Category: Case Study
OT Systems Ethernet-Over-Coax Solution takes the HKIA CCTV System from Analog to IP
The Hong Kong International Airport recently modernized its CCTV system taking its surveillance capabilities from analogue to IP by integrating OT Systems’ Ethernet-over-Coax (EoC) transmission solution to existing infrastructure. A total of 100 single-channel ET1100CPp-T transmitters were installed to connect 100 IP cameras and connected to either single-channel ET1100CPp-R receivers or 8 to 16-channel ET4200CPp-RS8/16 rackmount receivers. The ET4200CPp-RS8/ 16 receiver offers full switching capability and 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps auto-MDI/ MDIX full-duplex communication and it is available with rack-mounting installation in a 19-inch rack cabinet. The EoC solution provides flexible communications and 30-watt high power, with power over coax (PoC) technology to remote PoE IP cameras or PTZ cameras. The power supply can be connected with one-channel or multi-channel receivers like the ET1100CPp-R and ET42000CPp-RS8/16, which supply power using legacy cable. A full line of EtherXtra™ Ethernet-over-Coax products provides an alternative for system integrators and service providers looking for a solution to utilizing existing coax infrastructure and migrating to IP-based systems. Taking advantage of the existing coaxial cables, installers can provide quick installation and high performance for CCTV upgrading without rewiring their environment. Also, the EoC solution provides flexible communications and a 30-watt high power source with power-over-coax (PoC) technology to remote PoE IP cameras or PTZ cameras. This EoC retrofit easily repurposes existing coaxial cable infrastructure, enhancing the system with centralized power and creates feature-rich IP surveillance systems.
Securiton Safeguarding Tunnel Infrastructure in Colombia
An important infrastructure project that, for years, had been postponed for political or environmental reasons finally received its inauguration last August. The project’s tunnels and viaducts in and around the Colombian city of Medellín are intended to provide fast access to the neighbouring valley, location of the international airport. Securiton is safeguarding the tunnels and key infrastructure installations against fire. Situated in the Aburrá valley in the mid-Andes mountain range in north-western Colombia, Medellín lies 1538m above sea level. The ‘Capital of the Mountains’ is the country’s second largest city (population: 2.5 million-plus) and the second largest metropolitan region (population: 3.9 million) after the capital Bogotá. Road transport milestone Although Medellín has a city airport, it is restricted in size and serves only national destinations. More distant destinations are served by Rionegro Airport in the neighbouring San Nicholás valley. August 15, 2019 saw the official opening of the 8.2km Túnel de Oriente (East Tunnel) and a 24km expressway between Rionegro and Medellín’s eastern suburbs. Present at the ceremony was Colombian President Ivan Duque, who insisted on being the first user to drive through the tunnel. The new link cuts journey times from 50 minutes on the former 32km extremely winding route to less than 20 minutes. The main beneficiaries are the eight million-plus users of Rionegro Airport – and the wider region in terms of tourism, industry, the environment and mobility. Fire protection from Securiton The new route features three tunnels – one of which, at 8.2 kilometres, is the longest in Latin America – and nine viaducts, which allow users to negotiate the mountainous terrain at speed. Toll booths at each end of the route collect user fees from drivers. Securiton was tasked with providing fire protection for the tunnels and other facilities, consisting of ceiling-mounted SecuriSens LIST line-type heat detectors. These highly sensitive sensor cables, designed for use in environments of that nature, are capable of detecting fires despite the presence of dust, heat, smoke or exhaust fumes. SecuriFire fire alarm systems and large numbers of Securiton fire detectors ensure the safety of the toll booths, control and electrical rooms and tunnels.
