positions us well for continued success and impactful contributions to the video technology landscape in the coming year.
LG: Working in the hyper-sensitive domain of ‘data-driven video technology for security’, how do you comply with Government and Regulatory requirements and your take on the ‘G7 Code of Conduct for AI’?
PMP: Milestone Systems recognizes the importance of adhering to government and regulatory requirements, particularly in the hyper-sensitive domain of data-driven video technology for security. As a proactive measure, we were among the first companies to adopt the G7 Code of Conduct for AI, which shows our commitment to ethical and responsible AI development.
We believe in the necessity of rules to guide the development of video technology, analytics, and AI for the benefit of humanity, and we understand the urgency for companies to take independent actions in identifying and addressing technology’s weaknesses and pitfalls, such as biases and false positives.
The potential benefits of, for example, AI-enabled video technology for security are immense, but so are the responsibilities, and companies should strive to be careful and responsible regarding technology in general and AI in particular.
Milestone Systems is dedicated to staying ahead of these regulations, leading the industry in responsible and ethical use of data-driven video technology and AI while preventing public and regulatory backlash by building trustworthy solutions.
Our adherence to the G7 Code of Conduct proves that we are willing to ensure transparency and accountability and foster public trust in the innovative possibilities of video technology and AI.
LG: Talk to us about your participation in Intersec 2024; were there any new product offerings, and what was your corporate message at this event?
PMP: Milestone Systems showcased several new product offerings during Intersec 2024 that reflect our commitment to innovation. Our critical corporate message emphasized our unwavering dedication to an open platform approach.
We reiterated the importance of never deviating from this philosophy, ensuring that the cutting-edge solutions and products developed by our partners seamlessly integrate into the Milestone platform.
This strategy helps us stay ahead of the technological curve and provides our customers with versatile and adaptive video technology software. The event was a powerful display of our numerous partners who seamlessly integrate their solutions into the Milestone platform, highlighting our collaborative strength and continuous advancement.
LG: What is your broader vision for Milestone Systems for the region’s short- and long-term futures?
PMP: Our regional vision for Milestone Systems involves continued financial and business growth. We aim to expand our footprint through strategic ventures into new territories, forming partnerships, and potentially establishing new offices.
It also extends beyond mere expansion, we aspire to solidify our position as a leader in data-driven video technology, fostering innovation and contributing to developing cutting-edge technologies.
This approach aligns with our commitment to providing top-tier solutions and services, ultimately shaping the future of the video technology landscape in the region.
BOX OUT:
Paul Martin Park
Regional Director—MENAT
Milestone Systems
Paul is an overachieving business professional with over 30 years of international experience across governmental entities, national security and public safety domains, and more. He has worked among the most prominent Digital Transformation players in the region.
His areas of expertise include smart & safe cities, public safety, defence and security, command & control (C2) systems, mission-critical communications and so on.
He has a strong track record of developing and driving businesses and managing complex, large-scale, multi-vendor integration programs across the region.
In his current capacity, Paul will manage sales and operations across all MENAT countries. He will also grow the business in terms of revenues and geographical footprint through working with and augmenting a strong Milestone team and an eco-system of established and new partners and customers.
