Matt Powell, Managing Director at ISS – Intelligent Security Systems tells SJA how the company leverages experience and video technology to address unique industry challenges.

Can you tell me about ISS and the types of customers it serves?

We were founded in 1996. We created our first license plate recognition (LPR) analytics in 2003 and our first facial analytics in 2004.

When it comes to video and analytics, we have been doing this for a long time, in 56 countries around the world.

Since 1996, we have developed and patented a variety of video intelligence solutions – from algorithms to purpose-built camera systems made with our analytics as the primary focus of the build.

Our customers tend to be organizations that have complex challenges they want to address but need a partner that won’t let them down.

When customers want a close relationship – to know the engineers who developed the solutions they grow to trust and a team that cares about them – we are the company they come to.

What kind of challenges does ISS help its customers to overcome?

We like to ask users, ‘what in your environment keeps you up at night?’ Video isn’t just for security – with what we offer, it’s a second set of eyes for you.

The problems we help our clients address are not solved with your standard fare, out-of-the-box analytics.

For example, we work with one of the largest transit authorities in the US to detect vandalism, graffiti and fare evasion.

In Mexico City, which has a robust, citywide surveillance network that helps keep 22 million people safe, we manage 65,000 cameras, thousands of which also utilize our analytics.

Additionally, we work with food product manufacturers, using our analytics to track their production and shipping of products.

Two of our newest clients are in different sectors using the same product, our Under Vehicle Surveillance System (UVSS).

One is a prison system scanning underneath vehicles for contraband, while the other is a tire manufacturer inspecting for damage on shipping vehicles in their docks.

When partners and clients recognize video isn’t just for security anymore, the problems we can solve are wide ranging.

What makes your approach to solving these challenges unique in the marketplace?

Task-based analytics, camera systems built around these analytics and a platform that creates a single pane of glass of awareness and data.

For example, we recently worked on a project with our partner, T-Mobile for Business, for construction site safety that combined PPE detection, fallen-person detection and LPR for identifying vehicles on-site during off-hours.

The experience was eye-opening for everyone as we were able to identify how many potential Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations were happening daily and able to assist in reducing these incidents, as well as targeting training for the employees who were violating compliance.

Can we do a basic VMS project or tie our analytics into another VMS? Yes and we do it well, but we also solve unique challenges that seem unsolvable.

What are the core values underpinning the company?

Innovation and world-class partnership. Yes, everyone says they are innovative, that they are a great partner, but today, when end-users are more discerning than ever, not all innovation and partnership is created equal.

In my previous life in integration, I found it was difficult to get anyone over the technical level of a sales engineer on the phone, much less a developer.

Here at ISS, our partners and customers get to know the developers and create relationships with them. Our developers go to the field and meet customers.

Additionally, we innovate constantly, not just on the global level, but right here in our North American business.

We recently helped a rail company solve a complex problem for identifying hoses connected to fuel tanks and identifying when cables were not disconnecting before the train moves.

That level of capability doesn’t exist in a market where it is square peg analytics in round hole customer problems.

How do you see ISS within the market and what makes it different?

I recently had a CIO of a large private equity (PE) firm reach out to me and say, ‘I was told if it’s a complex challenge, you guys are the one to call.’

Partners and clients call us when they need a partner to solve a challenge that others can’t.

We aren’t for everyone and that’s ok, because today almost anyone in the market can do a cloud-based video management system (VMS) for a small company.

That’s why that space is crowded and the margins are low. What isn’t crowded is solving complex challenges and making your clients extremely happy.

That’s where we live and what makes us different.

ISS positions itself as a ‘video intelligence’ provider. Can you explain what differentiates the company from the other AI technology firms in the market?

It seems like everything is AI now – and no one is defining AI, nor really knows what it is.

What the market does know is video and the power of video – they’ve been using video forever and they know they have been burned by ‘AI’.

We make the most of video, we bring video to a different level of awareness at a higher level of confidence in data and notifications – that’s video intelligence.

Sure, there are ‘AI’ companies that do, for example, basic PPE detection – but do they do helmets/hardhats, color gloves, vests, fall harnesses – in a variety of colors?

Colors in PPE detection is the difference between high accuracy and high false alarms.

That’s the difference between good data in dashboards and bad data in dashboards, a happy customer and a customer who doesn’t call anymore.

If you want a random PE-backed start up with licensed analytics, you go to the ‘AI’ companies.

If you want a partner you know won’t let you down, that’s been at this globally for two decades, you come to ISS and deploy video intelligence.

What are the company’s plans to grow? What kind of sectors will it be focusing on?

When I first came to ISS, the North American market was focused on robust VMS, LPR and facial analytics.

We continued that path for a little while, but it just didn’t make sense to continue.

The amazing growth we have had in North America came when we as a team decided to embrace what we are: masters of doing more with video.

We decided not to compete where everyone else competes. We decided to go out and offer to solve challenges and the market reacted positively.

We have great references in every industry, so the sector isn’t nearly as important as the challenge the customer has.

That is how we will continue to grow – looking for great clients, solving their problems and taking those lessons learned to the next obstacle a client faces.

What makes you most excited about ISS’ future?

Our CEO (Aluisio Figueiredo) and Board Chairman (Richard Burns) often say that the industry is catching up to where we have been.

I truly believe this – I’ve been in integration, I’ve been in manufacturing and I’ve never seen a company that is so well-positioned for where end users want to go like we are here at ISS.

As integrators find sectors of our market are a race to the bottom – our partners are bringing differentiating technology which helps them rise to the top.

Anything else you’d like our readers to know?

If you’re an integrator wondering how to solve a problem your customer has brought to you, or you are a business owner that sees an issue and wants to see if video intelligence can solve it – email me or reach out on LinkedIn, and I’ll personally make sure that we look into if we can help you.

It costs nothing to have a conversation but might cost you a lot not to – let me and my team see if we can assist you.

This article was originally published in the November edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.