Ocean Blue Car Wash Standardizes on 3xLOGIC Video Surveillance
3xLOGIC, Inc., a leading provider of integrated, intelligent security solutions, has recently announced that Ocean Blue Car Wash, Prescott Valley, AZ, has deployed/ upgraded to 3xLOGIC 32 4MP camera video surveillance systems at four of its locations to date. DC Pro Systems is the integrator of record as it continues to install and maintain a growing number of Ocean Blue locations. As one of the state’s first Express Car Wash concepts, the owners of Ocean Blue Car Wash have put to use their 15 years of experience to create a new standard in car washing. The Ocean Blue experience is known for consistency and a reliable standard of service. Customers receive the same safe, quality car wash every visit. “We are standardizing on the same robust 3xLOGIC video surveillance system at each of our locations,” said Alexander J. Lazar, Owner and General Manager, Ocean Blue Car Wash. Thus far, four Ocean Blue locations have each deployed, or will soon finish deploying, 3xLOGIC V7000 NVRs and 32 V-Series 4MP dome cameras. “We really like Shane Hepola and DC Pro Systems. He brought us the 3xLOGIC technology, and I trust him and the quality job they do,” added Lazar, “These high-resolution camera views keep my employees on point and they keep my customers on point, too. The 3xLOGIC cameras pay for themselves. I’ve got cameras everywhere, recording everything. If we’ve caused damage to a vehicle, if we’re liable, we’ll certainly pay for it. However, the proof is in the video and if there is any question about a claim, the video doesn’t lie.” “Any story you can imagine from the customer, we’ve experienced it, including slip and fall claims,” Lazar continued, “We need that 4 MP resolution; it keeps our employees honest and it also deters potential robberies. Our multiple cameras provide so many interior and exterior views that we capture a lot of the surrounding properties and highway, so we can be an asset to law enforcement when needed.” I’m not at all the different sites every day, but at any given time I can log in and watch what’s going on. I’ve got a bird’s eye view, so I can catch equipment malfunctions before my staff does. Sometimes, when I wake up at 2 am, I can quickly log on to view my locations. I’ll do a night audit to check lighting, building signs, and other things. We’re not there but the cameras are – 24/7/365.” Ocean Blue does both on-site and remote monitoring of video, as well as after-incident investigations. At this time, the company is expanding to a fifth location. There are plans to build another, and by end of 2020 there will be six Ocean Blue locations. All six will have the same robust, high-functioning 3xLOGIC video surveillance, installed by DC Pro Systems. An interesting add-on feature for Ocean Blue is a 3rd party software app that takes footage from the 3xLOGIC cameras to determine spacing between the cars during the wash process. If two cars come within a certain number of feet from each other, the line shuts down automatically. Another improvement Lazar and Hepola are discussing is to implement 3xLOGIC VIGIL Central Management (VCM). VCM is a health monitoring software component of the VIGIL video management system that alerts either DC Pro or Ocean Blue to any malfunctions on the network before such developments create a problem. “The system is very user friendly. Basically, we’re trying to kill all the blind spots on the property, and I use the video for training purposes, too. We’ve got monitors in our offices and in the customer areas. That’s telling my customers we’re watching everything, and their cars are safe; and it’s keeping my employees doing great work,” Lazar concluded.
Bosch Building Technologies Make Access Management Simple, Scalable and Always Available with Access Management System 2.0
Today’s market wants access management systems that are easy to set up and use. They must be easily scalable and able to integrate with other security solutions like video and intrusion systems. Access management systems need to be highly resilient and always available. With the introduction of the Access Management System (AMS) 2.0 Bosch has addressed all these needs. Simple to specify, set up and operate The entire customer journey is designed to be as effortless and as simple as possible. Specifying the system is easy: the software is offered in three pre-configured software bundles for different sized organizations: Lite (max. 144 doors and 200,000 cards), Plus (max. 512 doors and 200,000 cards) and Professional (max. 10,000 doors and 200,000 cards). Configuration is easy: Existing floor maps can be imported into the system and icons are dragged and