Exclusive: Milestone expands presence with new experience centre

Milestone Systems, a software company specialising in IP video network technology, has announced the opening of a new, exciting, experience centre in Melbourne, Australia.

This strategic move underscores the company’s commitment to enhancing its presence in the Asia Pacific region, particularly in the key Australian market.

Malou Toft, Vice President for the Asia Pacific region at Milestone Systems, shared insights during an exclusive interview with TechDay about the company’s expansion and the significance of the new Melbourne facility.

"Milestone has been instrumental in driving the rollout and adoption of video technology since the early days of the internet age," Toft stated, reflecting on the company’s 25-year legacy. Founded in Denmark, Milestone has grown into a global leader, with offices in over 25 locations worldwide.

The Melbourne centre, described by Toft as a "fresh" and highly customisable space, is designed to showcase the vast capabilities of Milestone’s video technology across various sectors, including traffic management, healthcare, retail, and casino operations.

"Seeing is believing," she remarked, emphasising the importance of hands-on experiences for customers and partners alike.

Australia has long been a critical market for Milestone, with Melbourne serving as a focal point for its operations in the region. "Melbourne and Victoria have always been a great focus area for Milestone," Toft noted, highlighting the city’s historical significance to the company. The new centre will provide a platform for partners and customers to explore Milestone’s solutions in a more immersive and tailored environment.

The Melbourne facility is part of a broader network of experience centres that Milestone has established worldwide, including recent openings in Bangalore, India, and Singapore. These centres are designed to be open and accessible spaces where Milestone’s channel partners, resellers, and customers can see the technology in action.

"We have always built our success with our channel partners," Toft explained. "For them to have a space that is highly accessible and open for demonstrating solutions to customers is incredibly valuable."

The experience centre’s ability to customise demonstrations based on specific customer needs is a key feature. Whether working with traffic management systems, healthcare providers, or retail environments, the centre is equipped to handle a wide array of video data feeds and advanced technologies, including license plate recognition, facial recognition, and behavioural tracking.

"It’s critical to have access to vast amounts of data when showcasing video solutions," Toft said, stressing the importance of a hands-on approach in the industry.

Milestone’s open platform approach, likened by Toft to the open architecture of Android for mobile phones, is another significant advantage. This flexibility allows third-party developers to integrate their solutions with Milestone’s video management software (VMS), providing a broad range of options for customers.

"Anything your heart desires, we will be able to put on display here at our experience centre," she added.

In an industry where innovation is rapid, and competition is fierce, Milestone’s commitment to an open, hardware-agnostic platform sets it apart from its competitors.

"The openness of our platform avoids any customer being stuck in a proprietary jail," Toft explained. This approach ensures that customers can choose the best solutions for their needs without being locked into specific technologies or vendors.

"It's important to provide this freedom of choice to our customers because they will never be locked in and can go with the vendors that can provide solutions to their respective problems."

As Milestone continues to grow and adapt to technological advancements, the company remains focused on responsible technology development, particularly in the context of emerging trends like artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI.

"We have a very large focus on and commitment to responsible technology, both in terms of how we develop the software ourselves and how it is deployed," Toft said. This includes rigorous testing and the development of security protocols to ensure the ethical use of AI, particularly in sensitive areas like facial recognition.

The opening of the Melbourne experience centre marks a significant milestone in Milestone Systems' ongoing expansion and its efforts to stay at the forefront of the video technology industry.

By providing a space where partners and customers can interact with and explore cutting-edge solutions, Milestone is reinforcing its position as a leader in the field and continuing its mission to make the world a safer, more connected place through innovative video technology.

With the new centre, Milestone is not only strengthening its ties with the Australian market but also demonstrating its commitment to innovation, flexibility, and customer satisfaction on a global scale.