dropped on the map to represent controllers, doors and building objects. On-boarding of users is straightforward: for example, enrolment and assignment of access profiles are all implemented in one dialog manager. Operation is also easy: The graphical user interface (GUI) is simple and easy to understand. The dark colorscheme of the GUI reduces eye-strain and fatigue, so operators stay fresh and alert. In addition, the colors of the AMS GUI are aligned with the colors of the Bosch Video Management Systems (BVMS) GUI, so operators enjoy the benefits of an integrated solution which is easier to operate than two distinct systems. Highly scalable and therefore future-proof Users can start small and add extra capacity whenever necessary. The Access Management System 2.0 can be expanded to 10,000 doors and 200,000 cardholders. No hardware needs replacing when expanding, users just require software upgrades and possibly additional controllers, readers and cards. So, increasing system size is not only easy, it is also cost-efficient. Since it is regularly updated with the latest data security enhancements, it is a future-proof investment. Ideal for office and government buildings, retail environments, educational institutes and more. Always available, highly resilient For maximized resilience and high availability, the access management system 2.0 includes the Master Access Controller (MAC) as an additional layer of resilience between the server and the access controllers. If the server fails in the Access Management System 2.0, the MAC takes over and ensures that the controllers still communicate with each other and share necessary information from the card readers. Thus, even functionalities which include various controllers such as anti-passback and guard tour can still be performed. The anti-passback functionality prevents a card holder passing back their card to another person and thereby enabling their unauthorized entry. Guard tour is a safety functionality offered to security guards, which uses access readers as checkpoints along a defined route to be passed in a defined period of time. Any deviation of sequence or timing causes an alarm in the AMS. Colleagues or first responders can be notified at once improving the safety of security guards. In the extremely rare event that the AMS server and the MAC fail, cardholders can still enter and leave areas with their badges because the database is stored directly on the access management controllers (AMCs). Thanks to this offline capability, it is furthermore possible to save millions of events even during down times. High level of safety thanks to threat level management Up to 15 configurable threat levels such as lockdown, controlled lockdown or evacuation mean that safety measures can be initiated quickly in critical situations such as fire or terrorist attack. The threat level state is activated by one of three triggers – operator workstation, emergency button, or specially configured ‘emergency’ cards that are presented to a reader. The different threat levels can make all doors open, or all doors blocked, or a mix of some open and some blocked. Individual doors can also have their own security profile and allow only certain cardholders access. High data security and privacy protection To protect against cybercrime and loss of personal data, the database as well as the communication between server and access controllers is encrypted at all stages e.g., through support of the secure open supervised device protocol (OSDP) v2 protocol. Access Management System 2.0 also has trusted digital certificates for mutual authentication between server and client to prevent tampering by unauthorized clients and uses secure design principles such as ‘secure-by-default’ and ‘principle of least privilege.’ Ideal as standalone but capable of growing into a complete security solution The Access Management System 2.0 is a flexible access management system for medium- to large-sized organizations. It is easy to set up, operate and expand. Access Management System 2.0 can grow with the needs of the customer and can also be integrated with video systems such as the BVMS (version 9.0 and higher) and third party systems such as Milestone’s XProtect. It will as of the second quarter 2020 be able to integrate with the B-/ G- series intrusion system from Bosch and other third party systems. With this integration capability, the access management system will serve as the solid platform to mix and match various security systems, depending on the customer’s individual needs. Overall, the Bosch Access Management System 2.0 that is available for sales makes access management simple, scalable and always available.
The Schneider Group Relies on MOBOTIX Video Surveillance and Security Systems in its hagebaumarkt Stores
Every day, the 13 hagebaumarkt stores serve thousands of customers and process tens of thousands of products. The Schneider Group, based in Grabenstätt/ Erlstätt, has the mammoth task of providing security for its customers and employees, as well as monitoring and protecting its DIY stores against theft on a daily basis. It was therefore a top priority that the Group update its security and surveillance system as part of its digitalization strategy. “Introducing digital solutions into our locations is one of our biggest challenges,” explained Martin Wohlmayer, Head of IT and Organization at Jos. Schneider GmbH, “We’re well on our way to bringing our retail and wholesale stores into a digitalized future, focusing exclusively on reliable, future-proof solutions that are cyber-safe and 100% GDPR-compliant.” This was the starting point going into initial consultations with IT service provider CN H&D GmbH, in which they discussed a new security and monitoring system for hagebaumarkt stores. It quickly became clear that the existing system would need to be replaced with a solution that included MOBOTIX cameras. “We were completely won over by the ‘Made in Germany’ MOBOTIX cameras and solutions. This was thanks to their decentralized solution, the outstanding quality of both the hardware and software, the flexibility of the system, their compliance with the GDPR and the high level of cybersecurity,” said Wohlmayer. “Our forward-looking approach involves checking all our current investments to see whether the new systems are flexible, open, expandable and secure with regard to future challenges. It quickly became clear that a MOBOTIX system would be the best way to meet our requirements,” explained Matthias Ziegleder, Managing Director of CN H&D GmbH. The focus of the ongoing project in Traunstein is on installing MOBOTIX systems in the ninth hagebaumarkt store in the Schneider Group. There are currently 134 MOBOTIX cameras already in use, all of which are integrated into the MxManagementCenter. Extensive MOBOTIX product portfolio for outdoor & indoor A total of 19 MOBOTIX cameras have been installed in Traunstein, as well as the MxThinClient for communicating with customers. This system has been connected to the central MxManagementCenter. Nine cameras have been installed to monitor and secure outdoor facilities, including parking lots. These specialized outdoor cameras provide crystal-clear images day or night throughout the year, meaning that any incidents in the hagebaumarkt parking lots can easily be traced. Inside the store, ten MOBOTIX cameras monitor the sales floor. This helps determine the cause of any discrepancies in stock levels, which are usually due to theft. The MxManagementCenter (MxMC) is MOBOTIX’s powerful, intuitive video management system for Windows and MacOS and is installed on a total of five computers in the store with different user profiles and access rights. The system is fully GDPR compliant, with each user only having access to the video footage assigned to their profile. The data is remotely secured on the MOBOTIX cameras, providing highly effective protection against even the most complex and sophisticated cyber attacks. The MxThinClient completes the solution in the Schneider Group’s hagebaumarkt stores. The PoE-powered network device is the intelligent, easy-to-use MOBOTIX solution for viewing the live feed from the cameras on a monitor or TV equipped with an HDMI port. This makes it possible to display content such as welcome messages, inform customers that surveillance equipment is being used in the store and show them the current products on offer in store. “We plan to equip the remaining four hagebaumarkt stores with the MOBOTIX solution and are working to develop and implement a mobile solution for targeted surveillance in known ‘theft hotspots.’ These cameras will be connected to their own company-wide MOBOTIX Wi-Fi network and can be moved at any time to monitor specific hotspots in the store,” said Ziegleder, explaining the plans for the project. Conclusion: Future-proof complete system for maximum customer satisfaction “ The support provided by CN H&D GmbH throughout the whole design and installation process, including follow-up support and training, has been excellent. The MOBOTIX system ensures security for us and our customers, and we’ll gradually be starting to implement the other capabilities offered by the system. “We’ve already set up the interface to the PoS system,” said Matthias Ziegleder. This means that any PoS discrepancies can be prevented or immediately resolved in the hagebaumarkt store. A customer count and footfall analysis will also be integrated to further optimize customer service and customer satisfaction – not least through coordinated staff scheduling. Christian Heller, Sales Director of MOBOTIX DACH, explained, “Our solutions are used in many industries, and retail is an important market for us. Together with our technology partners, we have developed bespoke and intelligent solutions specifically for the retail and wholesale sector that make work easier and more secure. We’re pleased that the Schneider Group is using our solutions in all 13 of its hagebaumarkt stores in Germany and Austria to improve the security of its stores and to benefit its customers and employees.”
Forward-Thinking Monterey Bay Aquarium Utilizes Arecont Vision® Cameras During Security Upgrades
The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a rich history of innovation. Since its founding in 1984, the facility has become one of the world’s leading public aquariums and ocean conservation organizations. Monterey Bay Aquarium has produced significant insights into the life history of sharks, sea otters, and bluefin tuna. The aquarium also was the first to exhibit a living kelp forest, and in 2004 it was the first to successfully exhibit and return to the wild a young great white shark. It is therefore no surprise that the Monterey Bay Aquarium desired the most innovative and state-of-the-art cameras as a key component for its security system, and Arecont Vision® was able to deliver what they required. The challenge The aquarium has a huge campus, with multiple separate properties and an average annual visitation of two million people. Until recently, the Monterey Bay Aquarium relied upon up to 60 analog cameras for its video security needs. With such a large area to cover and with so many people to monitor, this type of system proved increasingly unreliable and insufficient to its growing security needs. The aquarium’s securitystaff also found it a major inconvenience that accessories and other parts for the system were exclusive to the original provider, limiting the security team’s options both technically and financially. The footage from the analog cameras was monitored on monochrome screens and useful viewing of surveillance video was quite difficult at times. The quality of the images was low, and the inflexible nature of the cameras resulted in a number of blind spots throughout the aquarium’s large campus. The aquarium also has some very challenging lighting situations, requiring more specialized, versatile cameras in order to properly capture images. “We have some very difficult light levels here. The reflections of the water tanks can make certain areas lighter on camera than they are in person, or vice-versa,” stated Thomas Uretsky, Director of Security and Emergency Management for the facility. The security team reached the point where they knew they needed to upgrade. “The system needed more flexibility, multiple views on one camera, the works,” Uretsky said, “Blind spots needed to be eliminated, and we wanted as close to a 360-degree view as possible.” After thorough research, San Jose, California-based security integrator NSI Systems recommended Arecont Vision for the camera solution. The solution Mr. Uretsky and the team at Monterey Bay Aquarium collaborated with Arecont Vision regarding what they were looking for, where coverage was needed, and how to best fit in into their budget. Monterey Bay Aquarium chose ExacqVision as their video management system, another solid partner to help upgrade their prior surveillance system. Monterey Bay Aquarium, open sea tank coverage A range of different Arecont Vision cameras were ultimately deployed to serve the aquarium’s varying needs. Arecont Vision MicroDome® cameras were ideal for the ticketing area and customer lines. The series includes wide dynamic range (WDR) models, which can achieve clear images across extreme lighting conditions such as those found in some of the indoor spaces at the aquarium. MicroDome cameras have an extremely low profile and only a 4” diameter, making them ideal for discreet security surveillance. When asked for his thoughts about the MicroDome camera, Uretsky responded, “They are small and nearly invisible to anyone who doesn’t know what they’re looking for. The fact that they have such a small footprint makes them ideal for us in the ticketing and front entrance areas.” Another favorite at Monterey Bay Aquarium were Arecont Vision SurroundVideo® Omni G1 and G2 adjustable view cameras. The SurroundVideo Omni series utilizes a patented 360° track where each of its four megapixel sensors can be moved to cover virtually any angle. Remote motorized focus simplified installation with the Omni G2. Combined with the ability to interchange lenses, the Monterey Bay Aquarium now has the unique and flexible camera solution it required. The customizable features of the camera also simplify future changes that may occur at the aquarium, saving time and money if construction or remodelling were to occur. “The SurroundVideo Omni cameras are some of our favorites because we are getting four cameras in one. They have the most flexibility,” said Kevin Wright, Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Security Manager, “Our blind spots are much more limited, and we don’t need to use nearly as many cameras as we previously had in those areas.” Although each camera offers four separate views, only a single PoE (Power-over-Ethernet) cable and a single software license is required for integration with the Exacq software, further reducing costs. The result The system has performed incredibly well to date. Not only was it installed on time, but it was completed within budget. The Monterey Bay Aquarium monitors the system locally, 24-hours per day. The images are viewed on a dynamic video wall in the new security operations center. While most footage is viewed on-site, some cameras have been enabled with the Exacq software for remote monitoring at satellite offices. For example, holding areas for rescued sea otters can be viewed remotely by a research team. Arecont Vision cameras have helped the aquarium’s security department in a variety of ways, one of which is increasingly common – addressing bicycle theft. Individuals will sometimes access a public recreational trail that runs along the aquarium’s main campus to steal unattended bikes parked by visitors or staff. Unlike the previous analog surveillance system, Arecont Vision’s megapixel cameras are able to provide the security department with good views and high-resolution images when reporting such incidents to the police department. The project at Monterey Bay Aquarium fulfilled a vast array of surveillance requirements – indoor and outdoor scenes, large and small spaces, low- to high-lighting conditions – and Arecont Vision cameras addressed each of the challenges. The deployment of the new cameras made an impression on Uretsky and his team. One installation inspired ideas for another, and Arecont Vision helped make these potential security solutions a reality as well. The continual partnership between the aquarium, the system integrator, and Arecont Vision has resulted in…
MOXA Secure Data Transmission Increases Air Traffic Management Safety
Security has long been a top priority in the aeronautical industry, and air traffic management (ATM), which refers to the entirety of systems and actions required to manage the movement of aircraft both on the ground and in the air, plays a major role in maintaining secure aeronautical transportation. In different phases of operations, a wide range of diverse facilities and devices need to communicate with each other. An important aspect of ATM is that it must be able to operate in all kinds of conditions, including outdoors, in harsh weather and at remote sites, and all relevant data needs to be collected and monitored correctly and securely to maintain safe and stable operations. Based on this brief introduction, it is concluded that the devices and components comprising an ATM system must satisfy the following requirements: An industrial-grade rugged design suitable for harsh environments including outdoors, at remote sites, and over long distances to ensure that ATM operation is both reliable and stable. Top-notch network security to protect data from hackers. Since OT protocols such as Modbus are generally not designed with transmission security in mind, some governments require high-profile areas such as airports to use IT protocols for Internet-facing data transmissions. The most popular IT protocols in use today emphasize a highly secure design. Essential aspects of such protocols include data encryption, which presents a solid first line of defense against eavesdropping and hacking. SNMP, for example, is widely used in the IT field. Combined with SNMP Trap and Inform, SNMP can be used with both polling-based and alarm-based communication, making it one of the most popular protocols for airport monitoring. System requirements The ability to collect and monitor data from many different airport facilities, including runway lights, tower lights and navigation aids, as well as the ability to actively send data to the ATM server to minimize the response time for critical conditions. Devices must be able to operate reliably in both extremely harsh hot and cold environments so that the devices can be deployed in airports around the world. SNMPv3 and SNMPv3 Trap are required for authentication and active alarms, and data encryption is needed to prevent sensitive information from being stolen during transmission. Moxa solution A remote I/O system deployed at an airport can be used to acquire serial, digital and analog data from runway lights, tower lights and navigation aids, and then transmitted in real time to the control center. In addition, products that feature advanced remote I/O features and wide temperature operation are rugged enough to work 24/7 in all kinds of weather and harsh conditions to provide the non-stop operation demanded by airport operation codes. SNMPv3 and SNMPv3 Trap are required. Since SNMP is a polling-based protocol, the control center can poll remote I/O status periodically via SNMP to make sure that all monitoring data is up-to-date. In addition, SNMP Trap can update data from remote sites to the control center actively. The user can set the threshold for the monitoring data and receive alarms immediately when preconfigured conditions are met. SNMP and SNMP Trap help ensure that status reports from airport facilities is always up-to-date and all emergencies can be handled promptly and properly. With respect to security, SNMPv3 and SNMPv3 Trap support authentication and data encryption, making version 3 the most secure of all SNMP versions. The most popular encryption algorithm used by SNMP is MD5. However, since MD5’s security weaknesses can be exploited by hackers, cybersecurity experts suggest using a more secure algorithm, like SHA2, to protect sensitive information. Moxa’s modular remote I/O products support the SHA224 and SHA256 encryption algorithms, both of which belong to the SHA2 family.
SAS adds Automated Machine Learning to Make AI-Powered Decisions Even Easier
SAS enhanced its easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to help organizations improve efficiency and quickly realize value with automation. The updated SAS® Platform delivers new functionality including automated data management, automated machine learning and cutting-edge interpretability features, underscoring SAS’ commitment to making AI more transparent and accessible for all. Available in the fourth quarter of 2019, the newest release of SAS® Viya® on the SAS Platform offers the latest AI and advanced analytics techniques, accessible to both data scientists and business users. The enhancements provide an intelligent process to automate many of the manual and complex steps required for data transformations and to build machine learning models. SAS automates the analytics life cycle – from data wrangling to feature engineering and algorithm selection – in a single click. To further democratize AI solutions, the automated modeling process uses a REST API. This helps developers customize business applications while using SAS analytics. Additionally, users can easily embed open source code and augment their analysis with SAS, providing a truly open experience. Machine learning is also used to recommend data transformations to reduce data preparation time. UK Insurance provider Admiral fights fraud with AI Fraudulent claims and applications are a major problem for the UK insurance industry, with both insurers and genuine customers paying the price through increased premiums. According to Cifas, the UK’s leading fraud-prevention service, false insurance claims rose by 27% in 2018 from the previous year, with auto/ motor seeing a 45% increase. Admiral, a UK-based insurance company, has developed fraud portals that eliminate the need for manual referrals, saving significant time and resources while detecting more fraud than ever before. Fraud investigators and analysts now work from a single centralized hub, sharing data across the organization and applying sophisticated analytics to detect and prevent fraud. This approach has delivered more than £31 million of benefit in the last 12 months alone, including £6 million in savings for claims fraud. “We used an insurance fraud analytical engine from SAS to apply multiple techniques – including automated business rules, machine learning, artificial intelligence, text mining, database searches, anomaly detection and network-link analysis – to automatically score claims, associated entities and any corresponding social networks,” explained Sarah Lang, Head of Business Analytics at Admiral, “This process has allowed us to build a strong relationship between analytics and claims fraud. A continuous feedback loop ensures we continue to update the process, identifying fraud in more cases in a faster way, whilst improving our customers’ experience.” Industry disruption powered by AI I talian startup Yolo is disrupting the insurance industry with help from SAS AI solutions. The company’s digital insurance platform provides on-demand access to policies for travel, products, health and pets. Fueled by SAS machine learning, Yolo’s Platform can customize a temporary insurance policy offer to a customer without lag time. “As a digitally native company, our customer’s experience is paramount,” said Gianluca De Cobelli, Co-founder and CEO of Yolo Group, “With SAS, our Platform is able to process a customer’s request to insure their vacation or their smartphone using all available data in real time, allowing our financial institution and corporate partners to provide their clients with a customized and dynamic mobile experience.” A continued partnership with IBM For the first time, the November release of SAS Viya will run on the IBM POWER9 chip architecture. This will support all SAS Viya functionalities including GPU acceleration for machine learning, deep learning, and AI training and inferencing. In addition, this expands the flexibility to run SAS workloads in any cloud platform. “SAS and IBM have collaborated for more than 40 years. We’ve solved some of the most complex algorithmic challenges together. IBM Power Systems offer value to mutual customers whose business challenges demand not only SAS analytics, but also high data throughput,” said Ken Gahagan, Senior Director of Compute Services for Research & Development at SAS. The future in AI: Growth and opportunity “ SAS continues to innovate in AI, building on the $1 billion investment in AI we announced earlier this year,” said Saurabh Gupta, Director of Advanced Analytics & Artificial Intelligence at SAS, “SAS delivers AI that helps users manage, understand and analyze the data they have and make better, faster decisions with it. The latest enhancements to our AI offerings focus on automating the many manual and complex steps required to build machine learning models.” The investment will focus on current and future R&D and expert services to build on successful AI efforts like that of Admiral and Yolo over three years. It will also include SAS education initiatives that address customer and partner needs to better understand and benefit from AI. In 2018, SAS experienced 105% growth in AI revenue – a rate three times faster than the overall market – according to a recent IDC report on AI software platform market share.
RCBC Bankard, Inspiro and Verint
Verint® Systems Inc., the Customer Engagement Company™, in partnership with Inspiro Relia, Inc. (Inspiro), have optimised the quality of RCBC Bankard’s call centre operations with the implementation of Verint’s innovative voice biometrics solution, part of its identity authentication and fraud detection (IAFD) offering. The combination gives the organization high-level expertise and automated technology to help reduce costs and improve the overall customer experience. RCBC Bankard Services Corporation, the credit card arm of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), one of the largest universal banks in Philippines, collaborated with Verint on a landmark upgrade of their voice recording and biometrics systems. Verint voice biometrics recognises the unique vocal characteristics of enrolled customers seconds into a live call, helping to reduce the number of security questions and average handle times. This faster authentication can reduce contact centre costs, help eliminate the need for security questions, and can provide an overall improved customer experience. “The implementation of voice biometrics improves our workflow and increases the security behind every single call. This is at a time when credit card fraud has become more prevalent,” said Simon Calasanz, RCBC Bankard President and CEO who believes that the rollout of the solution was well timed, “Our service delivery is of utmost importance to our customers, and we are pleased to say that the upgrade to the system was executed to the highest degree. The Verint and Inspiro teams were well orchestrated and operations continued smoothly behind the scenes. Following the deployment, we expect a decrease in the number of security questions, and we will have the ability to provide assistance more quickly, with a reduction in average handle time.” Commenting on the successful partnership and project outcomes, Manish Shah, Vice President of Verint’s Southeast Asia operations said, “Understanding the RCBC Bankard’s needs and a strong collaborative partnership with Inspiro were key to a seamless transformation of RCBC Bankard’s back office operations. RCBC Bankard wanted to push the envelope with new modernised and automated technology that would help them deliver higher quality customer service. Our local support capability and our voice biometrics technology was the winning combination that led to the successful execution and delivery of this project.” “Advanced voice biometrics is a positive disruption for our industry, and we are seeing greater adoption across the financial services industry,” Mr. Shah added, “We look forward to working closely with our local partners to ensure they’re providing the best customer service experience possible with best-fit solutions.” Mark Mistal, Inspiro’s Chief Information Officer added, “Verint’s capabilities within the contact centre space are well-established, and their best-in-class voice biometrics system delivers tangible enhancements to every single call and in real time.” Inspiro supports the customer engagement requirements of leading brands in the Philippines. Mistal continued, “As the customer service quality in the call centres gets a new boost through technological advances, we see great value in our continued partnership with Verint.”
Ministry of Movement and NEC to Collaborate on Future of Urban Mobility
Ministry of Movement Pte. Ltd. (SWAT), a startup providing on-demand bus services in Singapore, Australia and Vietnam, and NEC Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (NEC), a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation, recently announced a partnership that will pool together their respective expertise and technologies to transform urban mobility and address social challenges posed by city developments. As part of this partnership, the companies jointly launched ‘Ally,’ an app offering AI-based personalized road planning functions coupled with an on-demand bus booking service. The app was available during the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress recently taken place at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. During a four-day trial, congress delegates and members of the public who downloaded and created their profiles on the Ally app were able to experience on-demand bus rides for free within a geofenced area extending from Dhoby Ghaut to the Marina Bay Sands area and parts of the central business district. Combining SWAT’s dynamic bus routing algorithm with NEC’s personalization engine supported by machine learning technologies, Ally made recommendations on potential places of interest including malls, retail shops, restaurants and other attractions based on data points such as the user’s interest(s), profile, location and time. Once the user selects their destination, the app generates an optimized route in real-time and automatically assigns a bus servicing the area to the rider. In addition to cost savings, Ally allowed users, particularly visitors from overseas, the ability to explore lesser-known areas more efficiently and encourage the use of more environmentally-friendly modes of transportation. Jarrold Ong, CEO and Co-founder, Ministry of Movement said, “With our advanced routing technology, we are always on the lookout for ways we can transform the mobility and transport space. We see relevance in being able to book a ride and discovering local attractions on the same platform, and NEC’s expertise in AI and their local market insights were key to this partnership.” “NEC has been actively working with startups to explore innovative solutions to transform markets and create new social value,” said Lim Kok Quee, Managing Director, NEC Asia Pacific, “We see great potential in this partnership with SWAT. Intelligent on-demand bus services can play a key role in building a more sustainable urban transportation system by optimizing the number of vehicles on the road to reduce the environmental impact and ease traffic congestion. We will continue to explore ways to harness technology and improve the society we live, play and work in.”